Study Desk

just as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded the Israelites. He built it according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses: an altar of uncut stones on which no iron tool had been used. And on it they offered burnt offerings to the LORD, and they sacrificed peace offerings.

they came together to wage war against Joshua and Israel.

They put worn, patched sandals on their feet and threadbare clothing on their bodies, and their whole supply of bread was dry and moldy.

They went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, "We have come from a distant land; please make a treaty with us."

"We are your servants," they said to Joshua. Then Joshua asked them, "Who are you and where have you come from?"

"Your servants have come from a very distant land," they replied, "because of the fame of the LORD your God. For we have heard the reports of Him and all that He did in Egypt,

These wineskins were new when we filled them, but look, they are cracked. And these clothes and sandals are worn out from our very long journey."

They continued, "Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for the whole congregation." So the leaders kept their promise.

So Joshua did this and delivered them from the hands of the Israelites, and they did not kill the Gibeonites.

On that day he made them woodcutters and water carriers, as they are to this day, for the congregation of the LORD and for the altar at the place He would choose.

"Come up and help me. We will attack Gibeon, because they have made peace with Joshua and the Israelites."

So the five kings of the Amorites-the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon-joined forces and advanced with all their armies. They camped before Gibeon and made war against it.

As they fled before Israel along the descent from Beth-horon to Azekah, the LORD cast down on them large hailstones from the sky, and more of them were killed by the hailstones than by the swords of the Israelites.

And Joshua was informed: "The five kings have been found; they are hiding in the cave at Makkedah."

So Joshua and the Israelites continued to inflict a terrible slaughter until they had finished them off, and the remaining survivors retreated to the fortified cities.

So they brought the five kings out of the cave-the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon.

When they had brought the kings to Joshua, he summoned all the men of Israel and said to the army commanders who had accompanied him, "Come here and put your feet on the necks of these kings." So the commanders came forward and put their feet on their necks.

At sunset Joshua ordered that they be taken down from the trees and thrown into the cave in which they had hidden. Then large stones were placed against the mouth of the cave, and the stones are there to this day.

And Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Libnah to Lachish. They laid siege to it and fought against it.

So Joshua moved on from Lachish to Eglon, and all Israel with him. They laid siege to it and fought against it.