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Wednesday, August 6th, 2025
the Week of Proper 13 / Ordinary 18
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Contemporary English Version

Joshua 10:6

the Gibeonites sent a message to the Israelite camp at Gilgal: "Joshua, please come and rescue us! The Amorite kings from the hill country have joined together and are attacking us. We are your servants, so don't let us down. Please hurry!"

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Adoni-Zedek;   Amorites;   Armies;   Debir;   Gilgal;   Hebron;   War;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Canaanites, the;   Gibeonites;   Jerusalem;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Adonizedek;   Beth-Horon;   Gilgal;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Gibeon;   Gilgal;   Joshua the son of nun;   Tabernacle;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Prayer;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Adoni-Zedec;   Amorites;   Eglon;   Gilgal;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Samuel;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Amorites;   Gilgal;   Japhia;   Joshua, the Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Adoni-Bezek;   Adoni-Zedek;   Israel;   Joshua;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Adonizedec ;   Eglon ;   Gibeon ;   Gilgal;   Jebusites ;   Lachish ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Adonizedek;   Journeyings of israel from egypt to canaan;   Lachish;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Adonize'dek;   Am'orite, the Am'orites;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Conquest of Canaan;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Amorites;   Gilgal;   Hand;   Hoham;   Joshua, Book of;   Mount of the Amorites;   Palestine;   Tabernacle;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Adonizedek;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Amorites;   Gilgal;   Jebusites;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Then the men of Gibeon sent word to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal: “Don’t give up on your servants. Come quickly and save us! Help us, for all the Amorite kings living in the hill country have joined forces against us.”
Hebrew Names Version
The men of Giv`on sent to Yehoshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, Don't slack your hand from your servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amori that dwell in the hill-country are gathered together against us.
King James Version
And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us.
Lexham English Bible
And the men of Gibeon sent word to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal, saying, "Do not abandon your servant. Come up to us quickly and save us! Help us, for all the kings of the Amorites who dwell in the hill country have gathered against us."
English Standard Version
And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal, saying, "Do not relax your hand from your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites who dwell in the hill country are gathered against us."
New Century Version
The Gibeonites sent this message to Joshua in his camp at Gilgal: "Don't let us, your servants, be destroyed. Come quickly and help us! Save us! All the Amorite kings from the mountains have joined their armies and are fighting against us."
New English Translation
The men of Gibeon sent this message to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal, "Do not abandon your subjects! Rescue us! Help us! For all the Amorite kings living in the hill country are attacking us."
Amplified Bible
So the men of Gibeon sent word to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal, saying, "Do not abandon your servants; come up to us quickly and save us and help us, for all [five of] the kings of the Amorites who live in the hill country have assembled against us."
New American Standard Bible
Then the men of Gibeon sent word to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal, saying, "Do not abandon your servants; come up to us quickly and save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites that live in the hill country have assembled against us."
Geneva Bible (1587)
And the men of Gibeon sent vnto Ioshua, euen to the hoste to Gilgal, saying, Withdrawe not thine hand from thy seruants: come vp to vs quickly, and saue vs, & helpe vs: for all the Kings of the Amorites which dwell in the mountaines, are gathered together against vs.
Legacy Standard Bible
Then the men of Gibeon sent word to Joshua to the camp at Gilgal, saying, "Do not abandon your slaves; come up to us quickly and save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites that live in the hill country have assembled against us."
Complete Jewish Bible
The people of Giv‘on sent a message to Y'hoshua at their camp in Gilgal that said, "Don't ignore your servants! Come up to us quickly, and save us! Help us, because all the kings of the Emori living in the hills have gotten together to fight us."
Darby Translation
And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua, to the camp at Gilgal, saying, Withdraw not thy hand from thy servants: come up to us quickly, and save us and help us; for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the hill-country are gathered against us.
Easy-to-Read Version
The people in the city of Gibeon sent a message to Joshua at his camp at Gilgal: "We are your servants! Don't leave us alone. Come and help us! Hurry! Save us! All the Amorite kings from the hill country have brought their armies together to fight against us."
George Lamsa Translation
And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal, saying, Do not withhold your hands from your servants; because all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us.
Good News Translation
The men of Gibeon sent word to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal: "Do not abandon us, sir! Come at once and help us! Save us! All the Amorite kings in the hill country have joined forces and have attacked us!"
Literal Translation
And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua, and to the camp at Gilgal, saying, Do not withdraw your hand from your servants. Come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites living in the hills have gathered againstus.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Howbeit they of Gibeon sent vnto Iosua to Gilgall, and caused to saye vnto him: Withdrawe not thine hande from thy seruauntes, come vp soone vnto vs: delyuer and helpe vs, for all the kynges of the Amorites that dwell vpon the mountaynes, are gathered together agaynst vs.
American Standard Version
And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the hill-country are gathered together against us.
Bible in Basic English
And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua to the tent-circle at Gilgal, saying, Be not slow to send help to your servants; come up quickly to our support and keep us safe: for all the kings of the Amorites from the hill-country have come together against us.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And the men of Gibeon sent vnto Iosuah to the hoast in Gilgal, saying: withdrawe not thy hande from thy seruauntes, come vp to vs quickly, and saue vs, and helpe vs: for all the kinges of the Amorites which dwell in the mountaynes are gathered together agaynst vs.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying: 'Slack not thy hands from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us; for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the hill-country are gathered together against us.'
King James Version (1611)
And the men of Gibeon sent vnto Ioshua to the campe to Gilgal, saying, Slacke not thy hand from thy seruants, come vp to vs quickly, and saue vs, and helpe vs: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountaines, are gathered together against vs.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the inhabitants of Gabaon sent to Joshua into the camp to Galgala, saying, Slack not thy hands from thy servants: come up quickly to us, and help us, and rescue us; for all the kings of the Amorites who dwell in the hill country are gathered together against us.
English Revised Version
And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the hill country are gathered together against us.
Berean Standard Bible
Then the men of Gibeon sent word to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal: "Do not abandon your servants. Come quickly and save us! Help us, because all the kings of the Amorites from the hill country have joined forces against us."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Sotheli the dwelleris of the citee of Gabaon, `that weren bisegid, senten to Josue, that dwellide than in tentis at Galgala, and seide to hym, Withdrawe not thin hondis fro the help of thi seruauntis; `stie thou soone, and delyuere vs, and helpe thou; for alle the kyngis of Amorreis, that dwelliden in the hilli places, camen togidere ayens vs.
Young's Literal Translation
And the men of Gibeon send unto Joshua, unto the camp at Gilgal, saying, `Let not thy hand cease from thy servants; come up unto us [with] haste, and give safety to us, and help us; for all the kings of the Amorite, dwelling in the hill-country, have been assembled against us.'
Update Bible Version
And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, Do not slack your hand from your slaves; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the hill-country are gathered together against us.
Webster's Bible Translation
And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua to the camp at Gilgal, saying, Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains, are assembled against us.
World English Bible
The men of Gibeon sent to Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, Don't slack your hand from your servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the hill-country are gathered together against us.
New King James Version
And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal, saying, "Do not forsake your servants; come up to us quickly, save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites who dwell in the mountains have gathered together against us."
New Living Translation
The men of Gibeon quickly sent messengers to Joshua at his camp in Gilgal. "Don't abandon your servants now!" they pleaded. "Come at once! Save us! Help us! For all the Amorite kings who live in the hill country have joined forces to attack us."
New Life Bible
Then the men of Gibeon sent word to Joshua at the tents at Gilgal, saying, "Do not leave your servants alone. Hurry and help us. For all the kings of the Amorites who live in the hill country have gathered against us."
New Revised Standard
And the Gibeonites sent to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal, saying, "Do not abandon your servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us; for all the kings of the Amorites who live in the hill country are gathered against us."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
So the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua, unto the camp at Gilgal, saying, Do not withhold thy hand from thy servants, - Come up unto us quickly, and save us, and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the hill-country, are gathered together against us.
Douay-Rheims Bible
But the inhabitants of the city of Gabaon, which was besieged, sent to Josue, who then abode in the camp at Galgal, and said to him: Withdraw not thy hands from helping thy servants: come up quickly, and save us, and bring us succour: for all the kings of the Amorrhites, who dwell in the mountains, are gathered together against us.
Revised Standard Version
And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal, saying, "Do not relax your hand from your servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us; for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the hill country are gathered against us."
THE MESSAGE
The men of Gibeon sent word to Joshua camped at Gilgal, "Don't let us down now! Come up here quickly! Save us! Help us! All the Amorite kings who live up in the hills have ganged up on us."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then the men of Gibeon sent word to Joshua to the camp at Gilgal, saying, "Do not abandon your servants; come up to us quickly and save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites that live in the hill country have assembled against us."

Contextual Overview

1 King Adonizedek of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had captured and destroyed the town of Ai, and then killed its king as he had done at Jericho. He also learned that the Gibeonites had signed a peace treaty with Israel. 2 This frightened Adonizedek and his people. They knew that Gibeon was a large town, as big as the towns that had kings, and even bigger than the town of Ai had been. And all of the men of Gibeon were warriors. 3 So Adonizedek sent messages to the kings of four other towns: King Hoham of Hebron, King Piram of Jarmuth, King Japhia of Lachish, and King Debir of Eglon. The messages said, 4 "The Gibeonites have signed a peace treaty with Joshua and the Israelites. Come and help me attack Gibeon!" 5 When these five Amorite kings called their armies together and attacked Gibeon, 6 the Gibeonites sent a message to the Israelite camp at Gilgal: "Joshua, please come and rescue us! The Amorite kings from the hill country have joined together and are attacking us. We are your servants, so don't let us down. Please hurry!"

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

to the camp: Joshua 5:10, Joshua 9:6

Slack: 2 Kings 4:24

from thy: Joshua 9:15, Joshua 9:24, Joshua 9:25, Isaiah 33:22

mountains: Joshua 21:11, Deuteronomy 1:15, Psalms 125:2, Luke 1:39

Reciprocal: Joshua 4:19 - Gilgal Joshua 10:5 - General Joshua 10:15 - General Joshua 11:2 - on the north 1 Samuel 25:34 - hasted Psalms 123:2 - as the eyes Isaiah 27:5 - let him Luke 1:65 - all the

Cross-References

Genesis 9:22
Ham entered the tent and saw him naked, then went back outside and told his brothers.
1 Chronicles 4:40
and they found a lot of good pastureland that was quiet and undisturbed. This had once belonged to the Hamites,
Psalms 78:51
He killed the first-born son of each Egyptian family.
Psalms 105:23
Jacob and his family came and settled in Egypt as foreigners.
Psalms 105:27
to his people in Egypt, and they worked miracles and wonders there.
Psalms 106:22
and the fearsome things you did at the Red Sea.
Isaiah 11:11
When that day comes, the Lord will again reach out his mighty arm and bring home his people who have survived in Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Ethiopia, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, and the land along the coast.
Jeremiah 46:9
Go ahead, Egypt. Tell your chariots and cavalry to attack and fight hard. Order your troops to march out, with Ethiopians and Libyans carrying shields, and the Lydians armed with bows and arrows.
Ezekiel 27:10
Brave soldiers from Persia, Lydia, and Libya served in your navy, protecting you with shields and helmets, and making you famous.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal,.... Which some think they did when besieged, and not before, which showed their faith in the power of God, whom they now professed; but it is not likely that they should defer sending for help so long, since it is reasonable to suppose they might have heard of the design of the five kings against them; or that they should be able to send out messengers when surrounded on all sides; it may be better therefore to render the words, "had sent" m, which they did as soon as they heard of the preparations made by the five kings to war with them, and of their rendezvous at Jerusalem, and especially as soon as they had information of their march towards them:

saying, slack not thine hands from thy servants; they entreat that he would not neglect them, be indifferent to them, and delay to assist them, since they were his subjects; and were entitled to his protection:

come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us; they did not doubt, if he made haste and helped them, but they should be saved by him:

for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us. Jerusalem lay among mountains, and Hebron was in the hill country in Judea, see Psalms 125:2; and the other cities were doubtless in a like situation.

m וישלהו "sed miserant", Piscator; so Pool and Patrick.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The language reflects the urgency of the crisis. Accordingly Joshua made a forced march, accompanied only by his soldiers Joshua 10:7, and accomplished in a single night the distance from Gilgal to Gibeon (about 15 miles in a direct line), which on a former occasion had been a three days’ journey Joshua 9:17.


 
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