•iue kinges of the Amorrheites besieging Gabaon, because it is confederate with Israel, 6. Iosue with his armie defeateth theirs, killing and pursewing them. 11. manie also are slaine with haile stones. 12, At the prayer of Iosue the sunne and moone stand stil the space of one day. 22. The fiue kinges are hanged on gibbetes. 28. He taketh also and subdueth diuers cities. 40. and countries.
1When Adonisedec, king of Jerusalem, had heard these things, to wit, that Josue had taken Hai, and had destroyed it, (for as he had done to Jericho and the king thereof, so did he to Hai and its king) and that the Gabaonites were gone over to Israel, and were their confederates,Ma avendo inteso Adonisedec re di Gerusalemme, come Giosuè avea presa Hai, e l'avea distrutta (perocché come avea fatto a Gerico, e al suo re, così avea fatto ad Hai, e al suo re), e come i Gabaoniti si erano voltati dalla parte d'Israele, e si eran collegati con esso,VVHICH thinges when Adonisedec king of Ierusalem had heard, to witte, that Iosue had taken Hai, and had subuerted it (for as he had done to Iericho & the king therof, so did he to Hai, & their king) and that the Gabaonites were fled to Israel, and were their confederates,Quæ cum audisset Adonisedec rex Jerusalem, quod scilicet cepisset Josue Hai, et subvertisset eam (sicut enim fecerat Jericho et regi ejus, sic fecit Hai et regi illius), et quod transfugissent Gabaonitæ ad Israël, et essent fœderati eorum, 2He was exceedingly afraid. For Gabaon was a great city, and one of the royal cities, and greater than the town of Hai, and all its fighting men were most valiant.Ebbe gran paura. Imperocché Gabaon era città grande, e una delle città reali, e più grande della città di Hai, e tutti i suoi guerrieri erano di sommo valore.he was sore afrayd. For Gabaon was a great cititie, and one of the kinglie cities, and greater then the towne of Hai, and al their men of warre most valiant.timuit valde. Urbs enim magna erat Gabaon, et una civitatum regalium, et major oppido Hai, omnesque bellatores ejus fortissimi. 3Therefore Adonisedec, king of Jerusalem, sent to Oham, king of Hebron, and to Pharam, king of Jerimoth, and to Japhia, king of Lachis, and to Dabir, king of Eglon, saying:Per la qual cosa Adonisedec re di Gerusalemme mandò gente ad Oham re di Hebron, e a Pharam re di Jerimoth, e anche a Japhia re di Lachis, e a Dabir re di Eglon, che dicesse loro:Therfore Adonisedec king of Ierusalem sent to Oham king of Hebron, and to Pharam king of Ierimoth, to Iaphia also king of Lachis, and to Dabir king of Eglon, saying:Misit ergo Adonisedec rex Jerusalem ad Oham regem Hebron, et ad Pharam regem Jerimoth, ad Japhia quoque regem Lachis, et ad Dabir regem Eglon, dicens: 4Come up to me, and bring help, that we may take Gabaon, because it hath gone over to Josue, and to the children of Israel.Venite a me, e conducetemi soccorso, affinchè espugniamo Gabaon: per qual motivo lasceremo ch'ella siasi voltata dalla parte di Giosuè, e de' figliuoli d'Israele?Come vp to me, and bring ayde, that we may ouercome Gabaon, because it reuolted to Iosue, & to the children of Israel.Ad me ascendite, et ferte præsidium, ut expugnemus Gabaon, quare transfugerit ad Josue, et ad filios Israël.
5So the five kings of the Amorrhites being assembled together, went up: the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jerimoth, the king of Lachis, the king of Eglon, they and their armies, and camped about Gabaon, laying siege to it.Si adunarono adunque, e si mossero cinque re Amorrhei, il re di Gerusalemme, il re di Hebron, il re di Jerimoth, il re di Lachis, il re di Eglon coi loro eserciti, e posero il campo intorno a Gabaon, e l'assediarono.Therfore the fiue kinges of the Amorrheites being assembled went vp: the king of Ierusulem, the king of Hebron, the king of Ierimoth, the king of Lachis, the king of Eglon, together with their hostes, & camped about Gabaon, assaulting it.Congregati igitur ascenderunt quinque reges Amorrhæorum: rex Jerusalem, rex Hebron, rex Jerimoth, rex Lachis, rex Eglon, simul cum exercitibus suis: et castrametati sunt circa Gabaon, oppugnantes eam. 6But 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.Ma gli abitatori dell'assediata città di Gabaon spediron gente a Giosuè, il quale era allora attendato in Galgala, e gli dissero: Non tirarti indietro dal recar aiuto a' tuoi servi: muoviti prestamente, e liberaci col tuo soccorso: perocché si sono collegati contro di noi tutti i re degli Amorrhei che abitan la montagna.But the inhabitantes of the citie Gabaon which was besieged, sent to Iosue, who then abode in the campe at Galgal, & said to him: withdraw not thy handes from the helpe of thy seruantes: come vp quickly and deliuer vs, and bring ayde: for there are assembled against vs al the kinges of the Ammorrheites, which dwel in the mountaines.Habitatores autem Gabaon urbis obsessæ miserunt ad Josue, qui tunc morabatur in castris apud Galgalam, et dixerunt ei: Ne retrahas manus tuas ab auxilio servorum tuorum: ascende cito, et libera nos, ferque præsidium: convenerunt enim adversum nos omnes reges Amorrhæorum, qui habitant in montanis. 7And Josue went up from Galgal, and all the army of the warriors with him, most valiant men.E Giosuè si mosse da Galgala, e con lui tutto l'esercito de' combattenti più valorosi.And Iosue went vp from Galgal, and al the hoste of the men of warre with him most valiant men.Ascenditque Josue de Galgalis, et omnis exercitus bellatorum cum eo, viri fortissimi. 8But the Lord said to Josue: Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thy hands: none of them shall be able to stand against thee.E il Signore disse a Giosuè: Non aver paura di coloro: perocché io gli ho dati in tuo potere: nissuno di loro potrà resistere a te.And our Lord said to Iosue: Feare them not: for I haue deliuered them into thy handes: none of them shal be able to resist thee.Dixitque Dominus ad Josue: Ne timeas eos: in manus enim tuas tradidi illos: nullus ex eis tibi resistere poterit.
9So Josue going up from Galgal all the night, came upon them suddenly.Giosuè adunque avendo camminato tutta la notte venendo da Galgala, improvvisamente gli assaltò.Iosue therfore came in vpon them sodenly, going vp al the night from GalgalIrruit itaque Josue super eos repente, tota nocte ascendens de Galgalis. 10And the Lord troubled them, at the sight of Israel: and he slew them with a great slaughter, in Gabaon, and pursued them by the way of the ascent to Bethoron, and cut them off all the way to Azeca and Maceda.E il Signore li mise in iscompiglio alla vista d'Israele: e diede loro una grande sconfitta a Gabaon, e (Israele) gl'inseguì facendone scempio per la strada che sale a Beth-horon sino ad Azeca, e Maceda.And our Lord trubled them at the sight of Israel: and destroyed them with a greate slaugher in Gabaon, and pursewed them by the way of the ascent to Bethoron, and stroke them vnto Azeca and MacedaEt conturbavit eos Dominus a facie Israël: contrivitque plaga magna in Gabaon, ac persecutus est eos per viam ascensus Bethoron, et percussit usque Azeca et Maceda. 11And when they were fleeing from the children of Israel, and were in the descent of Bethoron, the Lord cast down upon them great stones from heaven, as far as Azeca: and many more were killed with the hailstones, than were slain by the swords of the children of Israel,E nel sottrarsi colla fuga a' figliuoli d'Israele, essendo quelli nella discesa di Beth-horon, il Signore piovve sopra di loro dal cielo delle grandi pietre fino ad Azeca: e molti più perirono per la grandinata dei sassi, che pe' colpi delle spade de' figliuoli d'Israele.And when they fled the children of Israel, and were in the descent of Bethhoron, our Lord sent vpon them greate stones from heauen as farre as Azeca: and there died farre more with the stones of haile, then they whom the children of Israel had strooken with the sword.Cumque fugerent filios Israël, et essent in descensu Bethoron, Dominus misit super eos lapides magnos de cælo usque ad Azeca: et mortui sunt multo plures lapidibus grandinis, quam quos gladio percusserant filii Israël. 12Then Josue spoke to the Lord, in the day that he delivered the Amorrhite in the sight of the children of Israel, and he said before them: Move not, O sun, toward Gabaon, nor thou, O moon, toward the valley of Ajalon.Allora si fu che Giosuè parlò al Signore nel giorno, in cui egli abbandonò gli Amorrhei al potere de' figliuoli d'Israele, e disse alla loro presenza: Sole, non ti muovere di sopra Gabaon; Luna, non muoverti di sopra la valle di Ajalon.Then spake Iosue to our Lord in the day, that he deliuered the Amorreite in the sight of Israel, and said before them: Thou Sunne against Gabaon moue not, and thou Moone against the valley of Aialon.Tunc locutus est Josue Domino, in die qua tradidit Amorrhæum in conspectu filiorum Israël, dixitque coram eis: Sol, contra Gabaon ne movearis, / et luna contra vallem Ajalon.
13And the sun and the moon stood still, till the people revenged themselves of their enemies. Is not this written in the book of the just? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down the space of one day.E si fermarono il sole e la luna, fintantoché il popolo facesse vendetta de' suoi nemici. Questa cosa non è ella scritta nel libro de' giusti? Stette adunque fermo il sole nel mezzo del cielo, e non si affrettò a tramontare per lo spazio di un giorno.And the Sunne and Moone stoode stil, til the people reuenged themselues of their enemies. Is not this writren in the booke of the iust? The Sunne therfore stood stil in the middes of heauen, and hastened not to goe downe the space of one day.Steteruntque sol et luna, / donec ulcisceretur se gens de inimicis suis. Nonne scriptum est hoc in libro justorum ? Stetit itaque sol in medio cæli, et non festinavit occumbere spatio unius diei. 14There was not before, nor after, so long a day, the Lord obeying the voice of a man, and fighting for Israel.Non fu mai nè prima, nè dopo giornata sì lunga, obbedendo il Signore alla voce di un uomo, e pugnando in favor d'Israele.There was not before nor after so long a day, our Lord obeying the voice of a man, and fighting for Israel.Non fuit antea nec postea tam longa dies, obediente Domino voci hominis, et pugnante pro Israël. 15And Josue returned, with all Israel, into the camp of Galgal.E se ne tornò Giosuè con tutto Israele agli alloggiamenti di Galgala.And Iosue returned with al Israel into the campe of Galgal.Reversusque est Josue cum omni Israël in castra Galgalæ. 16For the five kings were fled, and had hid themselves in a cave of the city of Maceda.Or i cinque re eran fuggiti, e si erano nascosti in una caverna della città di Maceda:For the fiue kinges were fled, and had hid themselues in a caue of the citie of Maceda.Fugerant enim quinque reges et se absconderant in spelunca urbis Maceda. 17And it was told Josue, that the five kings were found hid in a cave of the city of Maceda.E fu recato avviso a Giosuè come erano stati scoperti i cinque re appiattati nella caverna della città di Maceda.And it was told Iosue that the fiue kinges were found lying hid in a caue of the citie of Maceda.Nuntiatumque est Josue quod inventi essent quinque reges latentes in spelunca urbis Maceda. 18And he commanded them that were with him, saying: Roll great stones to the mouth of the cave, and set careful men to keep them shut up:Ed egli ordinò, e disse a' compagni: Rotolate delle grandi pietre all'imboccatura della caverna, e mettetevi degli uomini diligenti a guardia di que' che son dentro.Who commanded them saying: Rowle great stones into the mouth of the caue, and sette industrious men, which may keepe them shut in:Qui præcepit sociis, et ait: Volvite saxa ingentia ad os speluncæ, et ponite viros industrios, qui clausos custodiant:
19And stay you not, but pursue after the enemies, and kill all the hindermost of them as they flee, and do not suffer them whom the Lord God hath delivered into your hands, to shelter themselves in their cities.Ma voi non istate oziosi, anzi inseguite il nemico, e uccidete i men lesti alla fuga: e non permettete che si rifuggano nelle loro città forti quelli che Dio ha dato nelle mani vostre.and stand not you stil, but pursew the enemies, and kil al the hindermost of them that flee, neither let them enter into the sortes of their cities, whom our Lord God hath deliuered into your handes.vos autem nolite stare, sed persequimini hostes, et extremos quosque fugientium cædite: nec dimittatis eos urbium suarum intrare præsidia, quos tradidit Dominus Deus in manus vestras. 20So the enemies being slain with a great slaughter, and almost utterly consumed, they that were able to escape from Israel, entered into fenced cities.Fu adunque fatto gran macello de' nemici, quasi fino all'ultimo loro esterminio; e quegli, a' quali riuscì di sottrarsi alle mani d'Israele, entrarono nelle città forti.The aduersaries therfore being slaine with a great slaughter, and almost consumed to vtter destruction, they that could escape from Israel, entered into fensed cities.Cæsis ergo adversariis plaga magna, et usque ad internecionem pene consumptis, hi qui Israël effugere potuerunt, ingressi sunt civitates munitas. 21And all the army returned to Josue, in Maceda, where the camp then was, in good health, and without the loss of any one: and no man durst move his tongue against the children of Israel.E tutto l'esercito se ne tornò salvo, e senza perdita di un uomo a trovar Giosuè in Maceda, dove allora era il campo: e non v'ebbe cane che abbaiasse contro i figliuoli d'Israele.And al the hoste returned to Iosue in Maceda, where then the campe was, safe and the ful number: and no man durst once mutter against the children of Israel?Reversusque est omnis exercitus ad Josue in Maceda, ubi tunc erant castra, sani et integro numero: nullusque contra filios Israël mutire ausus est. 22And Josue gave orders, saying: Open the mouth of the cave, and bring forth to me the five kings that lie hid therein.E Giosuè ordinò, e disse: Aprite l'imboccatura della caverna, e menate fuora dinanzi a me i cinque re che vi sono appiattati.And Iosue commanded, saying: Open the mouth of the caue, and bring forth to me the fiue kinges, that lie hid therin.Præcepitque Josue, dicens: Aperite os speluncæ, et producite ad me quinque reges, qui in ea latitant.
23And the ministers did as they were commanded: and they brought out to him the five kings out of the cave: the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jerimoth, the king of Lachis, the king of Eglon.E i ministri eseguirono il comando, e trasser fuora dalla caverna, e presentarono a lui i cinque re, il re di Gerusalemme, il re di Hebron, il re di Jerimoth, il re di Lachis, il re di Eglon.And the ministers did as it was commanded them: and they brought to him the fiue kinges out of the caue, the king of Ierusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Ierimoth, the king of Lachis, the king of Eglon.Feceruntque ministri ut sibi fuerat imperatum: et eduxerunt ad eum quinque reges de spelunca, regem Jerusalem, regem Hebron, regem Jerimoth, regem Lachis, regem Eglon. 24And when they were brought out to him, he called all the men of Israel, and said to the chiefs of the army that were with him: Go, and set your feet on the necks of these kings. And when they had gone, and put their feet upon the necks of them lying under them,E condotti che furono alla sua presenza, chiamò egli a sè tutti gli uomini d'Israele, e disse a' principi dell'esercito, che eran accanto a lui: Andate, e mettete i piedi sul collo di questi re. E quegli essendo andati, e avendo calpestati co' piedi i colli di que' re soggiogati,And when they were brought forth to him, he called al the men of Israel, and said to the princes of the hoste that were with him: Goe, and sette your feete vpon the neckes of these kinges. Who when they had gone, and troden with their feete the neckes of them lying vnder,Cumque educti essent ad eum, vocavit omnes viros Israël, et ait ad principes exercitus qui secum erant: Ite, et ponite pedes super colla regum istorum. Qui cum perrexissent, et subjectorum colla pedibus calcarent, 25He said again to them: Fear not, neither be ye dismayed, take courage, and be strong: for so will the Lord do to all your enemies, against whom you fight.Disse egli loro di nuovo: Non temete, non vi sbigottite, fatevi cuore, siate costanti: perocché così farà il Signore a tutti i nemici vostri, contro dei quali avete a combattere.againe he said to them: Feare ye not, neither dread, take courage and be strong: for so wil our Lord doe to al your enemies, against whom you fight.rursum ait ad eos: Nolite timere, nec paveatis: confortamini, et estote robusti: sic enim faciet Dominus cunctis hostibus vestris, adversum quos dimicatis. 26And Josue struck, and slew them, and hanged them upon five gibbets; and they hung until the evening.Indi Giosuè li fece battere, e uccidere, e li fece impiccare a cinque forche, e rimaser appiccati fino alla sera.And Iosue stroke, and slew them, and hanged them vpon fiue gibbettes: & they hung vntil euening.Percussitque Josue, et interfecit eos, atque suspendit super quinque stipites: fueruntque suspensi usque ad vesperum.
27And when the sun was down, he commanded the soldiers to take them down from the gibbets. And after they were taken down, they cast them into the cave, where they had lain hid, and put great stones at the mouth thereof, which remain until this day.E sul tramontar del sole ordinò a' compagni di levarli dai loro patiboli. E levatili, li gettarono nella caverna, in cui erano appiattati, e misero sull'entrata delle grosse pietre, le quali vi son rimase fino al dì d'oggi.And when the sunne was downe, he commanded the soldiars to take them downe from the gibbettes Who cast them being taken downe into the caue, wherin they had lyen hid, & put on the mouth therof great stones, which continew vntil this present.Cumque occumberet sol, præcepit sociis ut deponerent eos de patibulis. Qui depositos projecerunt in speluncam in qua latuerant, et posuerunt super os ejus saxa ingentia, quæ permanent usque in præsens. 28The same day Josue took Maceda, and destroyed it with the edge of the sword, and killed the king and all the inhabitants thereof: he left not in it the least remains. And he did to the king of Maceda, as he had done to the king of Jericho.Lo stesso giorno prese ancor Giosuè per forza la città di Maceda, e mise a fil di spada il suo re, e tutti gli abitanti di essa: nè vi lasciò nemmen qualche piccolo avanzo. E fece al re di Maceda, come avea fatto al re di Gerico.The same day Iosue tooke Maceda and stroke it in the edge of the sword, & killed the king & al the inhabitantes therof: he left not in it so much as smale reliques. And he did to the king of Maceda, as he had done to the king of Iericho.Eodem quoque die, Macedam cepit Josue, et percussit eam in ore gladii, regemque illius interfecit, et omnes habitatores ejus: non dimisit in ea saltem parvas reliquias. Fecitque regi Maceda sicut fecerat regi Jericho. 29And he passed from Maceda with all Israel to Lebna, and fought against it:E da Maceda passò con tutto Israele a Lebna, e l'assediò:and he passed with al Israel from Maceda vnto Lebna, and fought against it:Transivit autem cum omni Israël de Maceda in Lebna, et pugnabat contra eam: 30And the Lord delivered it with the king thereof into the hands of Israel: and they destroyed the city with the edge of the sword, and all the inhabitants thereof. They left not in it any remains. And they did to the king of Lebna, as they had done to the king of Jericho.E il Signore la diede insieme col suo re nelle mani d'Israele; e misero a fil di spada quanti si trovarono abitatori nella città: e non vi lasciaron anima viva. E fecero al re di Lebna, come avean fatto al re di Gerico.which our Lord deliuered with the king therof into the handes of Israel: and they stroke the citie in the edge of the sword, and al the inhabitantes therof they left not in it anie remaines. And they did to the king of Lebna, as they had done to the king of Iericho.quam tradidit Dominus cum rege suo in manus Israël: percusseruntque urbem in ore gladii, et omnes habitatores ejus: non dimiserunt in ea ullas reliquias. Feceruntque regi Lebna sicut fecerant regi Jericho.
31From Lebna he passed unto Lachis, with all Israel: and investing it with his army, besieged it.Da Lebna passò a Lachis con tutto Israele: e circondatala col suo esercito l'assediò.From Lebna he passed vnto Lachis with al Israel: and placing the hoste round about assaulted it.De Lebna transivit in Lachis cum omni Israël: et exercitu per gyrum disposito, oppugnabat eam. 32And the Lord delivered Lachis into the hands of Israel, and he took it the following day, and put it to the sword, and every soul that was in it, as he had done to Lebna.E il Signore diede Lachis nelle mani d'Israele, e la prese il secondo giorno, e mise a fil di spada tutta la gente che v'era dentro, come avea fatto a Lebna.And our Lord deliuered Lachis into the handes of Israel, and he tooke it the day folowing, and stroke it in the edge of the sword, and euerie soule, that was in it, as he had done to Lebna.Tradiditque Dominus Lachis in manus Israël, et cepit eam die altero, atque percussit in ore gladii, omnemque animam quæ fuerat in ea, sicut fecerat Lebna. 33At that time Horam, king of Gazer, came up to succour Lachis: and Josue slew him with all his people so as to leave none alive.In quel tempo si mosse Horam re di Gazer per recare soccorso a Lachis: e Giosuè lo sconfisse con tutta la sua gente fino all'ultimo sterminio.At that time went vp Horam the king of Gazer, to ayde Lachis: whom Iosue stroke with al his people to vtter destruction.Eo tempore ascendit Horam rex Gazer, ut auxiliaretur Lachis: quem percussit Josue cum omni populo ejus usque ad internecionem. 34And he passed from Lachis to Eglon, and surrounded it,E passò da Lachis ad Eglon, e vi pose assedio.And he passed from Lachis vnto Eglon, and compassed it,Transivitque de Lachis in Eglon, et circumdedit, 35And took it the same day: and put to the sword all the souls that were in it, according to all that he had done to Lachis.E la espugnò nel medesimo giorno: e mise a fil di spada tutta la gente che vi era dentro, appunto come avea fatto a Lachis.and wonne it the same day: & stroke in the edge of the sword al the soules, that were in it according to al thinges that he had done to Lachis.atque expugnavit eam eadem die: percussitque in ore gladii omnes animas quæ erant in ea, juxta omnia quæ fecerat Lachis. 36He went up also with all Israel from Eglon to Hebron, and fought against it:Andò parimente con tutto Israele da Eglon a Hebron, e le pose l'assedio:He went vp also with al Israel from Eglon vnto Hebron, and fought against it:Ascendit quoque cum omni Israël de Eglon in Hebron, et pugnavit contra eam: 37Took it, and destroyed it with the edge of the sword: the king also thereof, and all the towns of that country, and all the souls that dwelt in it: he left not therein any remains: as he had done to Eglon, so did he also to Hebron, putting to the sword all that he found in it.E la prese, e mise tutto a fil di spada, ucciso anche il suo re, e così fece a tutte le piccole città di quel paese, e a tutta la gente che vi abitava: non la perdonò a nissuno: come avea fatto ad Eglon, così fece anche ad Hebron, mettendo a fil di spada quanta gente vi ritrovò.tooke it, and stroke it in the edge of the sword, the king also therof, and al townes of that countrie, & al the soules, that remained in it: he left not therein anie remaynes: as he had done to Eglon, so did he also to Hebron, al thinges that he found in it consumning with the sword.cepit eam, et percussit in ore gladii, regem quoque ejus, et omnia oppida regionis illius, universasque animas quæ in ea fuerant commoratæ: non reliquit in ea ullas reliquias: sicut fecerat Eglon, sic fecit et Hebron, cuncta quæ in ea reperit consumens gladio.
38Returning from thence to Dabir,Indi tornò verso Dabir,Thence returning vnto Dabir,Inde reversus in Dabir, 39He took it, and destroyed it: the king also thereof, and all the towns round about, he destroyed with the edge of the sword: he left not in it any remains: as he had done to Hebron and Lebna, and to their kings, so did he to Dabir, and to the king thereof.La prese, e la saccheggiò: e uccise il suo, re, e mise a fil di spada quanta gente si trovò anche per le città circonvicine: non vi lasciò anima viva: come avea fatto ad Hebron, e a Lebna, e a' loro re, così fece a Dabir, e al suo re.he tooke it, and wasted it: the king also therof and al the townes round about he stroke in the edge of the sword: he left not in it anie remaines: as he had done to Hebron and Lebna and to their kinges, so did he to Dabir and the king therof.cepit eam atque vastavit: regem quoque ejus atque omnia per circuitum oppida percussit in ore gladii: non dimisit in ea ullas reliquias: sicut fecerat Hebron et Lebna et regibus earum, sic fecit Dabir et regi illius. 40So Josue conquered all the country of the hills, and of the south, and of the plain, and of Asedoth, with their kings: he left not any remains therein, but slew all that breathed, as the Lord, the God of Israel, had commanded him.Giosuè adunque devastò tutto il paese montuoso, e di mezzodì, e il paese di pianura, e Asedoth co' loro re: non vi lasciò reliquia, ma uccise tutto quello che respirava, come gli aveva ordinato il Signore Dio d'Israele.Iosue therfore stroke al the hillie countrie and south and champaine, and Asedoth with their kinges: he left not in it anie reliques, but euerie thing that could breath he slew, as our Lord the God of Israel had commanded him,Percussit itaque Josue omnem terram montanam et meridianam atque campestrem, et Asedoth, cum regibus suis: non dimisit in ea ullas reliquias, sed omne quod spirare poterat interfecit, sicut præceperat ei Dominus Deus Israël, 41From Cadesbarne even to Gaza. All the land of Gosen even to Gabaon,Da Cadesbarne sino a Gaza, e tutta la terra di Gosen fino a Gabaon:from Cadesbarne vnto Gaza. Al the Land of Gosen vnto Gabaon,a Cadesbarne usque Gazam. Omnem terram Gosen usque Gabaon, 42And all their kings, and their lands he took and wasted at one onset: for the Lord the God of Israel fought for him.E in una scorsa prese tutti i re, e devastò i loro paesi: perocché il Signore Dio d'Israele combattè per lui.and al their kinges, and countries he tooke and wasted at one assault: for our Lord the God of Israel suoght for him.universosque reges, et regiones eorum uno impetu cepit atque vastavit: Dominus enim Deus Israël pugnavit pro eo.
43And he returned with all Israel to the place of the camp in Galgal.E se ne tornò con tutto Israele a Galgala, dove era l'accampamento.And he returned with al Israel to the place of the campe in Galgal.Reversusque est cum omni Israël ad locum castrorum in Galgala.
10:1
Year of the World 2553.
Masius
Adonisedec means, "Lord of justice," as Melchisedec denotes "the king of justice;" perhaps Salem was originally styled Zedec. (Masius)
Menochius
This king had probably some control over the neighbouring cities. (Menochius)
He was also in the greatest danger; and not daring to attack the Israelites, he resolves to fall upon the Gabaonites unawares, that other cities might be deterred from following their example.
Confederates. Hebrew, "and were among them," which may signify either that the Israelites were to dwell in the towns belonging to the Gabaonites, or that the latter should live along with them, as one and the same people, following the same religion, and bound together by the same interests.
10:2
Haydock
Septuagint, "It was like a royal metropolis." (Haydock)
Valiant. Prudence therefore, and not fear, had influenced them to take this step.
10:3
Hebron was about 24 miles south of Jerusalem, and Jerimoth 16. Lachis was a very famous city, (4 Kings xiv., and 18:14,) about nine miles south of Eleutheropolis, which was itself situated about 20,000 paces towards the south of Jerusalem; (Itin. Anton.) though some assert it was 22 or 32 miles distant. Eusebius and St. Jerome generally fix the situation of places by this city. Eglon was twelve miles to the eastward of it. The Septuagint read Odollam, (Calmet) which was either the same city, (Eusebius) or one probably near it, Josue 12:12-15.; and ver. 35, 39.
10:5
Haydock
Amorrhites is a generical term, as well as Chanaanite, to denote the people of the country. The other kings did not come to the assistance (Calmet) of these five, ver. 40. (Haydock)
Yet the people of Gabaon might suspect the worst, or exaggerate, in order to make Josue come with greater expedition. He was then at Galgal, above twenty miles distant, and set off the next night, coming unexpectedly upon the confederate kings early in the morning, ver. 9.
10:10
Troubled them. Septuagint, "filled them with consternation;" so that they knew not what to do, Exodus 23:17.
Haydock
Bethoron. There were two cities of this name in the tribe of Ephraim, rebuilt by Sara, 1 Paralipomenon vii.. 24. The lower was twelve miles from Jerusalem. Maceda was eight from Eleutheropolis to the east, as Azeca was about the same distance west of Jerusalem, and not far from Soco, 1 Kings 17:1. Thus Josue proceeded westward to Gabaon and Bethoron, where he defeated the confederates, and pursued them, as they fled to their respective cities in the south, on the road between Jerusalem and the country of the Philistines, as far as Maceda. (Haydock)
10:11
Azeca, for the space of twelve miles.
Hailstones, of an uncommon size, accompanied with thunder and lightning, Habacuc 3:11. (Josephus, [Antiquities?] 5:1.) (Calmet) (Ecclesiasticus 46:6.)
Menochius
Of the same nature was the seventh plague of Egypt, Exodus 9:23. (Menochius)
Calmet
Real stones may very probably have been hurled against the enemy, by means of some hurricane or vulcano, which God directed against the Chanaanites. Several instances of showers of stones are recorded in history. (Calmet, Dissert.)
Montfaucon
Even quantities of stone and earth, sufficient to form new islands, have been thus thrown up. (Montfaucon.)
The isle of Santorin, in the Archipelago, appeared in 1707.
10:12
Them. This may be considered as a canticle of victory, containing a fervent prayer, which was presently followed with the desired effect.
Calmet
Aialon. Hebrew, "Sun, in Gabaon, be silent; (move not) and thou, moon, in the valley of Aialon," or "of the wood," which was probably not far from Gabaon. Josue had pursued the enemy at mid-day, to the west of that city, when turning round, he addressed this wonderful command to the sun. It is supposed that the moon appeared at the same time. But the meaning may only be, that the sun and the course of the stars should be interrupted for a time. (Calmet)
Menochius
The sun and the moon stood still in their habitation, Hebrews 3:11. (Menochius)
Many have called in question this miracle, with Maimonides, or have devised various means to explain it away, by having recourse to a parhelion or reflection of the sun by a cloud, or to a light which was reverberated by the mountains, after the sun was set, etc. (Proedam 4:6.; Spinosa; Grotius; Le Clerc)
Calmet
But if these authors believe the Scriptures, they may spare themselves the trouble of devising such improbable explanations, as this fact is constantly represented as a most striking miracle. If St. Paul (Hebrews 11:30,) make no mention of it, he did not engage to specify every miracle that had occurred. He does not so much as mention Josue, nor the passage of the Jordan, etc., so that it is a matter of surprise that Grotius should adduce this negative argument, to disprove the reality of the miracle. (Calmet)
Calmet
The pretended impossibility of it, or the inconvenience arising to the fatigued soldiers from the long continuance of the day, will make but small impression upon those who consider, that God was the chief agent; and that he who made all out of nothing, might easily stop the whole machinery of the world for a time, and afterwards put it in motion again, without causing any derangement in the different parts. (Calmet)
Haydock
It is not material whether the sun turn round the earth, or the contrary. (Haydock)
Calmet
The Hebrews generally supposed that the earth was immovable; and on this idea Josue addresses the sun. Philosophers have devised various intricate systems: but the Scripture is expressed in words suitable to the conceptions of the people. The exterior effect would be the same, whether the sun or the earth stood still. Pagan authors have not mentioned this miracle, because none of the works of that age have come down to us. We find, however, that they acknowledged a power in magic capable of effecting such a change. Cessavere vices rerum dilataque longa, Haesit nocte dies: legi non paruit aether, Torpuit et praeceps audito carmine mundus. (Lucan, Phars. vi.) See Homer, Odyssey 12:382., and 23:242. This miracle would not render Josue superior to Moses, as some have argued. For all miracles are equally impossible to man, and equally easy to God: the greatness of a miracle is not a proof of greater sanctity. (Calmet)
Haydock
Aialon lay to the south-west of Gabaon. (Haydock)
Worthington
Josue ordered the moon to stop, as a necessary consequence of the sun's standing still. God condescended to grant his request. (Worthington)
10:13
Challoner
The book of the just. In Hebrew Sepher hayashar; an ancient book long since lost. (Challoner)
Calmet
It was probably of the same nature with that of the wars of the Lord, (Numbers 21:4,) containing an account of the most memorable occurrences which concerned the people of Israel, the just, or Ischuron, Deuteronomy 33:5. Josephus ([Antiquities?] 5:2,) says, such "records were kept in the archives of the temple." They were drawn up by people of character. The quotations inserted are in a poetical style, as the book might contain various canticles, though the rest was written in prose. See 2 Kings 1:18. It might appear unnecessary for Josue to appeal to this work, as the fact in question was known to all. (Calmet)
Haydock
But too great precaution could not be taken to prevent the danger of people calling in question the reality of the miracle. If the book of the just was a more detailed history of facts, out of which this work of Josue has been compiled, as Theodoret supposes, the author might very well remit the more inquisitive reader to that authentic source. (Haydock)
Calmet
Midst. It was then almost noon. (Calmet)
Haydock
Josue was nevertheless afraid lest the day should not allow them time to destroy their fleeing enemies completely. (Haydock)
Calmet
If the evening had been at hand, he would have said, return sun towards Gabaon, as it would have been on the west of his army. The battle had begun early in the morning, and the pursuit had lasted perhaps four or five hours. (Calmet)
Haydock
Day. Hebrew, "about a whole day." Many think that a day here comprises 24 hours; and as the sun had been above the horizon six hours, and continued other six, it must have been visible for the space of 36 hours, as the Jews believe, and as it is specified in St. Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho. The author of Ecclesiasticus 46:5, says, Was not the sun stopped in his anger, and one day made as two? that is, 24 hour long, allowing 12 unequal ones to form a day, according to the reckoning of those times. Others suppose that the day of Josue might consist of 18 (Calmet) or of 48 hours. But how would the soldiers be able to support such a fatigue? They had been marching all the preceding night from Galgal. (Haydock)
Calmet
If they had stopped to take refreshment, their enemies would have escaped. Hence some of the Fathers imagine, that God enabled his people to pursue them without taking any food. (St. Jerome, contra Jov. ii.) They might, however, take some along with them, as it was then customary; and eat as they pursued, whenever they could find an opportunity. Josue had given no prohibition; and Jonathan observed that his father, Saul, had troubled Israel, by following a different plan, 1 Kings 14:24. (Calmet)
10:14
Haydock
Long. This word is not found in Hebrew, "and there was no day like that, before it, or after it, that the Lord hearkened unto," etc. But God had often wrought miracles before, at the prayer of his servants. The difference between this day and all others, must be therefore in the length, or in the stopping of the heavenly bodies. (Haydock)
Calmet
The long day which the prayer of Ezechias procured, (4 Kings xx., and Isaias xxxviii.) consisted of 32 hours; or, supposing that the retrograde motion of the sun was instantaneous on the dial, it might only be 22 hours in length. (Calmet)
Haydock
But if the day of Ezechias had been even longer, the words of this text may be verified, that neither in times past, nor while the author lived, had any such day been known. See Amama, p. 383. (Haydock)
Calmet
Obeying. God is ready to grant the requests of his servants, Isaias 58:9. "We remark something still stronger, in the power which he has given to priests, to consecrate the body and blood of Jesus Christ in the sacrament of the eucharist." (Calmet)
10:15
Calmet
Galgal. Masius supposes, that here the quotation from the book of the just terminates. The Roman and Alexandrian Septuagint place this verse at the end of the chapter. (Calmet)
Haydock
Grabe has it in both places with a star, to shew that it is taken from Theodotion. (Haydock)
In effect, Josue did not return to his camp till he had completed the business of the day, by destroying the five kings. After which, he proceeded to conquer that part of the country. He might have designed to return, (Calmet) and even have begun his march, (Du Hamel) when he was diverted from proceeding, by the news that the kings had been discovered. So we often say, that a person does what he is on the point of doing. See Genesis 37:21., and Numbers 34:25.
10:17
Calmet
City, or territory. (Calmet)
Haydock
The kings had sought their own safety in flight, leaving their people to make their escape as well as they could. But their cowardly behaviour only brought upon them a more dishonourable death. Josue and some of the forces stopped in the environs of Maceda, while the rest pursued after the fugitives, and slew all that had not strength to enter the fenced cities. (Haydock)
Calmet
Then all the army assembled round their leader, took Maceda, and completed the victory of that most memorable day, by the ignominious death of the five kings. (Calmet)
Worthington
God permitted some to escape, lest the land should be overrun with wild beasts; (Exodus 23:29,) and to instruct us that his children must suffer tribulation, to prevent the growth of vice. (Worthington)
10:21
Masius
No man, (nullus.) Some supply canis, "dog," alluding to the proverbial expression, Exodus 11:7. (Masius, etc.)
Calmet
Septuagint, "not one of the Israelites moved his tongue." (Calmet)
Haydock
All was profound silence, in expectation of what would be determined respecting the unfortunate kings. (Haydock)
10:24
Feet, as Moses had foretold, Deuteronomy 33:29. The conduct of Josue would appear cruel, if we did not reflect that he was only the executioner of the divine justice, which was pleased thus to punish these proud and impious princes, that others might not imitate their example.
10:27
Down. (Deuteronomy xxi.) The victorious army had returned some time before the evening, and had time to take the city of Maceda; though some, without reason, believe that this took place the day following.
10:28
Calmet
Remains of inhabitants. (Calmet)
Haydock
The king was gibbeted and stoned. (Haydock)
10:30
Calmet
Lebna, not far from Eleutheropolis. From before this city Sennacherib dispatched his menacing order to Ezechias, 4 Kings 19:8. (Calmet)
10:32
Lachis was still farther south. Josue took it the second day of the siege.
10:33
Calmet
Gazer, near Azotus, in the country of the Philistines. It is not said that Josue took this city. It was given long after to Solomon by the king of Egypt, 3 Kings 9:15., and Josue 16:10. (Calmet)
10:37
Challoner
The king, viz., the new king, who succeeded him that was slain, ver. 26. (Challoner)
Caleb afterwards took Hebron, which, it seems, the Chanaanites had seized again and fortified, while Josue was conquering other parts of the country. He could not leave garrisons in all the cities which he took, and hence he set many of them on fire. After the strength of the country was broken, he knew that the Israelites might easily subdue the few isolated cities which he was forced to leave behind. But they proved so negligent, that many places were left in the possession of the Chanaanites, which proved a stumbling block to God's people.
10:38
Dabir, which was formerly called Cariath sepher, "the city of the book," (chap. 15:15,) or of Senna, (chap. 15:45,) near Hebron. It was taken again by Othoniel and Caleb.
10:40
Hills of Judea.
South of the promised land.
Plain. Hebrew, Sephela, a flat country near Eleutheropolis. (St. Jerome in Abd. 1:19; 1 Machabees 12:38.)
Asedoth, "of the springs."
Challoner
Remains. God ordered these people to be utterly destroyed, in punishment of their manifold abominations; and that they might not draw the Israelites into the like sins. (Challoner)
10:41
Gaza. These cities were on the southern limits of the land of Chanaan, and of the Philistines.
Menochius
Gosen, or Gessen, where the Hebrews had formerly dwelt. It was then very fertile, Josue 13:3. The territory of Juda extended as far as the Nile; (Calmet) or this country may have resembled the country of Gessen, Genesis xlvi. (Menochius)
Haydock
It seems indeed rather wonderful, that if this was a part of the promised land, God should order his people to leave it, as it were, to the Egyptians; and after they had occupied another part of the country, should seize it again. But he might have secret reasons for this order. (Haydock)
10:13
The book of the just.... In Hebrew Jasher: an ancient book long since lost.
10:37
The king.... Viz., the new king, who succeeded him that was slain, ver. 26.
10:40
Any remains therein, but slew, etc.... God ordered these people to be utterly destroyed, in punishment of their manifold abomination; and that they might not draw the Israelites into the like sins.
10:12
Iosue did thinke if the moone moued the sunne also must necessarily moue so he obtained the stay of both.
10:14
Til after the time this booke was written.
God condescending to worke so great a miracle at the instance of his seruant.
10:20
God so disposed, that they should not cō quer al in one yeare: lest the land had benne brought into a vvildernes, and beastes increased against them Exod. 23. v. 29. Morally it signifieth, that the children of God must be exercised in tribulations and mortification lest vices grow in them. Procop. in Exod.
10:1
san Girolamo † 420 d.C. The Letters of St. Jerome 76.3
… Remind her that she must pass through snares innumerable to arrive at mount Nebo and the River Jordan, that she must receive circumcision anew at Gilgal, that Jericho must fall before her, overthrown by the blasts of priestly trumpets, that Adoni-zedec must be slain,
10:3
san Girolamo † 420 d.C. Against Jovinianus 1.21
… “loose thy shoe, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.” For if the armed host of the Lord was represented by the trumpets of the priests, we may see in Jericho a type of the overthrow of the world by the preaching of the Gospel. And to pass over endless details (for it is not my purpose now to unfold all the mysteries of the Old Testament),
10:12
Tertulliano † 220 d.C. On Fasting 10
In Exodus, was not that position of Moses, battling against Amalek by prayers, maintained as it was perseveringly even till “sunset,” a “late Station?” Think we that Joshua the son of Nun, when warring down the Amorites, had breakfasted on that day on which he ordered the very elements to keep a Station?
sant'Ippolito † 235 d.C. On Isaiah 1
… And again, when Joshua the son of Nun was fighting against the Amorites, when the sun was now inclining to its setting, and the battle was being pressed closely, Joshua, being anxious lest the heathen host should escape on the descent of night, cried out, saying, “Sun, stand thou still in Gibeon; and thou moon, in the valley of Ajalon,”
sant'Atanasio di Alessandria † 373 d.C. Festal and Personal Letters of Athanasius 29-2
… For although the Red Sea was divided before by Moses , yet it was not Moses who did it, for it came to pass, not because he spoke, but because God commanded. And if the sun stood still in Gibeon
sant'Ambrogio † 397 d.C. On the Duties of the Clergy 1.40
… But how brave was Joshua the son of Nun, who in one battle laid low five kings together with their people! Again, when he fought against the Gibeonites and feared that night might stop him from gaining the victory, he called out with deep faith and high spirit:
sant'Ambrogio † 397 d.C. On the Duties of the Clergy 2.20
… Wherefore it happens that he who had been his companion in this intercourse with God succeeded to his power. Worthy surely was he to stand forth as a man who might stay the course of the river, and who might say: “Sun, stand still,” and delay the night and lengthen the day, as though to witness his victory.
san Giovanni Crisostomo † 407 d.C. The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Epistle to the Hebrews 27
Consider of how great value is the righteous man. Joshua the son of Nun said, “Let the sun stand still at Gibeon, the moon at the valley of Elom” (
san Girolamo † 420 d.C. The Letters of St. Jerome 108.8
… an action by which He dedicated the house of Cleopas as a church. Starting thence she made her way up lower and higher Beth-horon, cities founded by Solomon but subsequently destroyed by several devastating wars; seeing on her right Ajalon and Gibeon where Joshua the son of Nun when fighting against the five kings gave commandments to the sun and moon,
sant'Agostino d'Ippona † 430 d.C. The Confessions 11.23
… Let no man then tell me that the motions of the heavenly bodies are times, because, when at the prayer of one the sun stood still in order that he might achieve his victorious battle, the sun stood still, but time went on. For in such space of time as was sufficient was that battle fought and ended.
sant'Agostino d'Ippona † 430 d.C. Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. John 91.2
… Who else save Joshua the son of Nun divided the stream of the Jordan for the people to pass over, and by the utterance of a prayer to God bridled and stopped the revolving sun?
10:13
Tertulliano † 220 d.C. The Five Books Against Marcion 4.42
… But, behold, the very elements are shaken. For their Lord was suffering. If, however, it was their enemy to whom all this injury was done, the heaven would have gleamed with light, the sun would have been even more radiant, and the day would have prolonged its course
Afraate † 346 d.C. Aphrahat: Select Demonstrations 1.16
… Also Joshua the son of Nun by faith cast down the walls of Jericho, and they fell without difficulty. Again by faith he destroyed thirty-one kings and made the children of Israel to inherit the land. Furthermore by his faith he spread out his hands towards heaven and stayed the sun in Gibeon and the moon in the valley of Ajalon.
san Gregorio Nazianzeno † 389 d.C. Select Orations of Saint Gregory Nazianzen 45
… bread shall be rained down: the rock shall become a fountain; Amalek shall be conquered, not with arms alone, but with the hostile hand of the righteous forming both prayers and the invincible trophy of the Cross; the River shall be cut off; the sun shall stand still; and the moon be restrained; walls shall be overthrown even without engines;
san Girolamo † 420 d.C. Against Jovinianus 2.10
… But the second writing of the tables could not be effected without fasting. What was lost by drunkenness was regained by abstinence, a proof that by fasting we can return to paradise, whence, though fulness, we have been expelled. In Exodus we read that the battle was fought against Amalek while Moses prayed, and the whole people fasted until the evening.
10:16
san Girolamo † 420 d.C. Against Jovinianus 1.21
… I think it is clearly to be understood that before the Lord led his people from Egypt and circumcised them, sight, smell, taste, hearing, and touch had the dominion, and that to these, as to five princes, everything was subject. And when they
10:17
sant'Ireneo di Lione † 202 d.C. Against Heresies 2.24.4
… The altar of burnt-offering also was five cubits in breadth. Five priests were chosen in the wilderness,—namely, Aaron, Nadab, Abiud, Eleazar, Ithamar. The ephod and the breastplate, and other sacerdotal vestments, were formed out of five materials; for they combined in themselves gold, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen. And there were five
10:19
sant'Ambrogio † 397 d.C. Selections from the Letters of St. Ambrose 41.24
… Did I not deliver up thee Sihon, King of the Amorites (that is, the proud one, the leader of them that provoked thee)? Did I not deliver up to thee alive the King of Ai, whom after the ancient curse thou didst condemn to be fastened to the wood and raised upon the cross? Why should I speak of the troops of the five kings which were slain
10:1
1. QUÆ CUM AUDISSET ADONISEDEC REX JERUSALEM, — quæ a Gabaon tantum distabat duabus leucis sive horis, ideoque ejus rex invasit Gabaonitas, quod ad Hebræos transissent, quodque sibi vicini panderent Hebræis iter ad suam Jerusalem expugnandam. Videtur Adonisedec hoc nomen assumpsisse a Melchisedech, qui in eadem ante 400 annos regnaverat, eamque justis suis legibus, moribus et exemplis fecerat sedem צדק tsedec, id est justitiæ, ut scilicet in ea vigeret justitia, Dei cultus, veraque religio. Audi Masium: Vocabantur priscis illis temporibus omnes reges Hierosolymæ (ut autumant Judæi) vel Melchisedech, vel Adonisedec, quorum illud regem Justitiæ, hoc dominum Justitiæ significat. Unde conjicitur urbem illam primum tsedec, id est justitiam (quam in ea plantarat primus justus sanctusque ejus rex Melchisedech) fuisse nominatam: postea vero salem, id est pacem, quod in ea secure et pacifice habitaretur (nam nomen Jebus, quod aliquando illi a vulgo attributum est, I Paralip. xi, 4, incolarum, non urbis proprium erat), ac deinde Jerusalem, idque factum est sive a Davide, ut innuit Josephus, lib. VII Antiq. cap. iii, sive ab aliquo alio, per conjunctionem sive combinationem duarum vocum. Nam cum Abraham eodem loco sacrificaturus filium suum, loco nomen dedisset אדני יראה Adonai iire, id est, videbit vel providebit Dominus sibi victimam, ex illo iire, id est providebit, et vetustiore nomine salem, conflatum est nomen Jerusalem, id est, providebit, aut videbit pacem, sive visio pacis. Hæc Masius. Vide dicta Genes. xxii, 14. Falluntur ergo Josephus, lib. VII Belli, cap. xviii, et Hegesippus, lib. III, cap. ix, dicentes Melchisedech urbis conditorem posuisse hoc nomen Jerusalem, eo quod ipse ad vetus nomen salem addiderit τò ἱερòν, id est sacrum, propter ædificatum ibidem a se templum, quasi Jerusalem idem sit quod ἱερòν, id est, sacrum templum urbis Salem. Alii cum Eusebio, lib. IX Præpar. cap. iv, Salomoni id tribuunt, quasi Jerusalem idem sit quod ἱερòν, id est, sacrum templum Salomonis. Verum nec Melchisedech, nec Salomon Græce locutus est, sed Hebraice. Errat pariter Stephanus Byzantius, lib. De Urbibus, asserens a Solymis montibus Solymos dici et Salem, quæ postea dicta est Ælia ab Ælio Adriano Imperatore ejus restauratore. Divinitus autem hæc nomina urbi data sunt, propter œconomiæ passionis, crucis et mortis mysterium in ea peragendum, in quo mysterio justitia, pax et felicitas totius orbis posita fuit, juxta illud Thren. ii: «Hæccine est urbs perfecti decoris, gaudium universæ terræ?» Et illud Psal. lxxiii: «Deus autem rex noster ante sæcula, operatus est salutem in medio terræ.» Et illud Isaiæ ii: «De Sion exibit lex, et verbum Domini de Jerusalem.» Et Apoc. xxi, 2: «Vidi sanctam civitatem Jerusalem novam descendentem de cælo, a Deo paratam, sicut sponsam ornatam viro suo.» Vide Tobiam, cap. xiii, 11 et seq., in elogiis Jerusalem exultantem. Audi Adrichomium in Descript. Jerusalem: «Jerusalem civitas Dei electa, sancta et gloriosa, fundata in montibus sanctis, qualis et loci eminentia, cæli solique felicitate cunctas quantas mundi urbes superans, in totius orbis et Judææ medio, ceu centrum et umbilicus terræ sita est; et tanquam regia inter omnes accolas, velut caput in corpore eminet, splendidisque ædificiis sicut sol præ cæteris lucet. Tantaque gloria illustratur, ut singulari quodam privilegio unicus olim electus a Deo locus, ac non tantum fidelis cujusque animæ, verum etiam militantis Christi in terris Ecclesiæ, denique et beatæ illius in cælo triumphantis exstiterit figura. Urbs perfecti decoris, gaudium et exultatio universæ terræ.» Hucusque Adrichomius. Denique S. Hieronymus, epist. 17 ad Marcellam, invitans eam ut Roma migret Jerusalem: «In tribus nominibus, ait, Trinitatis demonstrat fidem: Jebus, Salem et Hierusalem appellatur. Primum nomen calcata, secundum pax, tertium visio pacis. Paulatim quippe pervenimus ad fidem, et post conculcationem ad pacis visionem erigimur: ex quo Salomon, id est pacificus, in ea natus est, et factus est in pace locus ejus. Et in figura Christi sub etymologia urbis, Dominus dominantium et Rex regum nomen accepit.»
10:2
2. URBS ENIM MAGNA ERAT GABAON, ET UNA CIVITATUM REGALIUM. — Hebraice, sicut una civitatum regni, q. d. Gabaon erat una ex præcipuis regni Chananæorum civitatibus. Septuaginta, una præcipuarum civitatum regum; Masius, quanta ulla urbium regni; Chaldæus, regnorum.
10:4
4. QUARE TRANSFUGERIT, — impune scilicet «ad Josue,» q. d. Quare permittemus impunitum hoc Gabaonitarum a nobis ad Hebræos transfugium? q. d. Puniamus hanc eorum a nobis apostasiam, et exscindamus eos, ne quis audeat eos imitari, et ad Hebræos transfugere, «quia pacem fecit cum Josue.»
10:9
9. IRRUIT ITAQUE JOSUE SUPER EOS REPENTE TOTA NOCTE ASCENDENS DE GALGALIS, — q. d. Josue tota nocte proficiscens de Galgalis, summo mane pervenit ad Gabaon, ac subito et ex improviso in castra hostium eam obsidentium irruit, itaque eos somno sopitos, turbatos pavidosque oppressit. Nota hic novum stratagema Josue, quo celeritate et matutina irruptione hostium castra turbavit et superavit. Prudenter enim ait Themistocles, magnus Græcorum in præliis dux, «amicos patientia, hostes celeritate superandos esse.» Et Julius Cæsar: «Veni, vidi, vici,» quod imitatus Carolus V, pientius dixit: «Veni, vidi, vicit Christus.» Celer et pervigil fuit Annibal, æque ac Vespasianus Imperator. Vide dicta Apoc. cap. iii, vers. 3. Sic Troja a Græcis capta est, qui, ut ait Virgilius, Æneid. II: Invadunt urbem somno vinoque sepultam. Noctu ergo summe contra hostes tam corporis quam animæ excubandum est. Noctu enim dæmones perambulant ut turpia, scelesta et infanda concitent. Quare contra eos sub noctem, ut opem Dei et angelorum imploremus, recitamus Psalm. xc: «Qui habitat in adjutorio Altissimi, in protectione Dei cæli commorabitur, etc. Non timebis a timore nocturno, etc. A negotio perambulante in tenebris.» Chaldeus, non timebis a timore dæmonum, qui ambulant in nocte, a morte in tenebris ambulante.
10:10
10. IN GABAON, — in agro Gabaon; obsidebant enim Gabaon. Vide simile cap. v, vers. 3. PERSECUTUS EST EOS, — scilicet Israel Amorrhæos, vel Deus per Israelem quasi militem suum. Hebræi enim sæpe subticent verbi suppositum illudque ex circumstantiis, quasi obvium lectori intelligendum supplendumque relinquunt.
10:11
11. DOMINUS MISIT SUPER EOS LAPIDES MAGNOS DE CÆLO. — Lapides grandinis intellige. Addit Josephus, lib. V Antiquit. cap. ii, tonitrua et fulmina; quare non solum lapidosa et inusitatæ magnitudinis grandine, sed etiam tonitru et fulminibus terribilem fuisse hanc tempestatem, æque ac fuerat illa Ægyptiaca, Exodi ix, 23. Similia fulminum auxilia a Deo fuisse immissa legioni Christianæ (quæ inde Fulminatrix est appellata) sub Marco Aurelio Imperatore, narrat Eusebius, libro V Histor. cap. v; ac Theodosio Imperatore contra Eugenium prælianti narrat Claudianus, dum ita canit: O nimium dilecte Deo, cui fundit ab antris Æolus armatas hyemes, cui militat æther, Et conjurati veniunt ad classica venti. Sic ad Samuelis preces Deus Philisthæos per tonitrua perculit, et Hebræis percutiendos objecit, I Reg. vii, 10.
10:12
12. TUNC LOCUTUS EST JOSUE DOMINO. — Chaldæus, tunc Josue laudavit Dominum, et laudando eum rogavit fiducia plenus, ut sisteret solem, donec plenam de hostibus cæsis obtineret victoriam; qua prece ad Deum præmissa, Josue fidens omnino divinæ virtuti opique, imperavit soli quietem et solstitium. Ecclesiasticus, cap. xlvi, 4, docet Josue id fecisse ex zelo et justa ira contra hostes populi Dei, utique impellente eum Spiritu Sancto. Vide hic quam potens sit fides magna in Deum; sed hanc nobis suggerat et inspiret Deus oportet, uti eam inspiravit Josue: alioqui enim temerarius fuisset imperando soli stationem. Hoc est quod Christus promisit Matth. xxi, 22, dicens: «Omnia quæcumque petieritis in oratione credentes, recipietis.» Quantum ergo credis et speras, tantum a Deo accipies. Quis ergo non summa speret a Deo, ut summa accipiat? SOL, CONTRA GABAON NE MOVEARIS, ET LUNA CONTRA VALLEM AIALON. — Hebraice est, sol, tace. Quod R. Salomon intelligit de Pythagorico cælorum concentu, q. d. Sol, ne canas uti soles, sed tace et audi vocem jussumque meum, ac siste gradum. Verum hoc ridiculum est et futile: Sol, tace, ergo idem est quod, Sol, quiesce, ne loco movearis. Septuaginta, Sol, apud Gabaon sta, et luna apud vallem Elonis. Sensus ergo est, q. d. Tibi, o sol, in virtute Dei omnipotentis jubeo, imperoque ut non movearis, sed immotus fixusque ex adverso urbium Gabaon et Aialon consistas, ut lucem nobis præbeas, donec hostes nostros persequamur, omnesque ad internecionem deleamus. Nam urbs Aialon vicina erat urbi Gabaon, et inter eas vallis erat media, in qua prælium hoc gerebatur. Unde apparet illo die fuisse circa novilenium, lunamque soli fuisse conjunctam. Quod vero lunam nominet Josue, facit hoc, non quasi id necessarium esset ad præbendum suis lumen (hoc enim aliunde præstabat solus sol), sed quia poetica copia ludit in sole et luna, sicut in Gabaon et Aialon; hic enim versus æque ac duo sequentes sunt Hebraici rythmi, deprompti ut videtur ex libro Justorum. Secundo, nominat lunam, ut innuat non tantum solem, sed et lunam, omnesque cælorum orbes jussos fuisse gradum sistere: sole enim et luna, quæ astra sunt nobilissima, ac diei et nocti præsunt, omnia reliqua cælestia astra et corpora significant; alioqui enim statio lunæ ad lumen et ad victoriam hic non requirebatur; significat ergo Deus hinc omnes cælorum orbes cohibuisse, ne videlicet constitutus ab eo a mundi creatione perpetuus inter orbes hos ordo, tenor et consensus unius aut duorum inæquabili progressione perturbaretur, uti fuse docet Abulensis et Masius. Simile accidit Isaiæ cap. xxxviii, 8, ubi Isaias ad preces Ezechiæ regis solem decem gradibus retrocedere jussit. Hæc ergo Josuano die non fuit tempus, cujus mensura est motus primi mobilis (hic enim motus ille die cessabat), sed fuit duratio quæ rem quamvis existentem et perdurantem naturaliter comitatur, et cujus mensura poterat esse duratio primi mobilis, etiam dum ipsum quiescit. Atque hæc duratio mensurari poterat per horologia non solaria, sed arenaria vel ferrea, quæ suis temporibus librata stato tempore decurrunt, singulasque horas suo indice vel sono pulsuque indicant. Simili modo cessante motu solis et lunæ, cessavit reciprocatio sive fluxus et refluxus maris; hic enim a motu lunæ causatur.
10:13
13. NONNE SCRIPTUM EST HOC IN LIBRO JUSTORUM. — Fuit hic liber quasi sanctorum catalogus, in quo præclara virorum fide et religione illustrium facta erant descripta. Quis et qualis fuerit nescitur, nam plane intercidit. Ita Theodoretus et alii. Vide Sixtum Senensem in Catalogo sacrorum librorum, varias de hoc libro virorum sententias referentem. STETIT ITAQUE SOL IN MEDIO CÆLI, — id est, in ipso cælo magno et vasto: est Hebraismus frequens; vel in hemisphærio nostro, quod dimidium est respectu alterius hemisphærii, quod respicit antipodes. ET NON FESTINAVIT OCCUMBERE SPATIO UNIUS DIEI. — Hinc videtur quod Josue imperarit stationem soli sub vesperam, cum is occumberet, ideoque vereretur Josue ne hostes per tenebras imminentes effugerent. Justinus Martyr, dialog. Contra Tryphonem, opinatur diem hunc Josuanum fuisse sex et triginta horarum. Nam præter duodecim horas naturales, addit illi quatuor et viginti horas supernaturales, quibus solem stetisse putat; nam dicitur hic sol stetisse spatio unius diei, quod ipse de die naturali viginti quatuor horarum accipit. Verius id accipias de die artificiali; hæc enim sola lucem præbet, idque innuit Ecclesiasticus, cap. xlvi, 5, dicens: «Una dies facta est quasi duo,» q. d. Dies quæ solet esse duodecim vel quatuordecim horarum, facta est quatuor et viginti, vel octo et viginti horarum. Stetit ergo hic sol per duodecim vel potius quatuordecim horas. Hæc enim pugna contigit sub solstitium æstivum, quando in Judæa dies est quatuordecim horarum. Plura de hac statione solis litteralia et mystica dixi Ecclesiast. xlvi, 3, quibus adde tropologice: In luna cognitionem intellectus, quæ in hac vita semper minus clara est, et in sole ardorem affectus considera. Hæc interdum in uno summo bono intuendo et diligendo absque varietate subsistunt, donec ulciscatur se homo de inimicis suis. Nihil enim ita imperfectiones nostras domat et absumit, ac donum istud perfectissimæ contemplationis, qua homo beneficio Domini novit angelicos spiritus æmulari. Physice et bellice Leo Imperator in Tacticis, in Epilogo, num. 51: «In acie instruenda, ait, solem a tergo et ventum habeas, et in hostium oculis utrumque collocabis.» Idem dicas de pulvere, ut eum a tergo, et a fronte hostium colloces, ut in eorum oculos involet, eosque excæcet, ut præliari nequeant; nimirum pulvis sequitur ventum. Anagogice Rupertus: In hac statione solis, ait, est figura judicii extremi; quando enim Christus judicaturus adveniet, tunc stante sole longus erit dies donec ulciscatur se de inimicis suis. «Juxta est, ait Sophonias, cap. i, dies Domini magnus, dies iræ, dies tribulationis et angustiæ, dies calamitatis et miseriæ.» Imo post diem judicii cessabit omnis cælorum motus, ac sol, luna et stellæ consistent eodem loco in æternum, uti docent Theologi. Allegorice, Josue hic typus fuit Jesu Christi. «Sicut enim pugnante Propheta (Josue) sol stetit, ita dum Salvator noster morte sua mortem dissolveret, sol meridie continuit radios suos, et tenebris replevit terram,» ait Theodoretus, Quæst. xv. Denique Hebræi, ob impetratam hanc a Josue solis stationem, sepulcro ejus insculpserunt solem ad perennem tanti miraculi memoriam, quod ipse fuisset solis stator, ac instar solis nocte et die fuisset pervigil; nam «vigili stant bella magistro,» de qua re rursum dicam cap. ult. vers. 30.
10:14
14. NON FUIT ANTEA NEC POSTEA TAM LONGA DIES. — Nam dies Ezechiæ ab Isaia prolongatus fuit duntaxat quindecim horarum. Decem enim horis diei Isaias adjecit quinque; hic vero Josuanus dies fuit octo et viginti horarum. Nam quatuordecim horis diei Josue adjecit alias horas quatuordecim. Vide dicta Eccli. xlvi, 5, et Isaiæ xxxviii, 8. OBEDIENTE DOMINO VOCI HOMINIS, ET PUGNANTE PRO ISRAEL. — Portentum est quod Deus obediat homini, sicut Deus obedivit Josue petenti ut sisteret solem, quia Josue in omnibus obediebat Deo. Vis ut Deus te audiat, audi tu Deum, eique obedi; sic faciet tibi obedire omnia a se creata, tibique quasi omnipotentiam suam communicabit. Scriptum est enim: «Voluntatem timentium se faciet.» Ita S. Dominicus dicebat se a Deo impetrare quicquid ab eo postularet. Idem etiamnum experiuntur viri sancti. «Ex quo intelligitur Deum servorum suorum precibus obedire, et ad eorum necessitatem creaturas suas opportune gubernare,» ait Auctor De mirabil. S. Script., apud S. Augustinum, tom. III, lib. II, cap. iv. Miratur S. Bernardus Deum natum ex Virgine illi quasi filium obedivisse; at magis mirum Deum obedire Josue. Christus enim matri obedivit, non qua Deus, sed qua homo et filius, hic vero Deus ut Deus obedivit Josue. O prodigium, o stupor, o dignatio nunquam in cælis vel terris audita, quod Creator creaturæ, Deus homini obedit! Exclamat S. Bernardus: Erubesce, cinis: Deus se humiliat, et tu te exaltas. Erubesce, pulvis: Deus obedit homini, et tu nec homini, nec Deo obedis! Sanctus ergo Josue imperat cælis, ac quasi rex illis leges figit, atque solem et lunam in medio cursu sola voce et imperio, tanquam habenis mirabiliter detinet et frænat. Sic sancti imperant vitæ et morti, cælo et inferno, dum mortuos suscitant, et animas gehennæ addictas convertendo in cælum transferunt. Cui enim Creator obedit, illi et Angeli, et dæmones, et homines omnesque creaturæ obediant oportet. Vide hic quanta sit vis orationis, quæ Deum nobis facit obedire. Unde Jacob in oratione luctans cum Deo, illumque volentem vincens vocatus est «Israel,» id est, «dominans Deo,» Genes. xxxii, 28. Orans ergo Deum fit Israel, Deoque prævaleat. Vide dicta Jacob. v, 16 et seq.
10:15
15. REVERSUSQUE EST JOSUE CUM OMNI ISRAEL IN CASTRA GALGALÆ. — «Reversus est,» scilicet confecto prorsus bello, quo Deus miraculose pugnabat pro Israele solem sistendo, donec omnes hostes cæderentur, uti præcessit. Hic ego versus per anticipationem hic ponitur et quasi per parenthesin interjicitur; nam proprio loco collocandus esset in versu ultimo capitis. Ita Masius; aut planius et magis connexe cum versu sequenti, q. d. «Reversus est,» hoc est, reverti incipiebat Josue, quia fugerant quinque reges hostium duces, et videbantur effugisse; absconderant enim sese in spelunca Maceda: quod cum audisset Josue, reflexit iter, ac speluncam custodiri jussit, donec sui cæteros eorum asseclas persequerentur et cæderent, uti sequitur. Unde Vatablus vertit, et Josue adornabat reditum.
10:16
16. FUGERANT ENIM, — juxta sensum jam datum. Masius et alii vertunt, fugerant autem, ut hic versus nectatur cum versu 13, et versus 14 per parenthesin inseratur.
10:19
19. PERSEQUIMINI HOSTES. — Audi quid de hostes fugientes insequendo sanciat Leo Imperator in Tacticis, cap. xx, num. 202: «Victoria tibi a Deo concessa, ne statim turbulente et confuse illos insequaris, sed inter insequendum ne conversi te rursus adoriantur providebis: nam effusa et intemperans insectatio opportunos ad offensionem facit eos, qui insequuntur.» Et Vegetius, lib. III, cap. ult.: «Qui dispersis suis, inquit, inconsulte insequitur, quam acceperat, adversario vult dare victoriam.» Unde Josue hic jubet ut totus Hebræorum cuneus hostes persequatur.
10:21
21. IN MACEDA UBI TUNC ERANT CASTRA. — Jusserat enim Josue suos custodire quinque reges absconditos in Maceda, ibique castra figere, donec pars una exercitus fugientes persequeretur et cæderet, quæ hoc peracto ad cæteros in Maceda rediit. Castra ergo hic vocantur potior et munitior exercitus portio. Ex Maceda deinde cæsis quinque regibus, rediere ad pristina plenaque castra sita in Galgalis, ut patet versu ultimo. NULLUSQUE CONTRA FILIOS ISRAEL MUTIRE AUSUS EST. — Hebraice, nemo contra filios Israel acuit linguam suam. Masius, nec canis acuisset linguam suam in quemquam filiorum Israel, q. d. Israel nil passus est mali, fuitque omnibus circumcirca gentibus formidabilis; quare nemo ausus fuit ipsum illatrare, ne canis quidem, animal alioqui cumprimis irritabile, sed dentibus, non lingua metuendum; canes enim multum lingua latrantes vix dentibus mordent. Est proverbium.
10:24
24. PONITE PEDES SUPER COLLA REGUM ISTORUM. — Non fuit hoc insolentis animi, aut victoria elati. Josue enim optime callebat illud Aristidis tom. II, orat. 2 De pace: «Usus victoriæ honestus, non minorem quam victoria laudem affert.» Jussit ergo suis colla regum calcare, primo, ut suis fiduciam et animos ad cæteros Chananæorum reges debellandos adderet, ostenderetque Deum implere promissa per Mosen, Deuter. xxxiii, vers. ult. ubi dicitur: «Negabunt te inimici tui, et tu eorum colla calcabis.» Secundo, ut meritas de impiissimis tyrannis sumeret pœnas. Tertio, ut suos longius ab infandis eorum sceleribus et communione cum scelestis Chananæis abdicaret, utpote quos tam Dei vindicta, quam Josue sententia calcari, necari, necatosque in crucem agi ostentarique viderent. Allegorice: «Fuit hæc non crudelitas, sed humanitas, ait Origenes, homil. 11, Christi sacramentum designans, quod Dominus Jesus adumbratum prius a filio Nave per singulas civitates, nunc in veritate per singulas animas credentium complet: ut quæ possidebantur a pessimis regibus, secundum principem mundi hujus, expulsis iis et peremptis, facere eas dignetur habitaculum fidei et Sancti Spiritus templum.» Symbolice S. Hieronymus, lib. I Contra Jovin., per quinque reges accipit quinque sensus, qui in homine regnant, sed a Jesu pugnante superantur. «Significatur, inquit, quod antequam Dominus populum suum educeret de Ægypto, et circumcideret eum, visus, odoratus, gustus, auditus tactusque regnaverint, et his quasi principibus fuerint universa subjecta, quos Jesus ad speluncam corporis confugientes et ad tenebrosum locum, id est, ipsum ingredientes corpus, interfecit, ut per id occiderentur, per quod ante regnabant.»
10:31
31. DE LEBNA TRANSIVIT IN LACHIS. — Vide ut Josue sapienter utatur victoria, ac regibus cæsis urbes omnes consternatas capiat et instar fulminis pervadat. Peccavit ea in re Annibal; si enim cæsis Romanis ad lacum Trasimenum Romam perrexisset, eam cepisset. Unde de eo dictum: «Vincere scit Annibal, sed victoria uti nescit.»
10:37
37. CEPIT EAM. — Josue ergo cepit Hebron, sed pervolando. Unde nonnulli gigantes eam rursus occuparunt, quos in eadem postea delevit Caleb, ut patet cap. xv, 14, de quo cap. seq., vers. 21. ET PERCUSSIT IN ORE GLADII, — id est, in acie gladii; quod Galli dicunt, au fil de l'épée. Hac phrasi significatur omnes gladio fuisse trucidatos; quod enim homini est os, hoc gladio est acies. Sicut enim homo cibum quem ore contingit, devorat: sic gladius quicquid acie sua ferit, consumit. REGEM QUOQUE EJUS, — scilicet jam ante percusserat gladio, ac percussum suspenderat in patibulo, uti dixit vers. 26. Repetit enim regis cædem, quia recenset stragem communem urbi ejus Hebron illatam, cum rex cæsus sit non in Hebron, sed in Maceda.
10:40
40. PERCUSSIT, ETC. ASEDOTH. — Ita legendum cum Romanis non Aseoth. Sic et Septuaginta Hebræum nomen ut proprium regionis retinuerunt, tam hic quam cap. xii, 8, et cap. xiii, 20; sed et Eusebius in Locis Hebr. asserit, Asedoth esse nomen proprium urbis. Masius tamen et alii hoc nomen accipiunt non ut proprium, sed ut appellativum, vertuntque effusiones, sive loca devia et convalles, ubi scilicet montes collesve in valles camposque se porrigunt et effundunt. Noster, Deut. cap. iv, vers. 27, vertit radices montis, ac Numer. cap. xxi, vers. 45, vertit scopulos, qui in flumine se protendunt et effundunt. OMNE QUOD SPIRARE POTERAT, INTERFECIT. — Hebraice, omnem animam, id est, omnem hominem, qui spiritu et halitu vitaque fruebatur, «interfecit:» nam pecora non esse cæsa, sed in prædam abacta patet cap. sequenti, vers. 14. Nusquam enim Deus jussit pecora occidi nisi in Jericho, cap. vi, 21, quia ipsa statuta fuit anathema. Ita Abulensis, Quæst. xcviii.
10:41
41. A CADESBARNE USQUE GAZAM. — Vide hic fortitudinem, felicitatem, celeritatem, victorias Josue, quibus quasi fulmen transvolando omnia stravit et subegit, licet munitissima, qualis erat Gaza, urbs Philistinorum fortissima, adeo ut Alexander Magnus spatio bimestri eam oppugnarit, antequam caperet, teste Diodoro, lib. xvii. Hinc et a robore nomen accepit. Gaza enim Hebr. est עז Azza, vel Gaza (nam litteram ain sæpe pronuntiant ut g). Hoc tamen nomen alia de causa eidem confirmatum est postea a Cambyse, filio Cyri, quam recenset Pomponius Mela, lib. I, cap. xi: «In Palæstina, ait, est ingens et munita admodum Gaza. Sic Persæ ærarium vocant. Et inde nomen est, quod cum Cambyses armis Ægyptum peteret, huc belli opes et pecuniam intulerat,» ut illa in Gaza, utpote munitissima, esset tutissima. Hinc et paulo post Josue transitum, gigantes receperunt Gazam, eamque munitiorem effecerunt, uti narratur cap. seq., vers. 22.
10:1
ADONISÉDEC (EBR. « IL MIO SIGNORE È GIUSTIZIA »; SETTANTA: ADONIBEZEC)
… I cinque cadaveri furono sospesi su cinque patiboli fino alla sera, indi sepolti nella caverna (Ios. 10, 1-27).
10:2
… Gibh'ôn). - Città fortificata del paese di Canaan (Ios. 10, 2), la principale della confederazione hevea (Ios. 9, 2). Fu risparmiata, con uno arrattagemma dei suoi capi, dallo sterminio durante l'invasione israelitica (Ios. 9). Giosuè le riconobbe …
10:3
2. Città cananea della Šēphēlāh (Jos. 12, 12), il cui re Dabir (Jos. 10, 3) aderì alla coalizione patrocinata da Adamicdec (v.), re di Gerusalemme, contro i Gaboniti, alleati degli Israeliti. …
… La S. Scrittura riferisce che L., abitata dai Cananei e governata da un re, fu presa da Giosuè (Jos. 10, 3.31 sgg.; 12, 11; cf. 15, 21). Roboam, figlio di Salomone, la fortificò come altre città della Giudea verso il 920 a. C. (II Par. 11, 9). L. vide morire il re Amasia (189 a. C.) sotto i colpi …
L'ebraico Malki-šedheq, trascritto da s. Girolamo Melchisedec (A. Vaccari [v. bibl.], p. 208) è spiegato da W. Gesenius ed E. Kautzsch «re di giustizia» (cf. Hebr. 7, 2); da molti moderni: «mio re è Šedheq», nome di una divinità cananea, d'altronde sconosciuta (cf. 'ădhônî-šedeq, Ios. 10, 3; P. Heinisch, Das Buch Genesis, Bonn 1930, p. 221).
10:5
… Deut. 3, 8; 4, 47 sg.; 31, 4; Ios. 2, 10; 9, 10; 12, 2; 13, 10; Iudc. 10, 8), ma anche una parte degli abitanti della Palestina propriamente detta, cioè quella che dimora nella montagna (Deut. 1, 7.19.20.44: popolo dimorante nel sud della Palestina; Ios. 10, 5 sg.), mentre ai Cananei si attribuiscono la pianura e la valle del Giordano (Num. 13, 29; Ios. 11, 3). Non di rado la Bibbia chiama tutta la popolazione preisraelitica Amorriti (cf. Gen. …
10:6
… Gli Ebrei trovarono i resti degli A. nella regione montagnosa del sud, a sud-ovest del Mar Morto e ad est del Giordano: Ios. (5, 1) li distingue così dai Cananei «delle contrade sul mare grande» (cf. Deut. 1,44; Ios. 10,6; 11,3); onde «montagna degli A.» era il massiccio palestinese del sud (Deut. 1,7,19,20; cf. Num. 13,30). All'ingresso d'Israele, i regni transgiordanici di Hesebon e di Basan sono …
GIOSUÈ - I messi di Gaboon si presentano a G. e Battaglia per la liberazione di Gaboon (Jos. 10, 6-14). Miniatura del Rotulo di Giosuè, cod. Vat. Palat. gr. 431 (copia del sec. x di un codice del sec. vi).
TABERNACOLO (TENDA) DI RIUNIONE (EBR. 'ŌHEL, PER LO PIÙ SEGUITO DA MĒ'ĒDH: « T. DA CONVEGNO »)
… di nfsān del 2º anno dell'Esodo il T. fu eretto e consacrato da Mosè: la nuvola-gloria di Jahweh l'avvolse prendendone possesso (Ex. 40). Il T. seguì gli Israeliti nelle loro vicende dal deserto alla Terra Santa: in Galgala (Ios. 4, 19; 5, 10; 9, 6; 10, 6 sg. 9, 15, 43; 14, 6); in Silo (ibid. 18, 1; 19, 51; Iudc. 18, 31; 21, 19; I Sam. 1-4; 14, 3; Ps. 78, 60); in Nobe (I Sam. 21, 1); in Gabaon (I Par. 16, 39; 21, 29; II Par. 1, 3); sul …
10:10
… costa, le due città avevano grande importanza strategica, per cui si spiegano le cure che in tutti i tempi furono poste nel fortificarle (I Reg. 9, 17; I Mach. 9, 50). Nei pressi di B. Giosuè ottenne la celebre vittoria sui re cananei confederati (Jos. 10, 10). Le due B. furono identificate da Clarke nel 1801: la prima, B. superiore (Bejt 'Ur el-Föq), oggi è un villaggio di ca. 170 ab.; la seconda, B. inferiore (Bejt 'Ur et-Taht), a 4 km. …
10:12
AIALON (EBRAICO, DALLA RADICE 'AJJĀL «CERVO», QUASI «LUOGO DEI CERVI»)
… Ricordata per la prima volta a proposito del miracolo del sole (Ios. 10, 12), fu assegnata prima alla tribù di Dan (Ios. 19, 42), poi ai leviti (Ios. 21, 24). Fortificata da Roboamo (II Par. 11, 10), fu presa dai Filistei sotto Achaz (ibid. 28, 18); …
10:23
… Giosuè li sconfisse nella celebre battaglia di Gabon e conquistò sei città cananee, tra cui Lacina ed E. (Jos. 10, 23.34.36 sg.), che assegnò alla tribù di Giuda (Jos. 15, 29). L'identificazione ne è incerta: Hirbet 'Ağlān ne conserva il nome; ma più probabilmente si deve individuare in Tell el-Ḥesī, 25 km. nord-est di Gaza.
… Insieme agli Amoriti e agli Hittiti abitavano nella zona montagnosa (Num. 13, 30), ma il loro centro era il pendio del colle (kheteph ha-Jēbhūti) della città di Gerusalemme, da essi designata, secondo un uso antico, Jēbhūs (Iudc. 19, 10; I Par. 11, 4). Il loro Re fu ucciso da Giosuè (Ios. 10, 23-26), ma gli I. resistettero a tutti gli attacchi della tribù di Beniamin, a cui era stata assegnata la città (Ios. 18, 28), come pure alla confinante tribù di Giuda (Ios. 15, 63; Iudc. …
10:26
… Benché vinto e messo a morte da Giosuè (Ios. 10, 26), lasciò la capitale assai forte per fronteggiare (Ios. 15, 8.63) e tenere a rispettosa distanza i conquistatori (Indc. 19, 12) fino all'a. 1000.
10:29
LEBNA (EBR. LIBHNÁH; GR. ΛΕΧΝΆ, ΛΟΧΝΆ)
… Libhnáh; gr. Λεχνά, Λοχνά). - Città della Palestina situata tra Maceda e Lachis (Ios. 10, 29-31). Presa da Giosuè (Ios. 10, 30, 39; 12, 15), fu assegnata ai leviti (Ios. 21, 13; I Par. 6, 57). Si rese indipendente rivoltandosi a Giuda sotto Ioram (II Reg. 8, 22; II Par. 21, 10). …
10:30
LEBNA (EBR. LIBHNÁH; GR. ΛΕΧΝΆ, ΛΟΧΝΆ)
… Libhnáh; gr. Λεχνά, Λοχνά). - Città della Palestina situata tra Maceda e Lachis (Ios. 10, 29-31). Presa da Giosuè (Ios. 10, 30, 39; 12, 15), fu assegnata ai leviti (Ios. 21, 13; I Par. 6, 57). Si rese indipendente rivoltandosi a Giuda sotto Ioram (II Reg. 8, 22; II Par. 21, 10). Sembra aver avuto un forte …
10:33
… Giosuè (Jos. 10, 33) vinse il re Horam da G., alleato del re della città di Lachis. …
10:40
Nella distribuzione della Terra Promessa, il N. toccò in sorte alle tribù di Giuda e di Simeone (Ios. 10, 40; 12, 8); ma i confini, specialmente nella parte meridionale, non appaiono ben delimitati. …
10:41
… orientale lungo la linea del Mar Morto e del corso inferiore del Giordano; invase poi il centro del paese, donde gruppi singoli d'Israeliti cominciarono a dilagare a sud, raggiungendo la linea meridionale della Palestina, fino a Gaza, sul Mediterraneo (Ios. 10, 41) e a nord, estendendosi fino al Libano nei pressi di Cades (Ios. 11, 17). L'occupazione avveniva probabilmente in
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · Vulgata Clementina · Douay-Rheims originale (Douai 1609-10), trascrizione EEBO-TCP (CC0) · La Sacra Bibbia, tradotta dalla Volgata da Antonio Martini (1769-1781) (LaParola (laparola.net), Martini OSIS text, Public domain (LaParola's electronic edition marks it 'Dominio pubblico')). Pubblico dominio.