Inspire: Joshua, Judges & Ruth 978-1-4964-7519-0 - Flipbook - Page 23
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For all the Amorite kings who live in the hill country have joined forces to attack
us.”
7 So Joshua and his entire army, including his best warriors, left Gilgal and
set out for Gibeon. 8 “Do not be afraid of them,” the Lord said to Joshua, “for I
have given you victory over them. Not a single one of them will be able to stand
up to you.”
9 Joshua traveled all night from Gilgal and took the Amorite armies by surprise.
10 The Lord threw them into a panic, and the Israelites slaughtered great numbers
of them at Gibeon. Then the Israelites chased the enemy along the road to Bethhoron, killing them all along the way to Azekah and Makkedah. 11 As the Amorites
retreated down the road from Beth-horon, the Lord destroyed them with a terrible hailstorm from heaven that continued until they reached Azekah. The hail
killed more of the enemy than the Israelites killed with the sword.
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On the day the LORD gave the Israelites
victory over the Amorites,
Joshua prayed to the LORD
in front of all the people of Israel.
He said,
“Let the sun stand still over Gibeon,
and the moon over the valley of Aijalon.”
So the sun stood still and the moon stayed in place until the nation of Israel
had defeated its enemies.
Is this event not recorded in The Book of Jashar? The sun stayed in the middle
of the sky, and it did not set as on a normal day.
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There has never been a day
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like this one before or since,
when theL ORD answered
such a prayer.
Surely the Lord fought for Israel that day!
15 Then Joshua and the Israelite army returned to their camp at Gilgal.
Joshua Kills the Five Southern Kings
16 During the battle the five kings escaped and hid in a cave at Makkedah. 17 When
Joshua heard that they had been found, 18 he issued this command: “Cover the
opening of the cave with large rocks, and place guards at the entrance to keep the
kings inside. 19 The rest of you continue chasing the enemy and cut them down
from the rear. Don’t give them a chance to get back to their towns, for the Lord
your God has given you victory over them.”
20 So Joshua and the Israelite army continued the slaughter and completely
crushed the enemy. They totally wiped out the five armies except for a tiny
