9. Joshua and his army marched all night from Gilgal for a surprise attack.
10. The Lord confused those armies when Israel attacked, so Israel defeated them in a great victory at Gibeon. They chased them along the road going up to Beth Horon and killed men all the way to Azekah and Makkedah.
11. As they chased the enemy down the Beth Horon Pass to Azekah, the Lord threw large hailstones on them from the sky and killed them. More people were killed by the hailstones than by the Israelites’ swords.
12. On the day that the Lord gave up the Amorites to the Israelites, Joshua stood before all the people of Israel and said to the Lord:“Sun, stand still over Gibeon.Moon, stand still over the Valley of Aijalon.”
13. So the sun stood still,and the moon stoppeduntil the people defeated their enemies.These words are written in the Book of Jashar.The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and waited to go down for a full day.
14. That has never happened at any time before that day or since. That was the day the Lord listened to a human being. Truly the Lord was fighting for Israel!
15. After this, Joshua and his army went back to the camp at Gilgal.
16. During the fight the five kings ran away and hid in a cave near Makkedah,
17. but someone found them hiding in the cave at Makkedah and told Joshua.
18. So he said, “Cover the opening of the cave with large rocks. Put some men there to guard it,
19. but don’t stay there yourselves. Continue chasing the enemy and attacking them from behind. Don’t let them get to their cities, because the Lord your God will hand them over to you.”
20. So Joshua and the Israelites killed the enemy, but a few were able to get back to their strong, walled cities.
21. After the fighting, Joshua’s men came back safely to him at Makkedah. No one was brave enough to say a word against the Israelites.
22. Joshua said, “Move the rocks that are covering the opening of the cave and bring those five kings out to me.”
23. So Joshua’s men brought the five kings out of the cave—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon.
24. When they brought the five kings out to Joshua, he called for all his men. He said to the commanders of his army, “Come here! Put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So they came close and put their feet on their necks.