1
ὡς δὲ ἤκουσεν Αδωνιβεζεκ βασιλεὺς Ιερουσαλημ ὅτι ἔλαβεν Ἰησοῦς τὴν Γαι καὶ ἐξωλέθρευσεν αὐτήν ὃν τρόπον ἐποίησαν τὴν Ιεριχω καὶ τὸν βασιλέα αὐτῆς οὕτως ἐποίησαν τὴν Γαι καὶ τὸν βασιλέα αὐτῆς καὶ ὅτι αὐτομόλησαν οἱ κατοικοῦντες Γαβαων πρὸς Ἰησοῦν καὶ πρὸς Ισραηλ
Now when Adoni-bezek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had taken Ai and utterly destroyed it — as he had done to Jericho and its king, so he did to Ai and its king — and that the inhabitants of Gibeon had deserted to Joshua and to Israel,
The chapter opens with a ὡς-temporal clause (ὡς δὲ ἤκουσεν, 'now when he heard') whose long apodosis is delayed to v. 3 (the sending of the summons). δέ marks the major narrative seam after chs. 8–9 (Ai and the Gibeonite covenant). The two ὅτι-clauses give the twin causes of the king's alarm: Ai's destruction (the precedent of total ḥērem) and Gibeon's defection.
Word-by-word analysis· 42 words
ὡςwhen / astemporal conjunction (introducing protasis)ὡς: 'when / as / how'; here temporal with the aorist ἤκουσεν, renders Hebrew כַּאֲשֶׁר / וַיְהִי כִּשְׁמֹעַ; opens the long protasis whose apodosis (the summoning of allies) comes at v. 3.
δὲnownarrative continuative (post-positive)δέ: post-positive particle marking the major narrative transition from the Gibeonite covenant (ch. 9) to the southern coalition's reaction.
ἤκουσενheardAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀκούωverb of temporal clause→ ingressive aorist (came to hear / received the report)ἀκούω: 'hear / listen / receive a report'; renders שָׁמַע; the king's 'hearing' of Ai's fate and Gibeon's defection is the trigger of the whole chapter's action.
ΑδωνιβεζεκAdoni-bezeksubject (indeclinable proper noun)Αδωνιβεζεκ: transliteration of Hebrew אֲדֹנִי־בֶזֶק / אֲדֹנִי־צֶדֶק; the MT reads Adoni-zedek; the Greek tradition here gives Adoni-bezek (cf. Judg 1:5–7); indeclinable, hence tagged 'x'.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativenominative in apposition to Αδωνιβεζεκβασιλεύς: 'king'; renders מֶלֶךְ; the title in apposition identifies the head of the Amorite coalition as ruler of Jerusalem.
ΙερουσαλημJerusalemgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Jerusalem')Ιερουσαλημ: transliteration of Hebrew יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם; indeclinable in the LXX; this is the first mention of Jerusalem in Joshua, here as a hostile Amorite royal city.
ὅτιthatconjunction (introducing object clause of ἤκουσεν)ὅτι: 'that'; introduces the first content-clause of what the king heard.
ἔλαβενhad takenAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωverb of first ὅτι-clause→ constative aorist (completed capture)λαμβάνω: 'take / seize / capture'; renders לָכַד; the standard verb for the military capture of a city in Joshua (cf. 8:19, 21).
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubject of ἔλαβενἸησοῦς: = Hebrew יְהוֹשֻׁעַ ('Joshua'); declined as a second-declension noun in the LXX (gen./dat. Ἰησοῦ, acc. Ἰησοῦν), hence tagged 'n'; the same form later becomes the Greek name 'Jesus' in the NT.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with the city-name Γαι)The feminine article supplied for the indeclinable city-name Γαι treats 'Ai' (= πόλις) as feminine throughout the chapter.
ΓαιAidirect object of ἔλαβεν (indeclinable place-name)Γαι: transliteration of Hebrew הָעַי ('the Ai'); indeclinable; its capture is narrated in Josh 8 and is the immediate precedent that alarms the Amorite kings.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξωλέθρευσενutterly destroyedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξολεθρεύωcoordinate main verb of first ὅτι-clause→ constative aorist (completed act of devotion-to-destruction)ἐξολεθρεύω: 'utterly destroy / annihilate / extirpate'; the compound ἐξ- intensifies; the standard LXX rendering of the ḥērem-vocabulary (הֶחֱרִים / הִשְׁמִיד); recurs as a leitwort through this chapter (vv. 28, 35, 37, 39, 40).
αὐτήνitAccusativedirect object (feminine, = the city Ai)αὐτός: the feminine pronoun resumes Γαι as a city (πόλις).
ὃνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (with τρόπον: 'in the manner which')ὅς: the phrase ὃν τρόπον ('in the manner that / just as') is a fixed adverbial-accusative idiom of comparison, rendering כַּאֲשֶׁר; recurs throughout the chapter as a comparison-formula.
τρόπονmannerAccusativeadverbial accusative (manner) with ὃντρόπος: 'manner / way'; in the fixed phrase ὃν τρόπον it functions adverbially ('just as').
ἐποίησανthey didAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωverb of comparison clause→ constative aoristποιέω: 'do / make'; renders עָשָׂה; the third-plural ('they did', i.e. Israel) sets up the comparison between the treatment of Jericho and that of Ai.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with Ιεριχω)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙεριχωJerichodirect object of ἐποίησαν (indeclinable place-name)Ιεριχω: transliteration of Hebrew יְרִיחוֹ; indeclinable; the first Canaanite city taken (Josh 6), the paradigm of total ḥērem.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with βασιλέα)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέαkingAccusativesecond direct object of ἐποίησανβασιλεύς: 'king'; the king of Jericho was executed (Josh 6:2; 8:2), so the parallel implies the same fate for Ai's king (cf. 8:29).
αὐτῆςitsGenitivegenitive of possession (the king of Jericho)αὐτῆς: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
οὕτωςsoadverb (correlative with ὃν τρόπον: 'just as … so')οὕτως: 'thus / so'; completes the comparison correlative ὃν τρόπον … οὕτως, rendering כַּאֲשֶׁר … כֵּן.
ἐποίησανthey didAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωmain verb of comparison apodosis→ constative aoristποιέω: repeated to complete the οὕτως-clause ('so they did to Ai and its king').
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with Γαι)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΓαιAidirect object of second ἐποίησαν (indeclinable)Γαι: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with βασιλέα)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέαkingAccusativedirect objectβασιλέα: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
αὐτῆςitsGenitivegenitive of possession (the king of Ai)αὐτῆς: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing second ὅτι-clause)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὅτιthatconjunction (second object clause of ἤκουσεν)ὅτι: introduces the second cause of the king's alarm — Gibeon's defection.
αὐτομόλησανhad deserted / gone overAor Act Indic 3 Pl · αὐτομολέωverb of second ὅτι-clause→ constative aorist (act of defection)αὐτομολέω: 'desert / go over (to the enemy)'; a military term for switching allegiance; the LXX uses it for the Gibeonites' covenant-defection (ch. 9), framing Gibeon's surrender as a betrayal of the Amorite cause that demands punishment.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with the participle κατοικοῦντες)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κατοικοῦντεςinhabitants / those dwellingPres Act Ptc Nom Masc Pl · κατοικέωsubstantival participle (subject of αὐτομόλησαν)→ imperfective aspect (those who dwell / the residents)κατοικέω: 'dwell / inhabit / settle'; the articular participle οἱ κατοικοῦντες ('the inhabitants') renders the Hebrew construct יֹשְׁבֵי; a standard LXX way of designating a city's population.
ΓαβαωνGibeongenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Gibeon')Γαβαων: transliteration of Hebrew גִּבְעוֹן; indeclinable; the great Hivite city whose covenant with Israel (ch. 9) provokes the coalition; also the site over which the sun will stand still (v. 12).
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of allegiance)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ἸησοῦνJoshuaAccusativeaccusative object of πρόςἸησοῦς (acc. Ἰησοῦν): the defection is 'to Joshua and to Israel' — to the leader and to the people jointly.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusativeπρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΙσραηλIsraelaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable; here the covenant people as a collective war-community.
2
καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν ἐν αὐτοῖς σφόδρα ᾔδει γὰρ ὅτι μεγάλη πόλις Γαβαων ὡσεὶ μία τῶν μητροπόλεων καὶ πάντες οἱ ἄνδρες αὐτῆς ἰσχυροί
and they were greatly afraid among themselves, for he knew that Gibeon was a great city, like one of the chief cities, and all its men were mighty.
The verse gives the affective response to the report of v. 1 (fear), then a γάρ-clause supplying its ground: Gibeon's size and military strength. The shift from plural ἐφοβήθησαν ('they feared') to singular ᾔδει ('he knew') focuses the knowledge on the king Adoni-bezek as the coalition's deliberating head.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐφοβήθησανthey were afraidAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · φοβέομαιmain verb (emotional reaction)→ ingressive aorist (became afraid)φοβέομαι: 'fear / be afraid'; deponent (aor. pass. form, active sense); renders יָרֵא; the coalition's fear is the human motive that drives the muster, ironically mirroring the fear the LORD will later inflict on them (v. 10).
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (sphere: 'among themselves')ἐν αὐτοῖς: 'among themselves / in themselves'; a Hebraizing reflexive sense ('they feared greatly').
αὐτοῖςthemselvesDativedative object of ἐναὐτοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
σφόδραgreatlyadverb of degreeσφόδρα: 'exceedingly / greatly'; renders מְאֹד; intensifies the fear.
ᾔδειhe knewPlpf Act Indic 3 Sg · οἶδαverb of γάρ-clause (causal)→ stative pluperfect (settled knowledge, with past force)οἶδα: 'know'; the pluperfect ᾔδει functions as a simple past 'he knew' (οἶδα is a perfect with present sense, so its pluperfect has imperfect/past force); the singular focuses on the king's awareness of Gibeon's might.
γὰρforcausal conjunction (post-positive)γάρ: 'for'; introduces the explanation of the fear.
ὅτιthatconjunction (object clause of ᾔδει)ὅτι: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
μεγάληgreatNominativepredicate adjective ('Gibeon was a great city')μέγας: 'great / large'; renders גָּדוֹל; predicate of the verbless clause describing Gibeon's importance.
πόλιςcityNominativesubject of verbless clauseπόλις: 'city'; renders עִיר.
ΓαβαωνGibeonnominative in apposition (indeclinable: 'the city Gibeon')Γαβαων: indeclinable; here identified as itself a 'great city.'
ὡσεὶlike / ascomparative particleὡσεί: 'as if / like / about'; renders כְּ; introduces the comparison of Gibeon to a royal capital.
μίαoneNominativepredicate (substantival numeral: 'like one of')εἷς, μία, ἕν: 'one'; feminine μία agrees with the implied πόλις; 'like one of the chief cities.'
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (partitive genitive)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μητροπόλεωνchief cities / mother-citiesGenitivepartitive genitive ('one of the chief cities')μητρόπολις: 'mother-city / metropolis / capital'; the term renders the Hebrew description of Gibeon as a royal city (כְּאַחַת עָרֵי הַמַּמְלָכָה, 'like one of the royal cities'); the LXX's μητρόπολις conveys its rank as a chief/capital city.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πάντεςallNominativeattributive adjective (with ἄνδρες)πᾶς: 'all / every'; emphasizes the universal valor of Gibeon's men.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject of second verbless clauseἀνήρ: 'man / warrior'; renders אֲנָשִׁים / גִּבֹּרִים; here the fighting men of Gibeon.
αὐτῆςitsGenitivegenitive of possession (Gibeon's men)αὐτῆς: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἰσχυροίmighty / strongNominativepredicate adjective ('its men were mighty')ἰσχυρός: 'strong / mighty'; renders גִּבּוֹר; predicate of the verbless clause; Gibeon's military strength is what makes its defection so alarming to the coalition.
3
καὶ ἀπέστειλεν Αδωνιβεζεκ βασιλεὺς Ιερουσαλημ πρὸς Αιλαμ βασιλέα Χεβρων καὶ πρὸς Φιδων βασιλέα Ιεριμουθ καὶ πρὸς Ιεφθα βασιλέα Λαχις καὶ πρὸς Δαβιρ βασιλέα Οδολλαμ λέγων
So Adoni-bezek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, and to Piram king of Jarmuth, and to Japhia king of Lachish, and to Debir king of Eglon, saying,
The delayed apodosis: having heard (v. 1) and feared (v. 2), the king now sends to four fellow kings. The fourfold πρός + named king + βασιλέα + city formula enumerates the coalition; with Jerusalem itself this makes the 'five kings' of v. 5. λέγων ('saying') introduces the summons of v. 4.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶand / sonarrative conjunction (resuming the apodosis)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπέστειλενsentAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστέλλωmain verb (apodosis)→ constative aoristἀποστέλλω: 'send (with a commission)'; renders שָׁלַח; the king dispatches messengers to summon his allies.
ΑδωνιβεζεκAdoni-bezeksubject (indeclinable)Αδωνιβεζεκ: see v. 1; indeclinable.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativenominative in appositionβασιλεὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΙερουσαλημJerusalemgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ιερουσαλημ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (recipient)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΑιλαμHohamaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable personal name)Αιλαμ: the Greek name for the king of Hebron; the MT reads הוֹהָם (Hoham); the same form Αιλαμ recurs at v. 33 for the king of Gezer; indeclinable.
βασιλέαkingAccusativeaccusative in apposition to Αιλαμβασιλέα: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΧεβρωνHebrongenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Χεβρων: transliteration of Hebrew חֶבְרוֹן; indeclinable; a major city of the southern hill country, taken at vv. 36–37.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusativeπρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΦιδωνPiramaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable personal name)Φιδων: the Greek name for the king of Jarmuth; the MT reads פִּרְאָם (Piram); indeclinable.
βασιλέαkingAccusativeaccusative in appositionβασιλέα: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΙεριμουθJarmuthgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ιεριμουθ: transliteration of Hebrew יַרְמוּת (Jarmuth); indeclinable; a city of the Shephelah.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusativeπρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΙεφθαJaphiaaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable personal name)Ιεφθα: the Greek name for the king of Lachish; the MT reads יָפִיעַ (Japhia); indeclinable (not to be confused with Jephthah of Judges).
βασιλέαkingAccusativeaccusative in appositionβασιλέα: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΛαχιςLachishgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Λαχις: transliteration of Hebrew לָכִישׁ (Lachish); indeclinable; a major fortified city of the Shephelah, taken at vv. 31–32.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusativeπρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΔαβιρDebiraccusative object of πρός (indeclinable personal name)Δαβιρ: here the personal name of the king of Eglon (MT דְּבִיר, Debir); note that Δαβιρ is also the name of a city taken at vv. 38–39 — the LXX uses the same form for both the king here and the later city.
βασιλέαkingAccusativeaccusative in appositionβασιλέα: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΟδολλαμEglongenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Οδολλαμ: the Greek name for the fifth royal city (MT עֶגְלוֹן, Eglon); the Greek tradition reads Odollam (cf. Adullam); indeclinable; taken at vv. 34–35.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptc Nom Masc Sg · λέγωparticiple of speech (introducing direct discourse)→ imperfective aspect (attendant circumstance: 'saying')λέγω: the participle λέγων is the standard LXX device (rendering לֵאמֹר) for introducing the words of a message; it leads into the summons of v. 4.
4
δεῦτε ἀνάβητε πρός με καὶ βοηθήσατέ μοι καὶ ἐκπολεμήσωμεν Γαβαων αὐτομόλησαν γὰρ πρὸς Ἰησοῦν καὶ πρὸς τοὺς υἱοὺς Ισραηλ
"Come up to me and help me, and let us make war on Gibeon, for they have deserted to Joshua and to the sons of Israel."
Adoni-bezek's summons piles up imperatives (δεῦτε, ἀνάβητε, βοηθήσατε) and a hortatory subjunctive (ἐκπολεμήσωμεν), grounded by a γάρ-clause that echoes v. 1's αὐτομόλησαν — the same charge of defection that alarmed him is the stated casus belli. The war is framed not against Israel directly but against the renegade Gibeon.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
δεῦτεcome!Adv/Impv 2 Pl · δεῦτεhortatory adverb-imperative (summons)→ imperatival force (summons to action)δεῦτε: 'come! / come now!'; an adverbial plural imperative (from δεῦρο); renders לְכוּ; a standard LXX summons-particle introducing a call to collective action.
ἀνάβητεcome upAor Act Impv 2 Pl · ἀναβαίνωmain verb (imperative)→ ingressive aorist imperative (make the ascent)ἀναβαίνω: 'go up / ascend'; renders עָלָה; the verb of military advance into the hill country (cf. vv. 5, 7); 'come up to me' = rally to my position.
πρόςtopreposition + accusativeπρός: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
μεmeAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the summoning king)με: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
βοηθήσατέhelpAor Act Impv 2 Pl · βοηθέωcoordinate imperative→ ingressive aorist imperative (render aid)βοηθέω: 'help / come to the aid of'; renders עָזַר; takes the dative (μοι); the verb of military assistance, ironically echoed when Gibeon begs Joshua to 'help' (βοήθησον, v. 6).
μοιmeDativedative object of βοηθήσατεμοι: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing hortatory subjunctive)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐκπολεμήσωμενlet us make war onAor Act Subj 1 Pl · ἐκπολεμέωhortatory subjunctive→ hortatory aorist subjunctive (joint resolve: 'let us wage war')ἐκπολεμέω: 'make war on / wage war against'; the compound ἐκ- intensifies (war to the finish); the hortatory first-plural rallies the coalition to a common campaign against Gibeon.
ΓαβαωνGibeonobject of ἐκπολεμήσωμεν (indeclinable)Γαβαων: indeclinable; the target of the coalition's war.
αὐτομόλησανthey have desertedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · αὐτομολέωverb of γάρ-clause (causal)→ constative aorist (the act of defection)αὐτομολέω: 'desert / go over'; see v. 1; the repetition makes Gibeon's defection the explicit casus belli.
γὰρforcausal conjunction (post-positive)γάρ: 'for'; grounds the summons in the fact of Gibeon's defection.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusativeπρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ἸησοῦνJoshuaAccusativeaccusative object of πρόςἸησοῦς (acc. Ἰησοῦν): declinable; the leader to whom Gibeon defected.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusativeπρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with υἱούς)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὺςsonsAccusativeaccusative object of πρόςυἱός: 'son'; the phrase οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ('the sons of Israel') renders בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, the standard designation of the covenant people; here the parallel 'Joshua and the sons of Israel' names leader and people.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable; in the construct phrase 'sons of Israel.'
5
καὶ ἀνέβησαν οἱ πέντε βασιλεῖς τῶν Ιεβουσαίων βασιλεὺς Ιερουσαλημ καὶ βασιλεὺς Χεβρων καὶ βασιλεὺς Ιεριμουθ καὶ βασιλεὺς Λαχις καὶ βασιλεὺς Οδολλαμ αὐτοὶ καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς αὐτῶν καὶ περιεκάθισαν τὴν Γαβαων καὶ ἐξεπολιόρκουν αὐτήν
And the five kings of the Jebusites went up — the king of Jerusalem and the king of Hebron and the king of Jarmuth and the king of Lachish and the king of Eglon, they and all their people — and they encamped around Gibeon and laid siege to it.
The kings respond to v. 4 by going up (ἀνέβησαν, picking up ἀνάβητε). The roster of five (Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, Eglon) gives the chapter its title-motif 'the five kings.' The labeling τῶν Ιεβουσαίων ('of the Jebusites') is a Greek generalization of the Amorite coalition. The two final verbs (περιεκάθισαν / ἐξεπολιόρκουν) move from encirclement to active siege.
Word-by-word analysis· 34 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀνέβησανwent upAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀναβαίνωmain verb→ constative aorist (the muster and advance)ἀναβαίνω: 'go up / ascend'; picks up the king's summons ἀνάβητε (v. 4); the coalition advances into the hill country to besiege Gibeon.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with βασιλεῖς)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πέντεfivenumeral (indeclinable cardinal modifying βασιλεῖς)πέντε: 'five'; an indeclinable cardinal numeral (tagged 'n' as a numeral per the taxonomy); οἱ πέντε βασιλεῖς ('the five kings') is the recurring designation of the coalition (vv. 16, 17, 22, 23).
βασιλεῖςkingsNominativesubjectβασιλεύς: 'king'; nominative plural subject of ἀνέβησαν.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with Ιεβουσαίων)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙεβουσαίωνJebusitesGenitivegenitive of relationship ('kings of the Jebusites')Ιεβουσαῖος: 'Jebusite'; gentilic noun (declinable, hence 'n'); the LXX here labels the coalition 'kings of the Jebusites' (the MT reads 'kings of the Amorites'), a Greek generalization of the southern Canaanite peoples.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativenominative in apposition (first member of roster)βασιλεὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΙερουσαλημJerusalemgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ιερουσαλημ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativenominative in appositionβασιλεὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΧεβρωνHebrongenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Χεβρων: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativenominative in appositionβασιλεὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΙεριμουθJarmuthgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ιεριμουθ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativenominative in appositionβασιλεὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΛαχιςLachishgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Λαχις: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativenominative in appositionβασιλεὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΟδολλαμEglongenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Οδολλαμ: see v. 3; the fifth royal city (MT Eglon).
αὐτοὶtheyNominativeintensive pronoun (resuming the kings: 'they themselves')αὐτός: the intensive nominative αὐτοί ('they themselves') gathers the five kings before adding their massed forces.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πᾶςallNominativeattributive adjective (with λαός)πᾶς: 'all'; the whole host of the five kings.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with λαός)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸςpeople / hostNominativesubject (in apposition: the army of the kings)λαός: 'people'; here the combined military host of the coalition kings.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
περιεκάθισανencamped around / besiegedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · περικαθίζωmain verb (encirclement)→ constative aorist (took up siege positions)περικαθίζω: 'sit down around / encamp against / besiege'; the compound περι- ('around') marks the encirclement of Gibeon; recurs of Israel's own sieges later (vv. 31, 34, 36).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with Γαβαων)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΓαβαωνGibeonobject of περιεκάθισαν (indeclinable)Γαβαων: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξεπολιόρκουνwere besieging / stormingImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐκπολιορκέωmain verb (durative siege action)→ imperfect (ongoing/conative siege: 'were pressing the siege')ἐκπολιορκέω: 'reduce by siege / storm completely'; the imperfect describes the ongoing assault on Gibeon; the compound ἐκ- intensifies; it is this pressure that drives Gibeon's urgent appeal in v. 6.
αὐτήνitAccusativedirect object (= Gibeon)αὐτήν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
6
καὶ ἀπέστειλαν οἱ κατοικοῦντες Γαβαων πρὸς Ἰησοῦν εἰς τὴν παρεμβολὴν Ισραηλ εἰς Γαλγαλα λέγοντες μὴ ἐκλύσῃς τὰς χεῖράς σου ἀπὸ τῶν παίδων σου ἀνάβηθι πρὸς ἡμᾶς τὸ τάχος καὶ ἐξελοῦ ἡμᾶς καὶ βοήθησον ἡμῖν ὅτι συνηγμένοι εἰσὶν ἐφ᾿ ἡμᾶς πάντες οἱ βασιλεῖς τῶν Αμορραίων οἱ κατοικοῦντες τὴν ὀρεινήν
And the inhabitants of Gibeon sent to Joshua at the camp of Israel at Gilgal, saying, "Do not slacken your hands from your servants; come up to us quickly and rescue us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites who dwell in the hill country have gathered together against us."
Gibeon invokes the covenant of ch. 9 (calling itself Joshua's παῖδες, 'servants'). The appeal is a chain of imperatives — μὴ ἐκλύσῃς (prohibitive subjunctive), ἀνάβηθι, ἐξελοῦ, βοήθησον — grounded by a ὅτι-clause reporting the coalition's gathering. The verb βοήθησον deliberately echoes the coalition's own βοηθήσατε (v. 4): the same help one side sought, the other now begs.
Word-by-word analysis· 48 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπέστειλανsentAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀποστέλλωmain verb→ constative aoristἀποστέλλω: 'send (with a commission)'; renders שָׁלַח; Gibeon dispatches an urgent embassy to Joshua, mirroring Adoni-bezek's sending in v. 3.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with participle)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κατοικοῦντεςinhabitantsPres Act Ptc Nom Masc Pl · κατοικέωsubstantival participle (subject)→ imperfective aspect (the residents)κατοικέω: 'dwell / inhabit'; οἱ κατοικοῦντες Γαβαων = 'the inhabitants of Gibeon' (cf. v. 1).
ΓαβαωνGibeongenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Γαβαων: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusativeπρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ἸησοῦνJoshuaAccusativeaccusative object of πρόςἸησοῦς (acc. Ἰησοῦν): declinable; the covenant-partner to whom Gibeon appeals.
εἰςto / atpreposition + accusative (location of the camp)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with παρεμβολήν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρεμβολὴνcampAccusativeaccusative object of εἰςπαρεμβολή: 'camp / encampment / army in array'; the standard LXX term for Israel's wilderness/war camp (rendering מַחֲנֶה); locates Joshua at the Gilgal base.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'camp of Israel')Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
εἰςto / atpreposition + accusative (apposition of place)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΓαλγαλαGilgalaccusative of place (indeclinable)Γαλγαλα: transliteration of Hebrew גִּלְגָּל (Gilgal); indeclinable; Israel's base camp after the Jordan crossing (Josh 4–5), from which Joshua's army marches.
λέγοντεςsayingPres Act Ptc Nom Masc Pl · λέγωparticiple of speech (introducing direct discourse)→ imperfective aspect (attendant circumstance)λέγω: participle λέγοντες (rendering לֵאמֹר) introduces Gibeon's plea.
μὴnotnegative particle (with prohibitive subjunctive)μή: negative used with the aorist subjunctive ἐκλύσῃς to form a prohibition.
ἐκλύσῃςslacken / let dropAor Act Subj 2 Sg · ἐκλύωprohibitive subjunctive (μὴ + aor. subj.)→ prohibitive aorist subjunctive (do not slacken)ἐκλύω: 'loosen / relax / let go slack'; the idiom μὴ ἐκλύσῃς τὰς χεῖράς σου ('do not slacken your hands') renders אַל־תֶּרֶף יָדֶיךָ ('do not withdraw / withhold your hand'), a plea not to abandon the besieged.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with χεῖρας)τὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χεῖράςhandsAccusativedirect object of ἐκλύσῃςχείρ: 'hand'; here metonymic for help/strength; 'do not relax your hands' = do not withhold aid.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possessionσου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with παίδων)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παίδωνservantsGenitivegenitive object of ἀπόπαῖς: 'servant / slave / child'; Gibeon calls itself Joshua's παῖδες, invoking the servile-vassal status fixed by the covenant of ch. 9 (9:8, 11); the self-designation grounds the claim on Joshua's protection.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possessionσου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἀνάβηθιcome upAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἀναβαίνωmain verb (imperative of appeal)→ ingressive aorist imperative (make the ascent now)ἀναβαίνω: 'go up'; the same verb of advance into the hill country; Gibeon begs Joshua to come up to its relief.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusativeπρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativeaccusative object of πρόςἡμᾶς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with τάχος, adverbial accusative)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τάχοςquicklyAccusativeadverbial accusative (τὸ τάχος = 'with speed')τάχος: 'speed / quickness'; the adverbial accusative τὸ τάχος ('quickly / with all speed') renders מְהֵרָה; conveys the urgency of the besieged.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξελοῦrescue / deliverAor Mid Impv 2 Sg · ἐξαιρέωcoordinate imperative→ ingressive aorist middle imperative (deliver us)ἐξαιρέω (mid. ἐξαιρέομαι): 'take out / rescue / deliver'; the middle ἐξελοῦ ('rescue!') renders הַצִּילָה / הוֹשִׁיעָה; a verb of salvation from danger.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect objectἡμᾶς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
βοήθησονhelpAor Act Impv 2 Sg · βοηθέωcoordinate imperative→ ingressive aorist imperative (render aid)βοηθέω: 'help / come to the aid of'; takes the dative ἡμῖν; deliberately echoes the coalition's own βοηθήσατε (v. 4) — the identical plea for help now sounds from the opposite side.
ἡμῖνusDativedative object of βοήθησονἡμῖν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunctionὅτι: 'because'; grounds the appeal in the coalition's gathering.
συνηγμένοιgathered togetherPerf Pass Ptc Nom Masc Pl · συνάγωperfect participle (periphrastic with εἰσίν: 'have gathered')→ resultative perfect (they stand assembled)συνάγω (perf. pass. ptc.): 'gather together / assemble'; the periphrastic perfect συνηγμένοι εἰσίν ('have been gathered / are massed') stresses the settled, present threat of the assembled coalition.
εἰσὶνthey arePres Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίcopula (forming periphrastic perfect with συνηγμένοι)→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; the present copula with the perfect participle forms a periphrastic perfect.
ἐφ᾿againstpreposition + accusative (hostile direction, elided)ἐπί + acc.: here hostile, 'against us.'
ἡμᾶςusAccusativeaccusative object of ἐφ᾿ἡμᾶς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
πάντεςallNominativeattributive adjective (with βασιλεῖς)πᾶς: 'all'; the whole body of Amorite kings.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with βασιλεῖς)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεῖςkingsNominativesubject of συνηγμένοι εἰσίνβασιλεύς: 'king'; the coalition described from Gibeon's perspective.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with Αμορραίων)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑμορραίωνAmoritesGenitivegenitive of relationship ('kings of the Amorites')Ἀμορραῖος: 'Amorite'; gentilic noun (declinable, hence 'n'); renders אֱמֹרִי; the standard collective term for the Canaanite hill-peoples; Gibeon names the coalition 'kings of the Amorites who dwell the hill country.'
οἱtheNominativearticle (with participle κατοικοῦντες)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κατοικοῦντεςwho dwellPres Act Ptc Nom Masc Pl · κατοικέωattributive participle (modifying βασιλεῖς)→ imperfective aspect (habitual dwelling)κατοικέω: 'dwell / inhabit'; here attributive, 'the kings who dwell in the hill country.'
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ὀρεινήν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀρεινήνhill countryAccusativedirect object of κατοικοῦντες (substantivized adjective)ὀρεινή: 'hill country / mountainous region'; substantivized feminine adjective (sc. χώρα/γῆ); renders הָהָר; the central Judean highlands; recurs in the conquest summary (v. 40).
7
καὶ ἀνέβη Ἰησοῦς ἐκ Γαλγαλων αὐτὸς καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ὁ πολεμιστὴς μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ πᾶς δυνατὸς ἐν ἰσχύι
And Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the fighting people with him, every mighty man of strength.
Joshua answers the appeal with the very verb the Gibeonites used (ἀνάβηθι → ἀνέβη). The roster of his force — αὐτὸς καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ὁ πολεμιστής — mirrors the coalition's αὐτοὶ καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς (v. 5), setting the two armies in deliberate parallel. πᾶς δυνατὸς ἐν ἰσχύι characterizes the troops as elite warriors.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀνέβηwent upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναβαίνωmain verb→ constative aorist (the march out)ἀναβαίνω: 'go up'; Joshua's ἀνέβη answers Gibeon's imperative ἀνάβηθι (v. 6) — the relief march begins at once.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubjectἸησοῦς: declinable; commander of the relief force.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)ἐκ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΓαλγαλωνGilgalgenitive of source (indeclinable place-name)Γαλγαλα / Γαλγαλων: Gilgal; the genitive-plural-looking form Γαλγαλων is the indeclinable place-name as the LXX renders it (cf. v. 9); the base from which Joshua marches.
αὐτὸςhe himselfNominativeintensive pronoun (in apposition to Ἰησοῦς)αὐτός: intensive nominative 'he himself'; parallels the coalition's αὐτοί (v. 5).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πᾶςallNominativeattributive adjective (with λαός)πᾶς: 'all'; the whole fighting force.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with λαός)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸςpeople / armyNominativesubject (in apposition)λαός: 'people'; here Israel's army, parallel to the coalition's λαός (v. 5).
ὁtheNominativearticle (attributive, with πολεμιστής)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πολεμιστὴςwarlike / of warNominativeattributive (ὁ λαὸς ὁ πολεμιστής = 'the fighting people')πολεμιστής: 'warrior / fighting man'; in attributive position with λαός it characterizes the host as 'the people of war / the fighting men'; renders עַם הַמִּלְחָמָה / אַנְשֵׁי הַמִּלְחָמָה.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment, elided)μετ᾿: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετάαὐτοῦ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
πᾶςeveryNominativeattributive adjective (with δυνατός)πᾶς: 'every'; distributive, 'every mighty man.'
δυνατὸςmighty manNominativesubstantival adjective (in apposition: 'every mighty one')δυνατός: 'powerful / mighty / able'; substantivized 'mighty man / champion'; renders גִּבּוֹר; the phrase πᾶς δυνατὸς ἐν ἰσχύι ('every man mighty in strength') marks the troops as elite.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (respect)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ἰσχύιstrengthDativedative of respect ('mighty in strength')ἰσχύς: 'strength / might'; renders חַיִל / כֹּחַ; ἐν ἰσχύι specifies the sphere of the warriors' might — valor and martial power.
8
καὶ εἶπεν κύριος πρὸς Ἰησοῦν μὴ φοβηθῇς αὐτούς εἰς γὰρ τὰς χεῖράς σου παραδέδωκα αὐτούς οὐχ ὑπολειφθήσεται ἐξ αὐτῶν οὐθεὶς ἐνώπιον ὑμῶν
And the LORD said to Joshua, "Do not fear them, for into your hands I have delivered them; not one of them shall be left standing before you."
The classic holy-war oracle: μὴ φοβηθῇς ('do not fear', cf. Josh 1:9; 8:1), grounded by the perfect παραδέδωκα ('I have given them into your hands') which announces the victory as already accomplished in the divine will. The promise that none will be left standing (οὐθεὶς … ἐνώπιον ὑμῶν) is the guarantee that frames and explains everything that follows, including the long day.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introducing)→ constative aoristλέγω: the aorist εἶπεν introduces the divine reassurance-oracle; κύριος is the speaker, addressing Joshua directly as he had Moses.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject (divine speaker)κύριος: the standard LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; here YHWH gives the holy-war oracle that secures the coming victory.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ἸησοῦνJoshuaAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (recipient of oracle)Ἰησοῦς (acc. Ἰησοῦν): declinable; addressed as YHWH's commissioned commander.
μὴnotnegative particle (with prohibitive subjunctive)μή: forms the prohibition with φοβηθῇς.
φοβηθῇςfearAor Pass Subj 2 Sg · φοβέομαιprohibitive subjunctive (μὴ + aor. subj.)→ prohibitive aorist subjunctive ('do not be afraid')φοβέομαι: 'fear / be afraid'; the holy-war formula μὴ φοβηθῇς ('do not fear') recurs at YHWH's commissioning of Joshua (1:9) and before Ai (8:1); it counters the enemy's own fear (v. 2) with divine assurance.
αὐτούςthemAccusativedirect object of φοβηθῇς (the coalition)αὐτούς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (fronted: 'into your hands')εἰς + acc.: the fronted εἰς τὰς χεῖράς σου ('into your hands') emphasizes the divine handover of the enemy; a standard idiom of military victory (cf. v. 19; Exod 23:31).
γὰρforcausal conjunction (post-positive)γάρ: 'for'; grounds the 'do not fear' in the accomplished handover.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with χεῖρας)τὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χεῖράςhandsAccusativeaccusative object of εἰςχείρ: 'hand'; 'into your hands' = into your power/control.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possessionσου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
παραδέδωκαI have deliveredPerf Act Indic 1 Sg · παραδίδωμιmain verb of γάρ-clause→ resultative perfect (the handover stands accomplished)παραδίδωμι: 'hand over / deliver up'; renders נָתַן (בְּיָד); the perfect παραδέδωκα ('I have already given them over') is a prophetic/anticipatory perfect — the victory is so certain it is spoken as past fact; the standard holy-war assurance (cf. 6:2; 8:1).
αὐτούςthemAccusativedirect objectαὐτούς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
οὐχnotnegative particle (with future indicative)οὐ (οὐχ before rough breathing): emphatic negation of the future ὑπολειφθήσεται.
ὑπολειφθήσεταιshall be leftFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · ὑπολείπωmain verb (predictive)→ predictive future passive (total destruction guaranteed)ὑπολείπω (fut. pass.): 'leave behind / leave remaining'; the passive 'shall be left remaining'; the formula οὐχ ὑπολειφθήσεται … οὐθείς ('not one shall be left') is the ḥērem-promise of total victory (cf. the 'no survivor' refrain of vv. 28, 30, 33, 37, 40).
ἐξof / frompreposition + genitive (partitive)ἐξ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτῶνthemGenitivepartitive genitive ('of them')αὐτῶν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
οὐθεὶςno oneNominativesubject of ὑπολειφθήσεταιοὐθείς: 'no one / none' (the Hellenistic byform of οὐδείς, common in the LXX); subject of the verb — 'not one of them shall be left.'
ἐνώπιονbeforepreposition + genitive (Hebraism: 'in the face of')ἐνώπιον: 'before / in the presence of'; Hebraism rendering לִפְנֵי; 'before you' = able to withstand you.
ὑμῶνyouGenitivegenitive object of ἐνώπιον (2nd person plural)the shift to plural ὑμῶν ('before you all') widens the address from Joshua to all Israel as the victorious army.
9
καὶ ἐπιπαρεγένετο ἐπ᾿ αὐτοὺς Ἰησοῦς ἄφνω ὅλην τὴν νύκτα εἰσεπορεύθη ἐκ Γαλγαλων
And Joshua came upon them suddenly, having marched all night long from Gilgal.
Joshua's tactical surprise (ἄφνω, 'suddenly') is achieved by an all-night forced march (ὅλην τὴν νύκτα). The compound ἐπιπαρεγένετο ('came up upon') stresses arrival against the enemy. The detail prepares for the long day: a battle begun at dawn after a night-march will need extended daylight to complete the rout.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπιπαρεγένετοcame up upon / arrived againstAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιπαραγίνομαιmain verb→ constative aorist (the arrival/onset)ἐπιπαραγίνομαι: 'come up alongside / arrive upon'; the double compound ἐπι-παρα- conveys arriving close against the enemy; with ἐπ᾿ αὐτούς, 'came upon them' — the moment of attack.
ἐπ᾿uponpreposition + accusative (hostile direction, elided)ἐπ᾿: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπ᾿ (the coalition)αὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubjectἸησοῦς: declinable; the attacking commander.
ἄφνωsuddenlyadverb of mannerἄφνω: 'suddenly / unexpectedly'; renders פִּתְאֹם; the surprise is the tactical fruit of the night-march and a key element of the rout.
ὅληνwholeAccusativeattributive adjective (with νύκτα, accusative of duration)ὅλος: 'whole / entire'; ὅλην τὴν νύκτα ('all night long') is an accusative of extent of time.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with νύκτα)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νύκταnightAccusativeaccusative of duration of timeνύξ: 'night'; the accusative of extent marks the full duration of the forced march.
εἰσεπορεύθηhe marched / went inAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · εἰσπορεύομαιmain verb (the night-march)→ constative aorist (completed march)εἰσπορεύομαι: 'go in / advance / march'; (deponent, aor. pass. form with active sense); here of Joshua's overnight advance from Gilgal toward Gibeon.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)ἐκ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΓαλγαλωνGilgalgenitive of source (indeclinable place-name)Γαλγαλων: Gilgal; the starting point of the night-march (cf. v. 7).
10
καὶ ἐξέστησεν αὐτοὺς κύριος ἀπὸ προσώπου τῶν υἱῶν Ισραηλ καὶ συνέτριψεν αὐτοὺς κύριος σύντριψιν μεγάλην ἐν Γαβαων καὶ κατεδίωξαν αὐτοὺς ὁδὸν ἀναβάσεως Ωρωνιν καὶ κατέκοπτον αὐτοὺς ἕως Αζηκα καὶ ἕως Μακηδα
And the LORD threw them into panic before the sons of Israel, and the LORD shattered them with a great shattering at Gibeon; and they pursued them along the road of the ascent of Beth-horon and cut them down as far as Azekah and as far as Makkedah.
The decisive turn: κύριος (twice the subject) is the true agent of the victory — he throws the coalition into panic (ἐξέστησεν) and shatters them (συνέτριψεν … σύντριψιν μεγάλην, cognate accusative). Israel's role is the consequent pursuit (κατεδίωξαν) and cutting-down (κατέκοπτον, imperfect of ongoing slaughter) along the Beth-horon descent to Azekah and Makkedah — naming the geography the hailstones (v. 11) and the cave (v. 16) will fill.
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξέστησενthrew into panic / confoundedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξίστημιmain verb (divine act)→ causative aorist (threw them into confusion)ἐξίστημι (transitive aor.): 'displace / drive out of one's senses / throw into consternation'; renders הָמַם ('rout / throw into panic'); YHWH himself, not Israel, breaks the coalition's nerve — the theological heart of the holy-war victory.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect objectαὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject (the divine agent of the rout)κύριος: the Tetragrammaton יהוה; emphatically named as subject of the panic-throwing.
ἀπὸfrom / beforepreposition + genitive (Hebraism: 'from before')ἀπὸ προσώπου: 'from before / from the face of'; Hebraism rendering מִפְּנֵי; the routed flee 'before' Israel.
προσώπουface / presenceGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (idiomatic 'before')πρόσωπον: 'face / presence'; in the idiom ἀπὸ προσώπου = 'before / in the face of.'
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with υἱῶν)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivegenitive of relationship ('the sons of Israel')υἱός: 'son'; οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ = the covenant people (cf. v. 4).
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
συνέτριψενshattered / crushedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συντρίβωmain verb (divine act)→ constative aorist (decisive crushing blow)συντρίβω: 'shatter / crush / break in pieces'; renders נָכָה / הָכָּה in the sense of a crushing defeat; with the cognate accusative σύντριψιν it forms a Hebraizing emphatic construction; the same root recurs in v. 12 (συνέτριψεν … συνετρίβησαν).
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect objectαὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject (repeated for emphasis)κύριος: repeated as subject — the double naming underlines that the shattering is YHWH's own deed.
σύντριψινa shatteringAccusativecognate accusative (with συνέτριψεν: Hebraism)σύντριψις: 'shattering / crushing / destruction'; the cognate accusative σύντριψιν μεγάλην ('a great shattering') with συνέτριψεν renders the Hebrew construction מַכָּה גְדוֹלָה / intensifies the blow — a 'great slaughter.'
μεγάληνgreatAccusativeattributive adjective (with σύντριψιν)μέγας: 'great'; magnifies the scale of the slaughter.
ἐνat / inpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΓαβαωνGibeondative of place (indeclinable: 'at Gibeon')Γαβαων: indeclinable; the place of the initial shattering, soon to be the place over which the sun stands still (v. 12).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
κατεδίωξανthey pursuedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · καταδιώκωmain verb (Israel's pursuit)→ constative aorist (the pursuit)καταδιώκω: 'pursue closely / chase down'; the compound κατα- adds the sense of hunting the fleeing enemy; Israel's action follows upon the divine rout.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect objectαὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ὁδὸνthe roadAccusativeaccusative of route/extent ('along the road')ὁδός: 'road / way'; accusative of the way-by-which; 'along the road of the ascent of Beth-horon.'
ἀναβάσεωςof the ascentGenitivegenitive (defining ὁδόν: 'road of the ascent')ἀνάβασις: 'ascent / going-up / pass'; renders מַעֲלֵה; the famous Beth-horon pass; note the contrast with καταβάσεως ('descent') in v. 11.
ΩρωνινBeth-horongenitive of relationship (indeclinable place-name)Ωρωνιν: the Greek name for Beth-horon (MT בֵּית חוֹרֹן); indeclinable; the steep pass descending from the hill country toward the coastal plain, the natural flight-route of the routed coalition.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
κατέκοπτονwere cutting downImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · κατακόπτωmain verb (durative slaughter)→ imperfect (ongoing slaughter throughout the pursuit)κατακόπτω: 'cut down / cut to pieces / strike down'; the imperfect κατέκοπτον depicts the continuous slaughter all along the line of pursuit, from the pass down to Azekah and Makkedah.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect objectαὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἕωςas far aspreposition + genitive (extent: 'as far as')ἕως: 'as far as / until'; here spatial, marking the limit of the pursuit.
ΑζηκαAzekahgenitive of extent (indeclinable place-name)Αζηκα: transliteration of Hebrew עֲזֵקָה (Azekah); indeclinable; a Shephelah town toward which the rout swept (also the limit named in v. 11).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἕωςas far aspreposition + genitive (extent)ἕως: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΜακηδαMakkedahgenitive of extent (indeclinable place-name)Μακηδα: transliteration of Hebrew מַקֵּדָה (Makkedah); indeclinable; the second limit of the pursuit and the site of the cave where the five kings will hide (v. 16) and be executed (vv. 22–27).
11
ἐν τῷ δὲ φεύγειν αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ προσώπου τῶν υἱῶν Ισραηλ ἐπὶ τῆς καταβάσεως Ωρωνιν καὶ κύριος ἐπέρριψεν αὐτοῖς λίθους χαλάζης ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἕως Αζηκα καὶ ἐγένοντο πλείους οἱ ἀποθανόντες διὰ τοὺς λίθους τῆς χαλάζης ἢ οὓς ἀπέκτειναν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ μαχαίρᾳ ἐν τῷ πολέμῳ
And as they fled before the sons of Israel on the descent of Beth-horon, the LORD cast down on them great hailstones out of heaven as far as Azekah; and those who died from the hailstones were more than those whom the sons of Israel killed with the sword in the battle.
An articular-infinitive temporal clause (ἐν τῷ … φεύγειν, 'as they fled') frames the second divine intervention: the LORD hurls λίθους χαλάζης ('hailstones', lit. 'stones of hail') from heaven. The closing comparison — more died by hail (διὰ τοὺς λίθους τῆς χαλάζης) than by the sword (μαχαίρᾳ) — makes explicit that the decisive killing was YHWH's, not Israel's; heaven's artillery surpasses human weapons. This is the first of the chapter's two cosmic wonders, preparing for the long day.
Word-by-word analysis· 45 words
ἐνin / aspreposition + dative articular infinitive (temporal)ἐν τῷ + infinitive: a temporal construction ('while / as'), a common LXX rendering of the Hebrew בְּ + infinitive construct; here 'as they fled.'
τῷtheDativearticle (with the infinitive φεύγειν)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δὲand / nownarrative continuative (post-positive)δέ: marks the new phase — the flight and the hail.
φεύγεινto flee / fleeingPres Act Inf · φεύγωarticular infinitive (temporal, with subject αὐτούς)→ imperfective aspect (flight in progress)φεύγω: 'flee'; the present infinitive in ἐν τῷ φεύγειν αὐτούς ('as they were fleeing') depicts the rout in progress, the moment the hail strikes.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive φεύγειναὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἀπὸfrom / beforepreposition + genitive (Hebraism: 'before')ἀπὸ προσώπου: 'before / from the face of'; see v. 10.
προσώπουface / presenceGenitivegenitive object of ἀπόπρόσωπον: 'face'; in the idiom ἀπὸ προσώπου.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with υἱῶν)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivegenitive of relationship ('sons of Israel')υἱός: 'son'; οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ἐπὶon / atpreposition + genitive (location)ἐπὶ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with καταβάσεως)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καταβάσεωςdescentGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί ('on the descent')κατάβασις: 'descent / going-down'; renders מוֹרַד; the western downward slope of the Beth-horon pass — note the deliberate contrast with ἀναβάσεως ('ascent') in v. 10: the enemy is chased up the pass and then down the far side.
ΩρωνινBeth-horongenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ωρωνιν: Beth-horon; see v. 10; here the descent.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (apodosis after the temporal clause)καί: here resumptive, introducing the main clause after the long temporal frame (a Hebraizing apodotic καί).
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject (divine agent of the hail)κύριος: the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the LORD is the explicit subject who hurls the hail — the killing is heaven's act.
ἐπέρριψενcast down uponAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιρρίπτωmain verb (the divine hurling)→ constative aorist (the casting-down)ἐπιρρίπτω: 'throw / hurl upon / cast down on'; the compound ἐπι- marks downward hostile force; renders הִשְׁלִיךְ; the LORD 'cast down' the hailstones from heaven upon the fleeing army.
αὐτοῖςon themDativedative of disadvantage (the target of the hail)αὐτοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
λίθουςstonesAccusativedirect object of ἐπέρριψενλίθος: 'stone'; in the phrase λίθους χαλάζης ('stones of hail' = hailstones) the noun is governed by the genitive χαλάζης; renders אַבְנֵי הַבָּרָד; the same word λίθους ironically recurs of the stones Joshua rolls over the cave (v. 18, 27).
χαλάζηςof hailGenitivegenitive of material/content (with λίθους: 'stones of hail')χάλαζα: 'hail'; renders בָּרָד; λίθοι χαλάζης ('hailstones') recalls the seventh Egyptian plague (Exod 9:18–25), framing the conquest as a continuation of YHWH's war against his people's enemies.
ἐκout of / frompreposition + genitive (source)ἐκ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with οὐρανοῦ)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οὐρανοῦheavenGenitivegenitive of source ('out of heaven')οὐρανός: 'heaven / sky'; renders שָׁמַיִם; the hail's heavenly origin marks it as a direct divine weapon, not a natural storm merely; cf. the celestial signs of vv. 12–13 (sun and moon).
ἕωςas far aspreposition + genitive (extent)ἕως: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΑζηκαAzekahgenitive of extent (indeclinable)Αζηκα: Azekah; see v. 10; the hail pursues the enemy along the same line as the sword.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγένοντοwere / becameAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · γίνομαιmain verb (of the comparison clause)→ constative aorist (the resultant tally)γίνομαι: 'be / become / come to be'; here 'they came to be more' = 'were more numerous'; introduces the climactic comparison.
πλείουςmoreNominativepredicate (comparative adjective: 'more numerous')πλείων (πλείους): comparative of πολύς, 'more / greater in number'; the predicate of the comparison — those slain by hail outnumber those slain by sword.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with participle ἀποθανόντες)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀποθανόντεςthose who diedAor Act Ptc Nom Masc Pl · ἀποθνῄσκωsubstantival participle (subject: 'those who died')→ constative aorist participle (those who perished)ἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; the articular aorist participle οἱ ἀποθανόντες ('those who died') substantivizes the slain; the count of hail-deaths is the subject of the comparison.
διὰbecause of / bypreposition + accusative (cause/agency)διά + acc.: 'because of / on account of'; here near-instrumental, 'by reason of the hailstones.'
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with λίθους)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λίθουςstonesAccusativeaccusative object of διάλίθος: 'stone'; here τοὺς λίθους τῆς χαλάζης ('the hailstones') as the cause of death.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with χαλάζης)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χαλάζηςof hailGenitivegenitive of material (with λίθους)χάλαζα: 'hail'; see above.
ἢthancomparative particle (introducing second member of comparison)ἤ: 'than'; the comparative particle following πλείους sets the hail-deaths against the sword-deaths.
οὓςwhomAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἀπέκτειναν)ὅς: the relative οὕς ('those whom') heads the second member of the comparison — the men killed by Israel's sword.
ἀπέκτεινανkilledAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀποκτείνωverb of relative clause→ constative aorist (the sword-killing)ἀποκτείνω: 'kill / slay'; renders הָרַג; the human killing by the sword is here explicitly subordinated in scale to the divine killing by hail.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοί)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of ἀπέκτεινανυἱός: 'son'; οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ as the human agents of the sword-deaths, contrasted with κύριος as agent of the hail-deaths.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
μαχαίρᾳwith the swordDativedative of instrumentμάχαιρα: 'sword / large knife'; renders חֶרֶב; the dative of instrument names the human weapon, set against the heavenly λίθοι χαλάζης.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (temporal/circumstantial)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῷtheDativearticle (with πολέμῳ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πολέμῳbattle / warDativedative of place/circumstance ('in the battle')πόλεμος: 'war / battle'; renders מִלְחָמָה; locates the sword-killing within the engagement, over against the hail that struck the fugitives outside the close fight.
12
τότε ἐλάλησεν Ἰησοῦς πρὸς κύριον ᾗ ἡμέρᾳ παρέδωκεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν Αμορραῖον ὑποχείριον Ισραηλ ἡνίκα συνέτριψεν αὐτοὺς ἐν Γαβαων καὶ συνετρίβησαν ἀπὸ προσώπου υἱῶν Ισραηλ καὶ εἶπεν Ἰησοῦς στήτω ὁ ἥλιος κατὰ Γαβαων καὶ ἡ σελήνη κατὰ φάραγγα Αιλων
Then Joshua spoke to the LORD, on the day when God delivered the Amorite into Israel's power, when he shattered them at Gibeon and they were shattered before the sons of Israel; and Joshua said, "Let the sun stand still over Gibeon, and the moon over the valley of Aijalon!"
HEADLINE CRUX — the celebrated cosmic miracle. τότε ('then') marks the solemn climactic moment; Joshua first 'speaks to the LORD' and then utters, before Israel, the poetic command στήτω ὁ ἥλιος … καὶ ἡ σελήνη. The relative/temporal frame (ᾗ ἡμέρᾳ … ἡνίκα συνέτριψεν) ties the wonder to the day of the shattering at Gibeon (v. 10). The address is cast in elevated, quasi-poetic parallelism (sun // moon, Gibeon // valley of Aijalon). NOTE: the Rahlfs reference text here does NOT contain the clause citing the Book of the Upright (βιβλίον τοῦ εὐθοῦς); that citation, present in the MT and in some Greek witnesses, stands in v. 13 of those traditions but is absent from the text annotated here.
Word-by-word analysis· 39 words
τότεthentemporal adverb (marking the solemn moment)τότε: 'then / at that time'; renders אָז; the same particle that opens the Song of Moses (Exod 15:1) and the Song of Deborah (Judg 5:1), here introducing Joshua's elevated address — a signal of the poetic, quasi-hymnic register of the long-day oracle.
ἐλάλησενspokeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαλέωmain verb (Joshua addresses the LORD)→ constative aorist (the speech-act)λαλέω: 'speak'; renders דִּבֶּר; Joshua 'spoke to the LORD' — the address is directed Godward before being uttered as a command to the heavenly bodies.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubjectἸησοῦς: declinable; the speaker of the cosmic command.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
κύριονLORDAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (addressee)κύριος (acc. κύριον): the Tetragrammaton יהוה; Joshua addresses YHWH directly — the human word that the LORD will 'heed' (v. 14).
ᾗon whichDativerelative pronoun (dative of time, with ἡμέρᾳ)ὅς: the relative ᾗ agrees with ἡμέρᾳ in a dative-of-time phrase, ᾗ ἡμέρᾳ ('on the day when'), anchoring the wonder to the day of the Gibeon victory.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time ('on the day')ἡμέρα: 'day'; the dative-of-time antecedent of ᾗ; the long day is the very day of the divine handover of the Amorites.
παρέδωκενdelivered overAor Act Indic 3 Sg · παραδίδωμιverb of relative/temporal clause→ constative aorist (the handover, fulfilling v. 8)παραδίδωμι: 'hand over / deliver up'; fulfils the oracle of v. 8 (παραδέδωκα); now narrated as accomplished — God 'delivered the Amorite' into Israel's hand.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with θεός)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativesubject of παρέδωκενθεός: 'God'; renders אֱלֹהִים; the divine subject of the handover; in this long-day unit ὁ θεός alternates with κύριος (v. 14) as designations of the one God who fights for Israel.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Αμορραῖον)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑμορραῖονAmoriteAccusativedirect object of παρέδωκεν (collective singular)Ἀμορραῖος: 'Amorite'; gentilic noun (declinable, hence 'n'); the collective singular τὸν Αμορραῖον ('the Amorite') denotes the whole coalition enemy as a single foe handed over to Israel.
ὑποχείριονinto subjection / under the handAccusativepredicate adjective (with τὸν Αμορραῖον: 'as subject')ὑποχείριος: 'under the hand / subject / in one's power'; predicative — 'delivered the Amorite as subject (ὑποχείριον) to Israel'; a vivid LXX idiom for total military subjugation.
Ισραηλto Israeldative of advantage (indeclinable: 'to Israel')Ισραηλ: indeclinable; functions here as the dative beneficiary — the Amorite is handed over 'to Israel.'
ἡνίκαwhentemporal conjunctionἡνίκα: 'when / at the time when'; renders כַּאֲשֶׁר; introduces the temporal clause recalling the shattering at Gibeon (v. 10).
συνέτριψενhe shatteredAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συντρίβωverb of temporal clause→ constative aoristσυντρίβω: 'shatter / crush'; picks up the συνέτριψιν of v. 10; the subject is God (or, by extension, the agency operative through Israel).
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect objectαὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐνat / inpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΓαβαωνGibeondative of place (indeclinable)Γαβαων: indeclinable; the place of the shattering and now of the sun's standing.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
συνετρίβησανthey were shatteredAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · συντρίβωmain verb (passive, of the enemy)→ constative aorist passive (they were crushed)συντρίβω (aor. pass.): 'be shattered / crushed'; the passive completes the active συνέτριψεν — the foe 'was shattered before the sons of Israel'; the active/passive pairing of the same root is a Hebraizing emphasis on the totality of the defeat.
ἀπὸfrom / beforepreposition + genitive (Hebraism: 'before')ἀπὸ προσώπου: 'before / from the face of'; see v. 10.
προσώπουface / presenceGenitivegenitive object of ἀπόπρόσωπον: 'face'; in the idiom ἀπὸ προσώπου.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivegenitive of relationship (anarthrous: 'of the sons of Israel')υἱός: 'son'; here anarthrous υἱῶν Ισραηλ ('of the sons of Israel'), the article omitted in the construct-like phrase.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (introducing the cosmic command)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces the actual words of Joshua's address; the LXX adds Ἰησοῦς as explicit subject, and (unlike the MT) frames the words as spoken 'before Israel' rather than only to the LORD.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubject of εἶπενἸησοῦς: declinable; named again as the utterer of the command.
στήτωlet stand stillAor Act Impv 3 Sg · ἵστημιthird-person imperative (command to the sun)→ ingressive/punctiliar aorist imperative (let it halt!)ἵστημι (aor. act. impv. στήτω): 'stand / stand still / halt'; the third-person imperative addressed to the sun — 'let the sun stand still!' — renders Hebrew דּוֹם ('be still'); the intransitive aorist στῆναι denotes coming-to-a-stop; this is the verbal heart of the long-day miracle, answered by ἔστη in v. 13.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ἥλιος)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἥλιοςsunNominativesubject of στήτωἥλιος: 'sun'; renders שֶׁמֶשׁ; the sun is commanded to halt over Gibeon; in the parallelism it pairs with ἡ σελήνη (the moon), the two great lights of Gen 1:16 subordinated to the LORD's war for Israel.
κατὰover / oppositepreposition + accusative (position: 'over against')κατά + acc.: here positional, 'over / opposite / at'; κατὰ Γαβαων = 'over Gibeon' (the eastern sky); paired with κατὰ φάραγγα Αιλων for the moon (the western sky).
ΓαβαωνGibeonaccusative object of κατά (indeclinable)Γαβαων: indeclinable; over Gibeon (in the east) the sun is to stand.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (parallel: sun // moon)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with σελήνη)ἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σελήνηmoonNominativesubject (implied στήτω: 'let the moon stand')σελήνη: 'moon'; renders יָרֵחַ; in poetic parallel with ἥλιος; the verb στήτω is understood — 'and (let) the moon (stand) over the valley of Aijalon.'
κατὰoverpreposition + accusative (position)κατά + acc.: positional, 'over the valley.'
φάραγγαvalley / ravineAccusativeaccusative object of κατάφάραγξ: 'ravine / valley / gorge'; renders עֵמֶק / נַחַל; the valley of Aijalon, opening toward the coastal plain in the west — opposite Gibeon, so that sun (east) and moon (west) are held in a fixed celestial tableau across the whole sky.
ΑιλωνAijalongenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'valley of Aijalon')Αιλων: transliteration of Hebrew אַיָּלוֹן (Aijalon); indeclinable; the valley west of the Beth-horon descent, the natural escape route of the fleeing coalition; over it the moon is bidden to stand.
13
καὶ ἔστη ὁ ἥλιος καὶ ἡ σελήνη ἐν στάσει ἕως ἠμύνατο ὁ θεὸς τοὺς ἐχθροὺς αὐτῶν καὶ ἔστη ὁ ἥλιος κατὰ μέσον τοῦ οὐρανοῦ οὐ προεπορεύετο εἰς δυσμὰς εἰς τέλος ἡμέρας μιᾶς
And the sun stood still, and the moon stood in its place, until God avenged himself on their enemies; and the sun stood at the midst of heaven; it did not hasten toward setting for about a whole day.
The narrator reports the answer to Joshua's command: ἔστη ('stood', the indicative answering the imperative στήτω of v. 12). Sun and moon halt 'in their station' (ἐν στάσει) until the LORD's vengeance on the enemies is complete. The repeated ἔστη and the note that the sun did not hasten toward setting (οὐ προεπορεύετο εἰς δυσμάς) 'for about a whole day' (εἰς τέλος ἡμέρας μιᾶς) underline the prolongation of daylight. As noted at v. 12, the Rahlfs text annotated here does not include the Book-of-the-Upright citation found in the MT/other witnesses.
Word-by-word analysis· 32 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔστηstood stillAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἵστημιmain verb (the sun halts)→ ingressive aorist (came to a stop / stood still)ἵστημι (intransitive aor. ἔστη): 'stood / stood still / halted'; the indicative ἔστη answers the imperative στήτω of v. 12 — command and fulfilment in the same root; renders עָמַד / וַיִּדֹּם; the sun's standing is the realized cosmic wonder.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ἥλιος)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἥλιοςsunNominativesubject of ἔστηἥλιος: 'sun'; see v. 12; now the subject of the realized halt.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (sun // moon)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with σελήνη)ἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σελήνηmoonNominativesubject (joined to ἔστη: 'the moon also stood')σελήνη: 'moon'; shares the verb ἔστη with ἥλιος — both luminaries halt together.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (state/manner)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
στάσειa fixed place / standstillDativedative of state (ἐν στάσει = 'at a standstill / in its station')στάσις: 'standing / station / stationary position'; cognate with ἵστημι; ἐν στάσει ('in a fixed station / at a standstill') emphasizes the arrested motion of the luminaries — they hold their position in the sky.
ἕωςuntiltemporal conjunction (introducing terminus)ἕως: 'until'; marks the duration of the standstill — until the divine vengeance is complete.
ἠμύνατοavenged / defendedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἀμύνομαιverb of ἕως-clause→ constative aorist middle (took vengeance / requited)ἀμύνομαι: 'ward off / defend oneself / take vengeance'; the middle ἠμύνατο means 'avenged himself / requited'; renders נָקַם / נִקַּם; God's self-vindicating vengeance on the enemies is the goal for which the day is prolonged — the cosmos waits on the completion of divine justice.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with θεός)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativesubject of ἠμύνατοθεός: 'God'; the avenging subject; alternates with κύριος (v. 14) in this unit.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with ἐχθρούς)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐχθροὺςenemiesAccusativedirect object of ἠμύνατοἐχθρός: 'enemy / hostile one'; renders אֹיֵב; the Amorite coalition as the object of divine vengeance.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession ('their enemies' = Israel's)αὐτός: 'their'; the enemies belong to Israel — 'their (Israel's) enemies'; God avenges Israel by requiting them.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔστηstoodAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἵστημιmain verb (repeated: the sun stood)→ ingressive aorist (held its position)ἵστημι (ἔστη): repeated to emphasize the sun's continued standing 'at the midst of heaven' — the prolongation is restated for solemn effect.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ἥλιος)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἥλιοςsunNominativesubject of second ἔστηἥλιος: 'sun'; the sun held at the meridian.
κατὰat / towardpreposition + accusative (position: 'at the midst')κατά + acc.: positional, 'at / about'; κατὰ μέσον τοῦ οὐρανοῦ = 'at the midst of heaven' (the meridian, midday position).
μέσονmidst / middleAccusativeaccusative (with κατά: 'the midst of heaven')μέσος: 'middle / midst'; the sun stood κατὰ μέσον τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ('at mid-heaven'), i.e. the midday zenith — the moment of fullest daylight, held in suspension.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with οὐρανοῦ)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οὐρανοῦheaven / skyGenitivegenitive (with μέσον: 'midst of heaven')οὐρανός: 'heaven / sky'; renders שָׁמַיִם; the same heaven from which the hail fell (v. 11) now holds the arrested sun.
οὐnotnegative particle (with imperfect)οὐ: negation of προεπορεύετο.
προεπορεύετοdid go forward / hastenImpf Mid Indic 3 Sg · προπορεύομαιmain verb (durative negation: 'kept not advancing')→ imperfect (continued/customary: it kept not advancing toward setting)προπορεύομαι: 'go forward / go ahead / proceed'; the negated imperfect οὐ προεπορεύετο ('it did not proceed / hasten') depicts the sun's continued failure to advance toward the west; renders לֹא־אָץ לָבוֹא ('did not hasten to go [down]'); the imperfect aspect conveys the prolonged suspension.
εἰςtowardpreposition + accusative (direction)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
δυσμὰςsetting / the westAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (goal: 'toward setting')δυσμή (pl. δυσμαί): 'setting / the west / sundown'; renders מָבוֹא / מַעֲרָב; εἰς δυσμάς = 'toward the setting / sundown'; the sun does not move toward its setting — daylight is held.
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (extent of time)εἰς + acc.: here of extent, 'for the space of'; εἰς τέλος ἡμέρας μιᾶς = 'for about a whole day' / 'to the completion of one day.'
τέλοςcompletion / endAccusativeaccusative (with εἰς: 'to the full extent')τέλος: 'end / completion / full measure'; εἰς τέλος ('to the full / completely') here marks the duration — the standstill lasted to the completion of a whole day, i.e. roughly a full additional day of light.
ἡμέραςof a dayGenitivegenitive (with τέλος: 'the completion of one day')ἡμέρα: 'day'; the genitive defines the measure — 'the full extent of one day'; renders כְּיוֹם תָּמִים ('about a whole day').
μιᾶςoneGenitiveattributive numeral (with ἡμέρας: 'one whole day')εἷς, μία, ἕν: 'one'; the feminine genitive μιᾶς agrees with ἡμέρας — 'one (whole) day,' stressing the singular, unrepeatable prolongation.
14
καὶ οὐκ ἐγένετο ἡμέρα τοιαύτη οὐδὲ τὸ πρότερον οὐδὲ τὸ ἔσχατον ὥστε ἐπακοῦσαι θεὸν ἀνθρώπου ὅτι κύριος συνεπολέμησεν τῷ Ισραηλ
And there was no day like it, neither before nor after, that God should heed the voice of a man; for the LORD fought alongside Israel.
The narrator's summative wonder-formula: 'there was no day like it, before or after.' The ὥστε-clause names the unprecedented thing — that God should 'heed (ἐπακοῦσαι) the voice of a man' (Joshua), the only time the cosmos bent to a human command. The closing ὅτι-clause supplies the ground of the whole episode and the chapter's thesis: κύριος συνεπολέμησεν τῷ Ισραηλ — 'the LORD fought alongside Israel' (echoed in v. 42).
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἐγένετο)οὐ (οὐκ before vowel): negation of ἐγένετο.
ἐγένετοthere was / came to beAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (existential: 'there was no…')→ constative aorist (the unrepeatable fact)γίνομαι: 'be / come to be / happen'; the existential οὐκ ἐγένετο ἡμέρα τοιαύτη ('there was no such day') is a wonder-formula stressing the absolute uniqueness of the event.
ἡμέραdayNominativesubject of ἐγένετοἡμέρα: 'day'; the unique long day.
τοιαύτηsuch / like itNominativeattributive/predicate demonstrative adjective (with ἡμέρα)τοιοῦτος: 'such / of this kind'; ἡμέρα τοιαύτη ('a day such as this') — no comparable day has occurred.
οὐδὲneither / norcorrelative negative conjunctionοὐδέ: 'and not / neither'; the pair οὐδὲ … οὐδέ ('neither … nor') brackets all of time — before and after.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with πρότερον, adverbial accusative)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρότερονbefore / formerlyAccusativeadverbial accusative (τὸ πρότερον = 'beforehand')πρότερος: 'former / earlier'; the neuter τὸ πρότερον is an adverbial accusative, 'beforehand / formerly'; 'no such day before.'
οὐδὲnorcorrelative negative conjunctionοὐδέ: completing the 'neither … nor' pair.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ἔσχατον, adverbial accusative)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔσχατονafter / afterwardAccusativeadverbial accusative (τὸ ἔσχατον = 'afterward')ἔσχατος: 'last / latter'; the neuter τὸ ἔσχατον is an adverbial accusative, 'afterward / since'; the merism τὸ πρότερον … τὸ ἔσχατον ('before … after') asserts the day's absolute singularity in all history.
ὥστεthat / so asconjunction (introducing result/explanatory infinitive)ὥστε: 'so that / so as to'; here introduces the infinitive clause specifying what made the day unique — that God heeded a man's voice.
ἐπακοῦσαιto heed / hearkenAor Act Inf · ἐπακούωinfinitive (with ὥστε: result/content)→ constative aorist infinitive (the act of heeding)ἐπακούω: 'listen to / heed / hearken (and answer)'; the compound ἐπι- adds the sense of attentive response; renders שָׁמַע (בְּקוֹל); the staggering claim — that God should obey a human voice — is the very heart of the wonder.
θεὸνGodAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive ἐπακοῦσαιθεός: 'God'; the accusative subject of the ὥστε-infinitive — 'that God should heed'; the anarthrous θεόν heightens the marvel of the divine condescension.
ἀνθρώπουof a manGenitivegenitive object of ἐπακοῦσαι ('heed a man / a man's voice')ἄνθρωπος: 'man / human being'; the genitive object of ἐπακοῦσαι ('heed the [voice of a] man'); 'a man' = Joshua; the point is that on this unique day the LORD bent the heavens at the word of a human servant.
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction (grounding the wonder)ὅτι: 'because'; introduces the chapter's thesis — the reason the day was unique and God heeded Joshua: the LORD himself was waging Israel's war.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of συνεπολέμησενκύριος: the Tetragrammaton יהוה; emphatically the subject — the LORD, not the sun or the army, is the decisive combatant.
συνεπολέμησενfought alongside / made war together withAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συμπολεμέωmain verb of ὅτι-clause→ constative aorist (the LORD's co-warfare)συμπολεμέω: 'wage war together with / fight on the side of'; the compound συν- ('with') makes the LORD Israel's fellow-combatant; takes the dative (τῷ Ισραηλ); the verb crowns the chapter's holy-war theology and recurs in the summary at v. 42 (συνεπολέμει).
τῷtheDativearticle (with Ισραηλ)the article with indeclinable Ισραηλ marks its dative case ('for/with Israel').
ΙσραηλIsraelDativedative object of συνεπολέμησεν ('fought alongside Israel')Ισραηλ: indeclinable, but here marked dative by the article τῷ; 'the LORD fought alongside Israel' — the thesis of the whole conquest narrative.
16
καὶ ἔφυγον οἱ πέντε βασιλεῖς οὗτοι καὶ κατεκρύβησαν εἰς τὸ σπήλαιον τὸ ἐν Μακηδα
And these five kings fled and hid themselves in the cave that is in Makkedah.
After the long-day theological climax (and across the gap where the MT places v. 15, absent here), the narrative resumes the cave episode. The five kings (named in vv. 3, 5) flee and hide in the cave at Makkedah — the very town that bounded the pursuit (v. 10). Their concealment (κατεκρύβησαν) sets up the sealing (v. 18) and execution (vv. 22–27).
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔφυγονfledAor Act Indic 3 Pl · φεύγωmain verb→ constative aorist (the flight)φεύγω: 'flee'; picks up the φεύγειν of v. 11; now the kings themselves flee from the rout.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with βασιλεῖς)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πέντεfivenumeral (indeclinable cardinal)πέντε: 'five'; indeclinable cardinal (tagged 'n' as numeral); οἱ πέντε βασιλεῖς, the coalition leaders.
βασιλεῖςkingsNominativesubjectβασιλεύς: 'king'; the five royal fugitives.
οὗτοιtheseNominativedemonstrative adjective (with βασιλεῖς)οὗτος: 'this / these'; οἱ πέντε βασιλεῖς οὗτοι ('these five kings') points back to the named coalition of vv. 3–5.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
κατεκρύβησανhid themselvesAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · κατακρύπτωmain verb (reflexive-passive)→ constative aorist (the act of hiding)κατακρύπτω (aor. pass.): 'hide away / conceal'; the compound κατα- intensifies (hide right down/away); the passive here is reflexive ('hid themselves'); their concealment is futile, for the cave becomes their tomb (v. 27).
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with σπήλαιον)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σπήλαιονcaveAccusativeaccusative object of εἰςσπήλαιον: 'cave / cavern'; renders מְעָרָה; the cave at Makkedah is the stage of the kings' capture, exposure, and burial (vv. 17–18, 22–23, 27).
τὸthe (one)Accusativearticle (attributive, with the prepositional phrase ἐν Μακηδα)the repeated article τὸ before ἐν Μακηδα turns the prepositional phrase into an attributive ('the cave, the one in Makkedah') — a common LXX construction.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΜακηδαMakkedahdative of place (indeclinable)Μακηδα: Makkedah; see v. 10; here the location of the cave.
17
καὶ ἀπηγγέλη τῷ Ἰησοῦ λέγοντες εὕρηνται οἱ πέντε βασιλεῖς κεκρυμμένοι ἐν τῷ σπηλαίῳ τῷ ἐν Μακηδα
And it was reported to Joshua, saying, "The five kings have been found hidden in the cave that is in Makkedah."
An impersonal passive report (ἀπηγγέλη … λέγοντες — a Hebraizing construction where the plural participle λέγοντες loosely attaches to the unnamed reporters). The news that the kings have been 'found hidden' (εὕρηνται … κεκρυμμένοι, perfect of settled state) triggers Joshua's orders in v. 18.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπηγγέληit was reportedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἀπαγγέλλωmain verb (impersonal passive)→ constative aorist passive (the report was made)ἀπαγγέλλω (aor. pass.): 'report / announce / bring word'; renders הֻגַּד; the impersonal passive 'it was reported to Joshua' is standard LXX messenger-idiom.
τῷtheDativearticle (with Ἰησοῦ, marking dative)the article τῷ marks the dative of the declinable name Ἰησοῦ ('to Joshua').
ἸησοῦJoshuaDativedative indirect object ('to Joshua')Ἰησοῦς (dat. Ἰησοῦ): declinable; the recipient of the report.
λέγοντεςsayingPres Act Ptc Nom Masc Pl · λέγωparticiple of speech (Hebraizing, attached to unnamed reporters)→ imperfective aspect (attendant circumstance)λέγω: the nominative plural participle λέγοντες loosely introduces the message (rendering לֵאמֹר); the case-discord with the impersonal passive ἀπηγγέλη is a Hebraism — the participle agrees with the implied reporters.
εὕρηνταιhave been foundPerf Pass Indic 3 Pl · εὑρίσκωmain verb of the reported speech→ resultative perfect (they stand discovered)εὑρίσκω (perf. pass.): 'find / discover'; the perfect εὕρηνται ('have been found / are now found') reports the settled fact of the discovery.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with βασιλεῖς)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πέντεfivenumeral (indeclinable cardinal)πέντε: 'five'; the coalition kings.
βασιλεῖςkingsNominativesubject of εὕρηνταιβασιλεύς: 'king'.
κεκρυμμένοιhiddenPerf Pass Ptc Nom Masc Pl · κρύπτωpredicate participle (with εὕρηνται: 'found [to be] hidden')→ resultative perfect participle (in a state of concealment)κρύπτω (perf. pass. ptc.): 'hide / conceal'; the perfect participle κεκρυμμένοι describes the kings' state when found — 'hidden away'; complements κατεκρύβησαν (v. 16).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῷtheDativearticle (with σπηλαίῳ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σπηλαίῳcaveDativedative of place (object of ἐν)σπήλαιον: 'cave'; see v. 16.
τῷthe (one)Dativearticle (attributive, with ἐν Μακηδα)the repeated article τῷ makes ἐν Μακηδα attributive ('the cave, the one in Makkedah').
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΜακηδαMakkedahdative of place (indeclinable)Μακηδα: Makkedah; see v. 16.
18
καὶ εἶπεν Ἰησοῦς κυλίσατε λίθους ἐπὶ τὸ στόμα τοῦ σπηλαίου καὶ καταστήσατε ἄνδρας φυλάσσειν ἐπ᾿ αὐτούς
And Joshua said, "Roll stones over the mouth of the cave, and appoint men to guard over them."
Joshua does not pause the campaign to deal with the kings; he orders the cave sealed (κυλίσατε λίθους — note the irony: λίθοι again, after the hail-λίθοι of v. 11) and guarded so that the pursuit (v. 19) can be pressed to completion first. The kings are held in reserve for the public execution of vv. 22–27.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introducing)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Joshua's command concerning the cave.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubjectἸησοῦς: declinable; the commander issuing orders.
κυλίσατεrollAor Act Impv 2 Pl · κυλίωmain verb (imperative)→ ingressive aorist imperative (roll [them] up)κυλίω: 'roll'; renders גָּלַל; 'roll stones over the cave-mouth' to seal the kings in; the verb recurs (ἐπεκύλισαν) at the final sealing in v. 27.
λίθουςstonesAccusativedirect object of κυλίσατελίθος: 'stone'; here stones to block the cave — a pointed echo of the λίθοι χαλάζης ('hailstones') YHWH hurled in v. 11: the same word now serves human sealing.
ἐπὶover / uponpreposition + accusative (position)ἐπὶ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with στόμα)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
στόμαmouth / openingAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπίστόμα: 'mouth / opening'; renders פִּי (הַמְּעָרָה); the cave's entrance; note the same word means the 'edge' of the sword in the conquest formula ἐν στόματι ξίφους (vv. 28ff.).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with σπηλαίου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σπηλαίουcaveGenitivegenitive (defining στόμα: 'mouth of the cave')σπήλαιον: 'cave'; see v. 16.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
καταστήσατεappoint / setAor Act Impv 2 Pl · καθίστημιcoordinate imperative→ ingressive aorist imperative (post / set in place)καθίστημι: 'set / appoint / station'; renders הִפְקִיד / הֶעֱמִיד; 'station men to keep guard' over the sealed cave.
ἄνδραςmenAccusativedirect object of καταστήσατεἀνήρ: 'man'; here a detail of guards.
φυλάσσεινto guardPres Act Inf · φυλάσσωinfinitive of purpose (with καταστήσατε)→ imperfective aspect (ongoing guarding)φυλάσσω: 'guard / watch / keep'; renders שָׁמַר; the infinitive of purpose — men appointed for the task of guarding.
ἐπ᾿overpreposition + accusative (the object of guarding, elided)ἐπί + acc.: 'over / against'; φυλάσσειν ἐπ᾿ αὐτούς = 'to keep guard over them.'
αὐτούςthemAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπ᾿ (the imprisoned kings)αὐτούς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
19
ὑμεῖς δὲ μὴ ἑστήκατε καταδιώκοντες ὀπίσω τῶν ἐχθρῶν ὑμῶν καὶ καταλάβετε τὴν οὐραγίαν αὐτῶν καὶ μὴ ἀφῆτε εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὰς πόλεις αὐτῶν παρέδωκεν γὰρ αὐτοὺς κύριος ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν εἰς τὰς χεῖρας ἡμῶν
"But as for you, do not stand still; pursue after your enemies and seize their rearguard, and do not let them enter into their cities, for the LORD our God has delivered them into our hands."
The emphatic ὑμεῖς δέ ('but you') shifts from the guard-detail to the main army: do not stop (μὴ ἑστήκατε), but press the chase, cut off the rearguard (οὐραγίαν), and bar the enemy from refuge in their fortified cities. The γάρ-clause grounds the command in the now-realized oracle of v. 8: παρέδωκεν … κύριος ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν εἰς τὰς χεῖρας ἡμῶν — the handover is the warrant for total pursuit.
Word-by-word analysis· 33 words
ὑμεῖςyouNominativeemphatic subject pronoun (contrastive)σύ (pl. ὑμεῖς): the emphatic 'you (yourselves)' contrasts the pursuing army with the cave-guard of v. 18.
δὲbutadversative particle (post-positive)δέ: contrastive 'but / as for you.'
μὴdo notnegative particle (with imperative ἑστήκατε)μή: prohibitive negative.
ἑστήκατεstand stillPerf Act Impv 2 Pl · ἵστημιmain verb (prohibition)→ perfect imperative (do not remain standing / halted)ἵστημι (perf. with present sense): 'stand / be standing'; the perfect imperative μὴ ἑστήκατε ('do not stand still / do not remain halted') forbids the army to pause — ironic against the standing sun (ἔστη, v. 13): the heavens stand still so that the army need not.
καταδιώκοντεςpursuingPres Act Ptc Nom Masc Pl · καταδιώκωparticiple (imperatival/attendant force: 'keep pursuing')→ imperfective aspect (continuous pursuit)καταδιώκω: 'pursue closely / chase down'; see v. 10; the participle carries the positive counterpart of the prohibition — instead of standing, keep up the chase.
ὀπίσωafter / behindpreposition/adverb + genitive ('after')ὀπίσω: 'behind / after'; with the genitive, 'after your enemies'; renders אַחֲרֵי.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with ἐχθρῶν)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐχθρῶνenemiesGenitivegenitive object of ὀπίσωἐχθρός: 'enemy'; the fleeing coalition (cf. v. 13).
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possessionὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
καταλάβετεseize / overtakeAor Act Impv 2 Pl · καταλαμβάνωmain verb (imperative)→ ingressive aorist imperative (overtake / lay hold of)καταλαμβάνω: 'seize / overtake / catch up with'; renders הִשִּׂיג; 'overtake their rearguard' — cut off the stragglers before they reach safety.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with οὐραγίαν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οὐραγίανrearguardAccusativedirect object of καταλάβετεοὐραγία: 'rear / rearguard / those at the tail'; a military term (from οὐρά, 'tail') for the trailing portion of a fleeing army; renders זָנָב / the stragglers; 'cut off their rear' completes the encirclement of the rout.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
μὴdo notnegative particle (with ἀφῆτε)μή: prohibitive negative with the subjunctive ἀφῆτε.
ἀφῆτεallow / permitAor Act Subj 2 Pl · ἀφίημιprohibitive subjunctive (μὴ + aor. subj.)→ prohibitive aorist subjunctive (do not let)ἀφίημι: 'let go / permit / allow'; μὴ ἀφῆτε εἰσελθεῖν ('do not allow [them] to enter') forbids granting the enemy refuge; the kings' cities are not to become asylums.
εἰσελθεῖνto enterAor Act Inf · εἰσέρχομαιcomplementary infinitive (with ἀφῆτε)→ constative aorist infinitiveεἰσέρχομαι: 'go in / enter'; the infinitive object of ἀφῆτε — the enemy must not be let into their cities.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with πόλεις)τὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλειςcitiesAccusativeaccusative object of εἰςπόλις: 'city'; the fortified cities to which the routed kings would flee for refuge.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
παρέδωκενhas delivered overAor Act Indic 3 Sg · παραδίδωμιverb of γάρ-clause (causal ground)→ constative aorist (the accomplished handover)παραδίδωμι: 'hand over / deliver up'; the same verb of the oracle (v. 8) and its fulfilment (v. 12); here Joshua cites it as the warrant for relentless pursuit — the enemy is already given into Israel's hand.
γὰρforcausal conjunction (post-positive)γάρ: grounds the command in the divine handover.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of παρέδωκεναὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of παρέδωκενκύριος: the Tetragrammaton יהוה; here in the confessional phrase 'the LORD our God.'
ὁtheNominativearticle (with θεός)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativenominative in apposition to κύριοςθεός: 'God'; the phrase κύριος ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν ('the LORD our God') is a covenantal confession naming the divine warrior as Israel's own God.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession (with θεός)ἡμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (handover idiom)εἰς τὰς χεῖρας: 'into the hands' — the idiom of military delivering-up (cf. v. 8).
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with χεῖρας)τὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χεῖραςhandsAccusativeaccusative object of εἰςχείρ: 'hand'; 'into our hands' = into our power.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possessionἡμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
20
καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς κατέπαυσεν Ἰησοῦς καὶ πᾶς υἱὸς Ισραηλ κόπτοντες αὐτοὺς κοπὴν μεγάλην σφόδρα ἕως εἰς τέλος καὶ οἱ διασῳζόμενοι διεσώθησαν εἰς τὰς πόλεις τὰς ὀχυράς
And it happened, when Joshua and every son of Israel ceased cutting them down with a very great slaughter to the very end, that the survivors who escaped fled into the fortified cities;
The καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς … construction (a Hebraism, וַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁר) marks the close of the main slaughter. The cognate accusative κόπτοντες … κοπὴν μεγάλην σφόδρα ('cutting them with an exceedingly great slaughter') intensifies the totality. Only a remnant (οἱ διασῳζόμενοι) escapes to the fortified cities — the very refuge Joshua had tried to deny them (v. 19).
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγένετοit happenedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (Hebraizing 'and it came to pass')→ constative aoristγίνομαι: 'be / become / happen'; καὶ ἐγένετο ('and it came to pass') is the standard LXX rendering of וַיְהִי, a narrative-temporal marker introducing a new development.
ὡςwhen / astemporal conjunctionὡς: 'when / as'; temporal with κατέπαυσεν.
κατέπαυσενceased / finishedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καταπαύωverb of temporal clause→ constative aorist (brought to an end)καταπαύω: 'cause to cease / bring to rest / finish'; here intransitive-ingressive, 'ceased / left off (slaughtering)'; renders כִּלָּה ('finish'); marks the end of the main killing.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubjectἸησοῦς: declinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πᾶςeveryNominativeattributive adjective (with υἱός)πᾶς: 'every / all'; πᾶς υἱὸς Ισραηλ ('every son of Israel') is a collective-distributive way of naming the whole army.
υἱὸςsonNominativesubject (collective singular: 'every son of Israel')υἱός: 'son'; the singular πᾶς υἱός renders כָּל־בְּנֵי / each individual Israelite warrior.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
κόπτοντεςcutting down / strikingPres Act Ptc Nom Masc Pl · κόπτωparticiple (complementary to κατέπαυσεν: 'ceased cutting')→ imperfective aspect (the ongoing slaughter that was brought to an end)κόπτω: 'cut / strike / smite'; the participle complements κατέπαυσεν ('ceased [from] cutting them down'); with the cognate accusative κοπήν it forms a Hebraizing emphatic — 'striking them a great striking.'
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of κόπτοντεςαὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
κοπὴνa slaughterAccusativecognate accusative (with κόπτοντες)κοπή: 'a cutting / slaughter / defeat'; the cognate accusative κοπὴν μεγάλην ('a great slaughter') with κόπτοντες renders the Hebrew מַכָּה גְדוֹלָה, intensifying the magnitude of the rout (cf. Gen 14:17).
μεγάληνgreatAccusativeattributive adjective (with κοπήν)μέγας: 'great'; with σφόδρα, 'an exceedingly great slaughter.'
σφόδραexceedinglyadverb of degree (intensifying μεγάλην)σφόδρα: 'exceedingly'; renders מְאֹד; heightens the scale.
ἕωςuntilpreposition (with εἰς τέλος: 'to the very end')ἕως: 'until / as far as'; ἕως εἰς τέλος = 'right to the end / utterly,' marking the completeness of the slaughter.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (with τέλος)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τέλοςthe end / completionAccusativeaccusative (in idiom ἕως εἰς τέλος = 'to the utmost')τέλος: 'end / completion'; ἕως εἰς τέλος ('to the very end / completely') stresses that the slaughter was pressed to total finish.
καὶand / thatnarrative conjunction (apodosis of καὶ ἐγένετο)καί: apodotic, introducing the main statement after the temporal frame (Hebraizing).
οἱtheNominativearticle (with participle διασῳζόμενοι)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διασῳζόμενοιsurvivors / those escapingPres Mid/Pass Ptc Nom Masc Pl · διασῴζωsubstantival participle (subject: 'the survivors')→ imperfective aspect (those in the act of escaping)διασῴζω: 'bring safely through / save / rescue'; the participle οἱ διασῳζόμενοι ('the ones being saved / the survivors') with the cognate verb διεσώθησαν forms an emphatic — 'the survivors got safely away'; renders הַשְּׂרִידִים / הַפְּלֵיטָה.
διεσώθησανescaped safelyAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · διασῴζωmain verb→ constative aorist passive (got safely through)διασῴζω (aor. pass.): 'be brought safely through / escape'; the cognate pairing with διασῳζόμενοι is a Hebraizing emphasis; the remnant escapes to the fortresses.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction of refuge)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with πόλεις)τὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλειςcitiesAccusativeaccusative object of εἰςπόλις: 'city'; the refuge of the few survivors.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (attributive, with ὀχυράς)the repeated article makes ὀχυράς attributive ('the cities, the fortified ones').
ὀχυράςfortifiedAccusativeattributive adjective (with πόλεις)ὀχυρός: 'strong / fortified'; renders בְּצֻרוֹת / מִבְצָר; the walled cities where the remnant found temporary safety — soon themselves to fall in the southern sweep (vv. 28–39).
21
καὶ ἀπεστράφη πᾶς ὁ λαὸς πρὸς Ἰησοῦν εἰς Μακηδα ὑγιεῖς καὶ οὐκ ἔγρυξεν οὐθεὶς τῶν υἱῶν Ισραηλ τῇ γλώσσῃ αὐτοῦ
and all the people returned to Joshua at Makkedah safe and sound; and no one of the sons of Israel so much as growled with his tongue.
The whole army returns ὑγιεῖς ('safe / in good health') — not a man lost: the holy-war ideal of victory without Israelite casualty. The striking idiom οὐκ ἔγρυξεν οὐθεὶς … τῇ γλώσσῃ αὐτοῦ ('no one growled with his tongue') is the very phrase used in Exod 11:7 (οὐ γρύξει κύων) of the perfect quiet that marks divine protection — here transferred to Israel's untroubled security after total victory.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπεστράφηreturnedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστρέφωmain verb→ constative aorist (intransitive: turned back)ἀποστρέφω (aor. pass. with intransitive sense): 'turn back / return'; renders שׁוּב; the army returns to its commander at Makkedah, the base of the cave-operation.
πᾶςallNominativeattributive adjective (with λαός)πᾶς: 'all'; the whole army returns — none missing.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with λαός)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸςpeople / armyNominativesubjectλαός: 'people'; here Israel's victorious army.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusativeπρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ἸησοῦνJoshuaAccusativeaccusative object of πρόςἸησοῦς (acc. Ἰησοῦν): declinable; the army returns to him.
εἰςto / atpreposition + accusative (place)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΜακηδαMakkedahaccusative of place (indeclinable)Μακηδα: Makkedah; the rallying point near the sealed cave.
ὑγιεῖςsafe / soundNominativepredicate adjective (with λαός: 'returned safe')ὑγιής: 'sound / healthy / unharmed'; renders שָׁלוֹם / בְּשָׁלוֹם ('in peace, whole'); the army returns 'safe and sound' — the holy-war motif of victory without loss.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἔγρυξεν)οὐ (οὐκ): emphatic negation.
ἔγρυξενgrowled / mutteredAor Act Indic 3 Sg · γρύζωmain verb (with subject οὐθείς)→ constative aorist (not a single growl)γρύζω: 'growl / grunt / mutter'; renders חָרַץ (לְשֹׁנוֹ); the idiom οὐκ ἔγρυξεν … τῇ γλώσσῃ αὐτοῦ ('no one moved his tongue / so much as growled') is the same Hebraism as Exod 11:7 (οὐ γρύξει κύων τῇ γλώσσῃ αὐτοῦ) — there of Egypt's dogs, here of Israel: an image of total, untroubled security in which not even a murmur of distress is heard.
οὐθεὶςno oneNominativesubject of ἔγρυξενοὐθείς: 'no one' (Hellenistic byform of οὐδείς); 'not one of the sons of Israel.'
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (partitive genitive with υἱῶν)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivepartitive genitive ('none of the sons of Israel')υἱός: 'son'; partitive — not one among the Israelites.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
τῇtheDativearticle (with γλώσσῃ)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γλώσσῃtongueDativedative of instrument ('with his tongue')γλῶσσα: 'tongue'; renders לָשׁוֹן; the instrumental dative completes the idiom of total quiet (cf. Exod 11:7) — not a sound of complaint or alarm.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (distributive: 'his own tongue')αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
22
καὶ εἶπεν Ἰησοῦς ἀνοίξατε τὸ σπήλαιον καὶ ἐξαγάγετε τοὺς πέντε βασιλεῖς τούτους ἐκ τοῦ σπηλαίου
And Joshua said, "Open the cave and bring out these five kings to me from the cave."
With the pursuit complete (vv. 19–21), Joshua now turns to the kings held in the sealed cave. The two imperatives (ἀνοίξατε / ἐξαγάγετε) reverse the sealing of v. 18 and set up the public humiliation and execution of vv. 23–27.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introducing)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces the order concerning the kings.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubjectἸησοῦς: declinable.
ἀνοίξατεopenAor Act Impv 2 Pl · ἀνοίγωmain verb (imperative)→ ingressive aorist imperative (open up)ἀνοίγω: 'open'; renders פָּתַח; reverses the κυλίσατε λίθους of v. 18 — the sealed cave is now to be opened.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with σπήλαιον)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σπήλαιονcaveAccusativedirect object of ἀνοίξατεσπήλαιον: 'cave'; see v. 16.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξαγάγετεbring outAor Act Impv 2 Pl · ἐξάγωcoordinate imperative→ ingressive aorist imperative (lead out)ἐξάγω: 'lead out / bring out'; renders הוֹצִיא; the kings are to be brought out for the public reckoning.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with βασιλεῖς)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πέντεfivenumeral (indeclinable cardinal)πέντε: 'five'.
βασιλεῖςkingsAccusativedirect object of ἐξαγάγετεβασιλεύς: 'king'.
τούτουςtheseAccusativedemonstrative adjective (with βασιλεῖς)οὗτος: 'these'; deictic — 'these five kings' held in the cave.
ἐκout ofpreposition + genitive (source)ἐκ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with σπηλαίου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σπηλαίουcaveGenitivegenitive of source (object of ἐκ)σπήλαιον: 'cave'; the place from which they are led out.
23
καὶ ἐξηγάγοσαν τοὺς πέντε βασιλεῖς ἐκ τοῦ σπηλαίου τὸν βασιλέα Ιερουσαλημ καὶ τὸν βασιλέα Χεβρων καὶ τὸν βασιλέα Ιεριμουθ καὶ τὸν βασιλέα Λαχις καὶ τὸν βασιλέα Οδολλαμ
And they brought out the five kings from the cave: the king of Jerusalem and the king of Hebron and the king of Jarmuth and the king of Lachish and the king of Eglon.
The order of v. 22 is carried out, and the five kings are re-enumerated by their cities (matching the roster of vv. 3, 5) — a solemn, climactic naming that frames their downfall. The verb-form ἐξηγάγοσαν displays the characteristic LXX-Hellenistic third-plural aorist ending -οσαν.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξηγάγοσανthey brought outAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐξάγωmain verb→ constative aorist (the bringing-out)ἐξάγω: 'lead/bring out'; the form ἐξηγάγοσαν shows the Hellenistic/LXX third-plural aorist termination -οσαν (for classical ἐξήγαγον); the order of v. 22 is fulfilled.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with βασιλεῖς)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πέντεfivenumeral (indeclinable cardinal)πέντε: 'five'.
βασιλεῖςkingsAccusativedirect object of ἐξηγάγοσανβασιλεύς: 'king'.
ἐκout ofpreposition + genitive (source)ἐκ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with σπηλαίου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σπηλαίουcaveGenitivegenitive of sourceσπήλαιον: 'cave'.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with βασιλέα; in apposition, first of roster)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέαkingAccusativeaccusative in apposition to βασιλεῖςβασιλέα: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΙερουσαλημJerusalemgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ιερουσαλημ: indeclinable; Adoni-bezek's city (v. 1).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with βασιλέα)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέαkingAccusativeaccusative in appositionβασιλέα: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΧεβρωνHebrongenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Χεβρων: indeclinable; see v. 3.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with βασιλέα)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέαkingAccusativeaccusative in appositionβασιλέα: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΙεριμουθJarmuthgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ιεριμουθ: indeclinable; see v. 3.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with βασιλέα)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέαkingAccusativeaccusative in appositionβασιλέα: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΛαχιςLachishgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Λαχις: indeclinable; see v. 3.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with βασιλέα)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέαkingAccusativeaccusative in appositionβασιλέα: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΟδολλαμEglongenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Οδολλαμ: indeclinable; the fifth city (MT Eglon); see v. 3.
24
καὶ ἐπεὶ ἐξήγαγον αὐτοὺς πρὸς Ἰησοῦν καὶ συνεκάλεσεν Ἰησοῦς πάντα Ισραηλ καὶ τοὺς ἐναρχομένους τοῦ πολέμου τοὺς συμπορευομένους αὐτῷ λέγων αὐτοῖς προπορεύεσθε καὶ ἐπίθετε τοὺς πόδας ὑμῶν ἐπὶ τοὺς τραχήλους αὐτῶν καὶ προσελθόντες ἐπέθηκαν τοὺς πόδας αὐτῶν ἐπὶ τοὺς τραχήλους αὐτῶν
And when they had brought them out to Joshua, Joshua summoned all Israel and the leaders of the war who marched with him, saying to them, "Come forward and set your feet on their necks." And they came forward and set their feet on their necks.
Joshua convenes 'all Israel' and the war-commanders for a public act of subjugation: the planting of feet on the kings' necks (ἐπὶ τοὺς τραχήλους) — an ancient Near Eastern victory gesture of total domination, here enacted upon the conquered Canaanite royalty. The command (προπορεύεσθε … ἐπίθετε) is matched word-for-word by the report (προσελθόντες ἐπέθηκαν), underscoring obedient fulfilment.
Word-by-word analysis· 41 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπεὶwhentemporal conjunctionἐπεί: 'when / since'; here temporal, introducing the circumstance under which Joshua acts.
ἐξήγαγονthey brought outAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐξάγωverb of temporal clause→ constative aoristἐξάγω: 'bring out'; resumes ἐξηγάγοσαν (v. 23) — once the kings are produced, Joshua acts.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect objectαὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusativeπρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ἸησοῦνJoshuaAccusativeaccusative object of πρόςἸησοῦς (acc. Ἰησοῦν): declinable.
καὶandapodotic conjunction (after temporal clause)καί: Hebraizing apodotic καί introducing the main clause.
συνεκάλεσενsummoned togetherAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συγκαλέωmain verb→ constative aorist (convening of the assembly)συγκαλέω: 'call together / convene / summon'; the compound συν- gathers the whole community for the public act; renders קָרָא / הִקְהִיל.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubjectἸησοῦς: declinable.
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (with Ισραηλ)πᾶς: 'all'; πάντα Ισραηλ ('all Israel') — the whole people as witnesses.
ΙσραηλIsraelaccusative object of συνεκάλεσεν (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable; here accusative (object), case shown by πάντα.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with participle ἐναρχομένους)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐναρχομένουςleaders / those beginningPres Mid Ptc Acc Masc Pl · ἐνάρχομαιsubstantival participle (object: 'the commanders')→ imperfective aspect (those taking the lead)ἐνάρχομαι: 'begin / take the lead in'; the substantival participle οἱ ἐναρχόμενοι τοῦ πολέμου ('the leaders of the war / those who lead off the battle') denotes the army's commanders — the chiefs who 'open' the fighting.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with πολέμου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πολέμουwarGenitiveobjective genitive (with ἐναρχομένους)πόλεμος: 'war'; 'leaders of the war.'
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with participle συμπορευομένους)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συμπορευομένουςwho marched withPres Mid Ptc Acc Masc Pl · συμπορεύομαιattributive participle (modifying ἐναρχομένους)→ imperfective aspect (those accompanying him)συμπορεύομαι: 'go together with / accompany / march alongside'; the compound συν- marks the commanders who campaigned with Joshua; takes the dative αὐτῷ.
αὐτῷhimDativedative with συμπορευομένους ('marched with him')αὐτῷ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptc Nom Masc Sg · λέγωparticiple of speech (introducing command)→ imperfective aspect (attendant circumstance)λέγω: participle λέγων (rendering לֵאמֹר) introduces Joshua's command to the commanders.
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative indirect object (of λέγων)αὐτοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
προπορεύεσθεcome forwardPres Mid Impv 2 Pl · προπορεύομαιmain verb (imperative)→ imperfective imperative (advance / step up)προπορεύομαι: 'go forward / advance'; the command to the commanders to step up to the prostrate kings.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπίθετεset / placeAor Act Impv 2 Pl · ἐπιτίθημιcoordinate imperative→ ingressive aorist imperative (place upon)ἐπιτίθημι: 'place / set upon'; the command ἐπίθετε τοὺς πόδας ('set your feet') prescribes the victory-gesture, exactly matched by the report ἐπέθηκαν.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with πόδας)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόδαςfeetAccusativedirect object of ἐπίθετεπούς: 'foot'; the feet placed on the necks — the gesture of total conquest (cf. Ps 110:1; 1 Kgs 5:3 LXX).
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possessionὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἐπὶonpreposition + accusative (position)ἐπὶ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with τραχήλους)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τραχήλουςnecksAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπίτράχηλος: 'neck'; renders צַוָּאר; the foot on the neck is the supreme image of subjugation, dramatizing the oracle 'none shall stand before you' (v. 8).
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (the kings')αὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (report of compliance)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
προσελθόντεςhaving come forwardAor Act Ptc Nom Masc Pl · προσέρχομαιcircumstantial participle (antecedent action)→ constative aorist participle (after stepping up)προσέρχομαι: 'come / draw near / approach'; the participle answers the imperative προπορεύεσθε — they 'came forward' as ordered.
ἐπέθηκανset / placedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐπιτίθημιmain verb (compliance with ἐπίθετε)→ constative aorist (the gesture performed)ἐπιτίθημι: 'place upon'; ἐπέθηκαν exactly fulfils the command ἐπίθετε — the commanders set their feet on the kings' necks.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with πόδας)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόδαςfeetAccusativedirect object of ἐπέθηκανπούς: 'foot'.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (the commanders')αὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἐπὶonpreposition + accusative (position)ἐπὶ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with τραχήλους)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τραχήλουςnecksAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπίτράχηλος: 'neck'; the kings' necks.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (the kings')αὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
25
καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτοὺς Ἰησοῦς μὴ φοβηθῆτε αὐτοὺς μηδὲ δειλιάσητε ἀνδρίζεσθε καὶ ἰσχύετε ὅτι οὕτως ποιήσει κύριος πᾶσι τοῖς ἐχθροῖς ὑμῶν οὓς ὑμεῖς καταπολεμεῖτε αὐτούς
And Joshua said to them, "Do not fear them, nor be dismayed; be courageous and strong, for thus the LORD will do to all your enemies whom you fight against."
Joshua turns the humiliation into a teaching moment, echoing the divine oracle of v. 8 (μὴ φοβηθῇς) and the commissioning language of Josh 1:6–9 (ἀνδρίζεσθε καὶ ἰσχύετε, 'be strong and courageous'). The fate of these five kings is declared a pattern (οὕτως ποιήσει κύριος) for all enemies yet to be fought — the southern sweep of vv. 28–39 will prove it.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introducing)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Joshua's exhortation to the commanders.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the commanders)αὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubjectἸησοῦς: declinable.
μὴdo notnegative particle (with φοβηθῆτε)μή: prohibitive negative.
φοβηθῆτεfearAor Pass Subj 2 Pl · φοβέομαιprohibitive subjunctive→ prohibitive aorist subjunctive (do not be afraid)φοβέομαι: 'fear'; the holy-war formula μὴ φοβηθῆτε ('do not fear', plural) echoes YHWH's μὴ φοβηθῇς to Joshua (v. 8) and the commission of Josh 1:9.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of φοβηθῆτε (future enemies)αὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
μηδὲnornegative conjunction (continuing prohibition)μηδέ: 'and not / nor'; links the second prohibition.
δειλιάσητεbe dismayed / cowardlyAor Act Subj 2 Pl · δειλιάωprohibitive subjunctive→ prohibitive aorist subjunctive (do not lose heart)δειλιάω: 'be cowardly / shrink in fear / be dismayed'; renders חָתַת / עָרַץ; pairs with μὴ φοβηθῆτε in the standard holy-war double prohibition (cf. Deut 31:6; Josh 1:9).
ἀνδρίζεσθεbe courageousPres Mid Impv 2 Pl · ἀνδρίζομαιmain verb (positive exhortation)→ imperfective imperative (keep playing the man / be brave)ἀνδρίζομαι: 'act like a man / be courageous'; renders חָזַק / אָמַץ; ἀνδρίζεσθε καὶ ἰσχύετε ('be strong and courageous') is the verbatim commissioning charge of Josh 1:6, 7, 9 (and Deut 31:6–7), here applied to the whole army.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἰσχύετεbe strongPres Act Impv 2 Pl · ἰσχύωmain verb (positive exhortation)→ imperfective imperative (be strong / prevail)ἰσχύω: 'be strong / have power'; completes the formula ἀνδρίζεσθε καὶ ἰσχύετε; the imperatives turn the kings' defeat into encouragement for future war.
ὅτιforcausal conjunctionὅτι: 'because'; grounds the courage in the LORD's coming action.
οὕτωςthus / soadverb of manner (anaphoric: 'in this way')οὕτως: 'thus'; the fate of the five kings is the pattern — 'so will the LORD do.'
ποιήσειwill doFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb of ὅτι-clause→ predictive future (assurance of future victory)ποιέω: 'do / make'; the future ποιήσει promises that the LORD will treat all future enemies as he treated these kings.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ποιήσεικύριος: the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the LORD, not Israel, is the agent of the promised future victories.
πᾶσιto allDativeattributive adjective (with ἐχθροῖς)πᾶς: 'all'; the universal scope — every enemy.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with ἐχθροῖς)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐχθροῖςenemiesDativedative (recipient of the LORD's action: 'to your enemies')ἐχθρός: 'enemy'; the dative of those to whom the LORD will 'do thus.'
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possessionὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
οὓςwhomAccusativerelative pronoun (object of καταπολεμεῖτε)ὅς: relative 'whom'; introduces the clause defining the enemies.
ὑμεῖςyouNominativeemphatic subject pronounσύ (pl. ὑμεῖς): emphatic 'you' — the army as the human agents of the war the LORD wins.
καταπολεμεῖτεyou fight against / war downPres Act Indic 2 Pl · καταπολεμέωverb of relative clause→ imperfective present (ongoing/customary warfare)καταπολεμέω: 'make war on / subdue by war'; the compound κατα- adds the sense of warring-down to conquest; the resumptive pronoun αὐτούς (Hebraism) reduplicates the relative object.
αὐτούςthemAccusativeresumptive pronoun (Hebraism: redundant with οὕς)αὐτός: the resumptive αὐτούς ('them') after the relative οὕς is a Hebraism (the 'pleonastic' or resumptive pronoun, rendering the Hebrew אֲשֶׁר … אֹתָם).
26
καὶ ἀπέκτεινεν αὐτοὺς Ἰησοῦς καὶ ἐκρέμασεν αὐτοὺς ἐπὶ πέντε ξύλων καὶ ἦσαν κρεμάμενοι ἐπὶ τῶν ξύλων ἕως ἑσπέρας
And Joshua killed them and hanged them on five trees, and they were hanging on the trees until evening.
Joshua executes the kings and hangs them on five trees (one each), with the bodies left exposed 'until evening' — the temporal limit set by the Deuteronomic law forbidding the corpse of an executed man to remain on the tree overnight (Deut 21:22–23). The hanging publicly displays the curse fallen on the conquered kings.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπέκτεινενkilledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποκτείνωmain verb→ constative aorist (the execution)ἀποκτείνω: 'kill / put to death'; renders הִכָּה / הֵמִית; Joshua personally executes the captured kings.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect objectαὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubjectἸησοῦς: declinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐκρέμασενhangedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κρεμάννυμιcoordinate main verb→ constative aorist (the hanging-up)κρεμάννυμι: 'hang / suspend'; renders תָּלָה; the post-mortem hanging on trees is a public display of the curse (cf. Deut 21:22; Josh 8:29); Paul cites the same law-context at Gal 3:13.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect objectαὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐπὶonpreposition + genitive (position)ἐπὶ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
πέντεfivenumeral (indeclinable cardinal, with ξύλων)πέντε: 'five'; one tree per king — the number recalls the five-king motif of the chapter.
ξύλωνtrees / gallowsGenitivegenitive object of ἐπίξύλον: 'wood / tree / pole / gallows'; renders עֵץ; the trees/posts on which the bodies are displayed; the same word is the 'tree' of Deut 21:23 and Gal 3:13.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἦσανthey wereImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίcopula (periphrastic with κρεμάμενοι)→ imperfect (durative state)εἰμί: 'be'; the imperfect ἦσαν with the participle κρεμάμενοι forms a periphrastic imperfect ('were hanging'), stressing the continued exposure.
κρεμάμενοιhangingPres Mid Ptc Nom Masc Pl · κρέμαμαιparticiple (periphrastic with ἦσαν)→ imperfective aspect (in the state of hanging)κρέμαμαι: 'hang / be suspended' (middle/intransitive of κρεμάννυμι); the periphrastic ἦσαν κρεμάμενοι ('they were hanging') describes the prolonged display until evening.
ἐπὶonpreposition + genitive (position)ἐπὶ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with ξύλων)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ξύλωνtreesGenitivegenitive object of ἐπίξύλον: 'tree / pole'; see above.
ἕωςuntilpreposition + genitive (temporal limit)ἕως: 'until'; marks the limit set by Deut 21:23 — the bodies down by nightfall.
ἑσπέραςeveningGenitivegenitive of time (object of ἕως)ἑσπέρα: 'evening'; renders עֶרֶב; 'until evening' — the deadline of the law forbidding overnight exposure of the hanged.
27
καὶ ἐγενήθη πρὸς ἡλίου δυσμὰς ἐνετείλατο Ἰησοῦς καὶ καθεῖλον αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ τῶν ξύλων καὶ ἔρριψαν αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸ σπήλαιον εἰς ὃ κατεφύγοσαν ἐκεῖ καὶ ἐπεκύλισαν λίθους ἐπὶ τὸ σπήλαιον ἕως τῆς σήμερον ἡμέρας
And it came to pass toward sunset that Joshua commanded, and they took them down from the trees and threw them into the cave into which they had fled for refuge there; and they rolled stones over the cave, which remain until this very day.
At sunset (in obedience to Deut 21:23) Joshua orders the bodies taken down and cast into the very cave where the kings had hidden (v. 16) — their hiding-place becomes their tomb. The closing ἐπεκύλισαν λίθους ('they rolled stones', echoing κυλίσατε in v. 18) and the etiological formula ἕως τῆς σήμερον ἡμέρας ('to this very day') memorialize the event and round off the cave-episode. Note the temporal irony: the sun that 'did not hasten to set' (v. 13) now sets, framing the day's end.
Word-by-word analysis· 33 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγενήθηit came to passAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (Hebraizing 'and it happened')→ constative aoristγίνομαι (aor. pass. ἐγενήθη): 'be / happen / come to pass'; the temporal-narrative marker (rendering וַיְהִי) introducing the sunset scene.
πρὸςtowardpreposition + accusative (temporal: 'toward')πρός + acc.: temporal, 'toward / at about'; πρὸς ἡλίου δυσμάς = 'toward sunset.'
ἡλίουof the sunGenitivegenitive (with δυσμάς: 'sun's setting')ἥλιος: 'sun'; ἡλίου δυσμάς ('the sun's setting / sundown'); the sun whose standing prolonged the day (vv. 12–13) now sets, closing the long day's events.
δυσμὰςsetting / sundownAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (temporal)δυσμή (pl. δυσμαί): 'setting / sundown'; cf. v. 13 (εἰς δυσμάς); the time appointed by Deut 21:23 for taking down the bodies.
ἐνετείλατοcommandedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιmain verb→ constative aorist (the order)ἐντέλλομαι: 'command / give orders / charge'; renders צִוָּה; Joshua's order to take down and bury the bodies; the same verb crowns the conquest summary (v. 40, ἐνετείλατο κύριος).
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubjectἸησοῦς: declinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
καθεῖλονthey took downAor Act Indic 3 Pl · καθαιρέωmain verb→ constative aorist (the taking-down)καθαιρέω: 'take down / pull down / remove'; the compound κατα- ('down'); renders הוֹרִיד; the bodies are taken down from the trees before nightfall, per Deut 21:23.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect objectαὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with ξύλων)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ξύλωνtreesGenitivegenitive object of ἀπόξύλον: 'tree / pole'; see v. 26.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔρριψανthrew / castAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ῥίπτωmain verb→ constative aorist (the casting-in)ῥίπτω: 'throw / cast / fling'; renders הִשְׁלִיךְ; the bodies are flung into the cave — an ignominious burial in their own former hiding-place.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect objectαὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with σπήλαιον)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σπήλαιονcaveAccusativeaccusative object of εἰςσπήλαιον: 'cave'; the kings' hiding-place (v. 16) becomes their grave.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (with relative ὅ)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ὃwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of the preposition; antecedent σπήλαιον)ὅς: relative 'which'; εἰς ὃ … ἐκεῖ ('into which … there') with the resumptive adverb ἐκεῖ is a Hebraism (rendering אֲשֶׁר … שָׁם).
κατεφύγοσανthey had fled for refugeAor Act Indic 3 Pl · καταφεύγωverb of relative clause→ constative aorist (the earlier flight)καταφεύγω: 'flee for refuge / take shelter'; the LXX-Hellenistic third-plural form -οσαν; recalls the kings' concealment in v. 16 — they fled there for refuge, and there they are entombed.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (resumptive, Hebraism)ἐκεῖ: 'there'; the resumptive adverb after εἰς ὅ — a Hebraism (אֲשֶׁר … שָׁם).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπεκύλισανthey rolled over / uponAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐπικυλίωmain verb→ constative aorist (the sealing)ἐπικυλίω: 'roll upon / over'; the compound ἐπι- of κυλίω (cf. κυλίσατε, v. 18); the cave is sealed with stones — now permanently, as the kings' tomb.
λίθουςstonesAccusativedirect object of ἐπεκύλισανλίθος: 'stone'; the sealing stones — the chapter's third use of λίθοι (after the hail of v. 11 and the sealing of v. 18).
ἐπὶover / againstpreposition + accusative (position)ἐπὶ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with σπήλαιον)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σπήλαιονcaveAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπίσπήλαιον: 'cave'; sealed over the bodies.
ἕωςuntilpreposition + genitive (temporal: 'until')ἕως: 'until'; introduces the etiological time-formula.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with ἡμέρας)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σήμερονtoday / presentadverb (attributive: 'the present day')σήμερον: 'today'; here used attributively with ἡμέρας in the etiological formula ἕως τῆς σήμερον ἡμέρας ('to this very day', rendering עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה), a stock notice authenticating a still-visible memorial.
ἡμέραςdayGenitivegenitive of time (object of ἕως)ἡμέρα: 'day'; in the etiological formula 'until the present day' — the sealed cave still attests the event in the narrator's time.
28
καὶ τὴν Μακηδα ἐλάβοσαν ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ καὶ ἐφόνευσαν αὐτὴν ἐν στόματι ξίφους καὶ ἐξωλέθρευσαν πᾶν ἐμπνέον ἐν αὐτῇ καὶ οὐ κατελείφθη ἐν αὐτῇ οὐδεὶς διασεσῳσμένος καὶ διαπεφευγώς καὶ ἐποίησαν τῷ βασιλεῖ Μακηδα ὃν τρόπον ἐποίησαν τῷ βασιλεῖ Ιεριχω
And they took Makkedah on that day, and put it to the sword and utterly destroyed every living thing in it; and no one was left in it surviving or escaping. And they did to the king of Makkedah as they had done to the king of Jericho.
The first instance of the chapter's recurring conquest-formula: capture → ἐν στόματι ξίφους ('with the edge of the sword') → total ḥērem (ἐξωλέθρευσαν πᾶν ἐμπνέον) → 'no survivor' → comparison to Jericho (ὃν τρόπον … Ιεριχω). The Jericho-pattern, invoked already in v. 1, now governs city after city. The pair διασεσῳσμένος / διαπεφευγώς ('survivor / fugitive') is a stock merism for any escapee.
Word-by-word analysis· 40 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with Μακηδα)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΜακηδαMakkedahdirect object of ἐλάβοσαν (fronted, indeclinable)Μακηδα: Makkedah; the cave-town, now itself taken; the fronting (object before verb) gives it emphasis as the campaign's first conquest.
ἐλάβοσανthey tookAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λαμβάνωmain verb→ constative aorist (capture)λαμβάνω: 'take / capture'; the LXX-Hellenistic third-plural -οσαν form ἐλάβοσαν (for ἔλαβον); the verb of military capture (cf. v. 1).
ἐνonpreposition + dative (temporal)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῇtheDativearticle (with ἡμέρᾳ)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of timeἡμέρα: 'day'; ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ('on that day') marks the swiftness of the capture.
ἐκείνῃthatDativedemonstrative adjective (with ἡμέρᾳ)ἐκεῖνος: 'that'; the same day of the kings' execution.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐφόνευσανthey put to the sword / slewAor Act Indic 3 Pl · φονεύωmain verb→ constative aorist (the slaughter)φονεύω: 'kill / slay / murder'; renders הִכָּה (לְפִי־חֶרֶב); with ἐν στόματι ξίφους it is the recurring killing-verb of the conquest-formula (vv. 30, 32, 35, 37, 39).
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect object (= the city)αὐτὴν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrument, in fixed idiom)ἐν στόματι ξίφους: 'with the edge of the sword'; a Hebraism (לְפִי־חֶרֶב, lit. 'to the mouth of the sword') — the recurring idiom of total military slaughter in this chapter.
στόματιmouth / edgeDativedative (with ἐν: 'with the edge')στόμα: 'mouth / edge'; the 'mouth of the sword' = its devouring edge; the same noun was the 'mouth' of the cave (v. 18).
ξίφουςof the swordGenitivegenitive (with στόματι: 'edge of the sword')ξίφος: 'sword'; renders חֶרֶב; in the fixed phrase ἐν στόματι ξίφους ('by the edge of the sword').
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξωλέθρευσανthey utterly destroyedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐξολεθρεύωmain verb→ constative aorist (total ḥērem)ἐξολεθρεύω: 'utterly destroy / annihilate'; the ḥērem-leitwort (cf. v. 1); 'devoted to destruction every living thing.'
πᾶνeveryAccusativeattributive adjective (with ἐμπνέον)πᾶς: 'every'; πᾶν ἐμπνέον ('every breathing thing') marks the totality of the destruction.
ἐμπνέονbreathing thingPres Act Ptc Acc Neut Sg · ἐμπνέωsubstantival participle (object: 'everything that breathes')→ imperfective aspect (that which is breathing/alive)ἐμπνέω: 'breathe (in) / be alive'; the neuter participle πᾶν ἐμπνέον ('every breathing thing / everything that draws breath') renders כָּל־נְשָׁמָה / כָּל־הַנֶּפֶשׁ; a stock ḥērem-phrase (cf. Deut 20:16; Josh 11:11).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτῇitDativedative object of ἐν (= in the city)αὐτῇ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οὐnotnegative particle (with κατελείφθη)οὐ: negation.
κατελείφθηwas leftAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · καταλείπωmain verb (the 'no survivor' formula)→ constative aorist passiveκαταλείπω (aor. pass.): 'leave behind / leave remaining'; the 'no survivor' refrain (οὐ κατελείφθη … οὐδείς) recurs through the conquest-formula (vv. 30, 33, 37, 39, 40), fulfilling the oracle of v. 8.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτῇitDativedative object of ἐναὐτῇ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
οὐδεὶςno oneNominativesubject of κατελείφθηοὐδείς: 'no one'; the subject of the negated verb — not a single survivor remained.
διασεσῳσμένοςsurviving / savedPerf Pass Ptc Nom Masc Sg · διασῴζωpredicate participle (with οὐδείς: 'no one saved')→ resultative perfect participle (in a state of having been saved)διασῴζω (perf. pass. ptc.): 'be brought safely through / survive'; the participle pair διασεσῳσμένος καὶ διαπεφευγώς ('one surviving and escaping') is a stock merism for any escapee — none was left.
καὶand / orcoordinate conjunction (joining the participle pair)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
διαπεφευγώςescaping / having fledPerf Act Ptc Nom Masc Sg · διαφεύγωpredicate participle (with οὐδείς)→ resultative perfect participle (in a state of having escaped)διαφεύγω (perf. act. ptc.): 'escape / flee through'; paired with διασεσῳσμένος in the merism — neither survivor nor fugitive was left alive.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐποίησανthey didAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (comparison)→ constative aoristποιέω: 'do'; introduces the Jericho-comparison (ὃν τρόπον … Ιεριχω), the recurring measure of total ḥērem.
τῷto theDativearticle (with βασιλεῖ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεῖkingDativedative (recipient: 'to the king')βασιλεύς: 'king'; the king of Makkedah.
ΜακηδαMakkedahgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Μακηδα: indeclinable.
ὃνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (with τρόπον: 'as')ὅς: in the fixed comparison-phrase ὃν τρόπον ('just as'), cf. v. 1.
τρόπονmannerAccusativeadverbial accusative (manner)τρόπος: 'manner'; ὃν τρόπον = 'in the way that.'
ἐποίησανthey didAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωverb of comparison clause→ constative aoristποιέω: 'do'; 'as they had done to the king of Jericho.'
τῷto theDativearticle (with βασιλεῖ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεῖkingDativedative (recipient)βασιλεύς: 'king'; the king of Jericho (Josh 6), the paradigm of executed Canaanite royalty.
ΙεριχωJerichogenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ιεριχω: indeclinable; the touchstone of total destruction.
29
καὶ ἀπῆλθεν Ἰησοῦς καὶ πᾶς Ισραηλ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἐκ Μακηδα εἰς Λεβνα καὶ ἐπολιόρκει Λεβνα
And Joshua, and all Israel with him, went on from Makkedah to Libnah, and he laid siege to Libnah.
The recurring transit-formula — ἀπῆλθεν Ἰησοῦς καὶ πᾶς Ισραηλ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἐκ X εἰς Y — links the conquest catalogue (cf. vv. 31, 33, 34, 36, 38). The imperfect ἐπολιόρκει ('was besieging') marks the durative siege-action against Libnah.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπῆλθενwent away / moved onAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀπέρχομαιmain verb→ constative aorist (the march onward)ἀπέρχομαι: 'go away / depart / move on'; renders עָבַר / נָסַע; the transit-verb of the campaign catalogue.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubjectἸησοῦς: declinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πᾶςallNominativeattributive adjective (with Ισραηλ)πᾶς: 'all'; 'all Israel.'
ΙσραηλIsraelsubject in apposition (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable; the whole people accompanies Joshua.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment, elided)μετ᾿: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετ᾿αὐτοῦ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)ἐκ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΜακηδαMakkedahgenitive of source (indeclinable)Μακηδα: Makkedah; the point of departure.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΛεβναLibnahaccusative of goal (indeclinable place-name)Λεβνα: transliteration of Hebrew לִבְנָה (Libnah); indeclinable; a Shephelah town, the next target.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπολιόρκειhe besiegedImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · πολιορκέωmain verb (durative siege)→ imperfect (ongoing siege: 'was besieging')πολιορκέω: 'besiege / lay siege to'; the imperfect describes the siege in progress; cf. ἐξεπολιόρκουν (v. 5).
ΛεβναLibnahobject of ἐπολιόρκει (indeclinable)Λεβνα: Libnah; the besieged city.
30
καὶ παρέδωκεν αὐτὴν κύριος εἰς χεῖρας Ισραηλ καὶ ἔλαβον αὐτὴν καὶ τὸν βασιλέα αὐτῆς καὶ ἐφόνευσαν αὐτὴν ἐν στόματι ξίφους καὶ πᾶν ἐμπνέον ἐν αὐτῇ καὶ οὐ κατελείφθη ἐν αὐτῇ οὐδὲ εἷς διασεσῳσμένος καὶ διαπεφευγώς καὶ ἐποίησαν τῷ βασιλεῖ αὐτῆς ὃν τρόπον ἐποίησαν τῷ βασιλεῖ Ιεριχω
And the LORD gave it also into the hands of Israel; and they took it and its king, and put it to the sword and every living thing in it; and no one was left in it surviving or escaping. And they did to its king as they had done to the king of Jericho.
The Libnah-formula adds the theological preface παρέδωκεν … κύριος ('the LORD gave it'), tying each capture to the divine handover of v. 8. Otherwise it repeats the fixed pattern: capture of city and king → ἐν στόματι ξίφους → πᾶν ἐμπνέον → 'no survivor' (here οὐδὲ εἷς, 'not even one') → Jericho-comparison.
Word-by-word analysis· 46 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
παρέδωκενgave overAor Act Indic 3 Sg · παραδίδωμιmain verb (divine handover)→ constative aorist (the handover)παραδίδωμι: 'hand over / deliver up'; the leitwort of divine victory (vv. 8, 12, 19); each city falls because the LORD gives it.
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect object (= Libnah)αὐτὴν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubjectκύριος: the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the giver of each city.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (handover idiom)εἰς χεῖρας: 'into the hands' — the victory-idiom (cf. v. 8).
χεῖραςhandsAccusativeaccusative object of εἰςχείρ: 'hand'; 'into the hands of Israel.'
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔλαβονthey tookAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λαμβάνωmain verb→ constative aorist (capture)λαμβάνω: 'take / capture'; the city and its king are seized.
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect objectαὐτὴν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with βασιλέα)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέαkingAccusativedirect object (second object of ἔλαβον)βασιλεύς: 'king'; the king of Libnah, captured with the city.
αὐτῆςitsGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτῆς: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐφόνευσανthey put to the swordAor Act Indic 3 Pl · φονεύωmain verb→ constative aorist (the slaughter)φονεύω: 'slay'; with ἐν στόματι ξίφους; see v. 28.
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect objectαὐτὴν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrument, fixed idiom)ἐν στόματι ξίφους: 'with the edge of the sword'; see v. 28.
στόματιedgeDativedative (with ἐν)στόμα: 'mouth / edge'.
ξίφουςof the swordGenitivegenitive (with στόματι)ξίφος: 'sword'.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πᾶνeveryAccusativeattributive adjective (with ἐμπνέον)πᾶς: 'every'.
ἐμπνέονbreathing thingPres Act Ptc Acc Neut Sg · ἐμπνέωsubstantival participle (object)→ imperfective aspect (every living thing)ἐμπνέω: 'breathe / be alive'; πᾶν ἐμπνέον; see v. 28.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτῇitDativedative object of ἐναὐτῇ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οὐnotnegative particle (with κατελείφθη)οὐ: negation.
κατελείφθηwas leftAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · καταλείπωmain verb (no-survivor formula)→ constative aorist passiveκαταλείπω (aor. pass.): 'be left remaining'; see v. 28.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτῇitDativedative object of ἐναὐτῇ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
οὐδὲnot evenintensive negative (with εἷς: 'not even one')οὐδέ: 'not even'; with εἷς it intensifies — 'not even one' survivor.
εἷςoneNominativesubject of κατελείφθη (numeral, emphatic)εἷς: 'one'; οὐδὲ εἷς ('not even one') is a stronger variant of the οὐδείς of v. 28.
διασεσῳσμένοςsurvivingPerf Pass Ptc Nom Masc Sg · διασῴζωpredicate participle→ resultative perfect participleδιασῴζω: 'survive / be saved'; see v. 28.
καὶand / orcoordinate conjunction (joining participle pair)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
διαπεφευγώςescapingPerf Act Ptc Nom Masc Sg · διαφεύγωpredicate participle→ resultative perfect participleδιαφεύγω: 'escape'; the merism pair; see v. 28.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐποίησανthey didAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (comparison)→ constative aoristποιέω: 'do'; the Jericho-comparison.
τῷto theDativearticle (with βασιλεῖ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεῖkingDativedative (recipient)βασιλεύς: 'king'; the king of Libnah.
αὐτῆςitsGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτῆς: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ὃνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (with τρόπον)ὅς: in ὃν τρόπον.
τρόπονmannerAccusativeadverbial accusative (manner)τρόπος: 'manner'.
ἐποίησανthey didAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωverb of comparison clause→ constative aoristποιέω: 'do'.
τῷto theDativearticle (with βασιλεῖ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεῖkingDativedative (recipient)βασιλεύς: 'king'; the king of Jericho.
ΙεριχωJerichogenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ιεριχω: indeclinable; the destruction-paradigm.
31
καὶ ἀπῆλθεν Ἰησοῦς καὶ πᾶς Ισραηλ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἐκ Λεβνα εἰς Λαχις καὶ περιεκάθισεν αὐτὴν καὶ ἐπολιόρκει αὐτήν
And Joshua, and all Israel with him, went on from Libnah to Lachish, and encamped around it and laid siege to it.
The transit-formula again (cf. v. 29), now toward Lachish, the strongest of the Shephelah fortresses. The pairing περιεκάθισεν … ἐπολιόρκει ('encamped around … besieged', cf. v. 5) marks a more deliberate siege, fitting Lachish's strength — and explaining why its fall takes 'a second day' (v. 32).
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπῆλθενmoved onAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀπέρχομαιmain verb→ constative aoristἀπέρχομαι: 'go on / depart'; the transit-verb; see v. 29.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubjectἸησοῦς: declinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πᾶςallNominativeattributive adjective (with Ισραηλ)πᾶς: 'all'.
ΙσραηλIsraelsubject in apposition (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment, elided)μετ᾿: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετ᾿αὐτοῦ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)ἐκ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΛεβναLibnahgenitive of source (indeclinable)Λεβνα: Libnah; the point of departure.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΛαχιςLachishaccusative of goal (indeclinable)Λαχις: Lachish; see v. 3; the strongest Shephelah fortress.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
περιεκάθισενencamped aroundAor Act Indic 3 Sg · περικαθίζωmain verb (encirclement)→ constative aorist (took siege positions)περικαθίζω: 'encamp around / besiege'; see v. 5; here Israel encircles Lachish.
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect objectαὐτὴν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπολιόρκειhe besiegedImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · πολιορκέωmain verb (durative siege)→ imperfect (ongoing siege)πολιορκέω: 'besiege'; the imperfect of the siege-in-progress; see v. 29.
αὐτήνitAccusativedirect objectαὐτήν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
32
καὶ παρέδωκεν κύριος τὴν Λαχις εἰς τὰς χεῖρας Ισραηλ καὶ ἔλαβεν αὐτὴν ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ δευτέρᾳ καὶ ἐφόνευσαν αὐτὴν ἐν στόματι ξίφους καὶ ἐξωλέθρευσαν αὐτήν ὃν τρόπον ἐποίησαν τὴν Λεβνα
And the LORD gave Lachish into the hands of Israel, and he took it on the second day, and they put it to the sword and utterly destroyed it, as they had done to Libnah.
The Lachish-formula notes ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ δευτέρᾳ ('on the second day') — the only city to require two days, a realistic touch reflecting its strength. The comparison shifts to the most recently conquered city (Libnah, v. 30) rather than to Jericho, building a chain of precedents.
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
παρέδωκενgave overAor Act Indic 3 Sg · παραδίδωμιmain verb (divine handover)→ constative aoristπαραδίδωμι: 'hand over'; the divine-handover leitwort; see v. 30.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubjectκύριος: the Tetragrammaton יהוה.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with Λαχις)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΛαχιςLachishdirect object of παρέδωκεν (indeclinable)Λαχις: Lachish.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (handover idiom)εἰς τὰς χεῖρας: 'into the hands.'
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with χεῖρας)τὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χεῖραςhandsAccusativeaccusative object of εἰςχείρ: 'hand'.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔλαβενhe tookAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb→ constative aorist (capture)λαμβάνω: 'take / capture'; the singular ('he took', Joshua) varies the formula.
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect objectαὐτὴν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐνonpreposition + dative (temporal)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῇtheDativearticle (with ἡμέρᾳ)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of timeἡμέρα: 'day'.
τῇtheDativearticle (attributive, with δευτέρᾳ)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δευτέρᾳsecondDativeordinal adjective (with ἡμέρᾳ: 'on the second day')δεύτερος: 'second'; ordinal numeral (tagged 'n'); Lachish alone takes 'a second day' — a mark of its fortified strength.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐφόνευσανthey put to the swordAor Act Indic 3 Pl · φονεύωmain verb→ constative aoristφονεύω: 'slay'; see v. 28.
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect objectαὐτὴν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrument, fixed idiom)ἐν στόματι ξίφους: 'with the edge of the sword'; see v. 28.
στόματιedgeDativedative (with ἐν)στόμα: 'mouth / edge'.
ξίφουςof the swordGenitivegenitive (with στόματι)ξίφος: 'sword'.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξωλέθρευσανthey utterly destroyedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐξολεθρεύωmain verb→ constative aorist (total ḥērem)ἐξολεθρεύω: 'utterly destroy'; the ḥērem-leitwort; see v. 1, 28.
αὐτήνitAccusativedirect objectαὐτήν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ὃνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (with τρόπον)ὅς: in ὃν τρόπον.
τρόπονmannerAccusativeadverbial accusative (manner)τρόπος: 'manner'.
ἐποίησανthey didAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωverb of comparison clause→ constative aoristποιέω: 'do'; the comparison shifts to Libnah (v. 30).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with Λεβνα)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΛεβναLibnahdirect object of ἐποίησαν (indeclinable)Λεβνα: Libnah; the immediately preceding conquest (vv. 29–30).
33
τότε ἀνέβη Αιλαμ βασιλεὺς Γαζερ βοηθήσων τῇ Λαχις καὶ ἐπάταξεν αὐτὸν Ἰησοῦς ἐν στόματι ξίφους καὶ τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ ἕως τοῦ μὴ καταλειφθῆναι αὐτῶν σεσῳσμένον καὶ διαπεφευγότα
Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish; and Joshua struck him down with the edge of the sword, and his people, until there was left to them no survivor or fugitive.
A narrative interruption to the city-by-city pattern: a sixth king, Horam (Greek Αιλαμ) of Gezer, comes up to relieve Lachish (the future participle βοηθήσων marks purpose, 'to help') and is annihilated with his army. The articular-infinitive result clause (ἕως τοῦ μὴ καταλειφθῆναι) restates the no-survivor refrain. Note the same name Αιλαμ as the king of Hebron in v. 3.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
τότεthentemporal adverbτότε: 'then / at that time'; marks the relief-king's arrival during the Lachish siege.
ἀνέβηcame upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναβαίνωmain verb→ constative aorist (the advance)ἀναβαίνω: 'go up / advance'; Horam advances to relieve the besieged Lachish.
ΑιλαμHoramsubject (indeclinable personal name)Αιλαμ: the Greek name of the king of Gezer (MT הֹרָם, Horam); indeclinable; the same form named the king of Hebron in v. 3.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativenominative in appositionβασιλεύς: 'king'.
ΓαζερGezergenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Γαζερ: transliteration of Hebrew גֶּזֶר (Gezer); indeclinable; a city northwest of the battle-zone whose king came to Lachish's aid.
βοηθήσωνto help / intending to helpFut Act Ptc Nom Masc Sg · βοηθέωfuture participle of purpose→ future participle (purpose: 'in order to help')βοηθέω: 'help'; the future participle βοηθήσων expresses purpose ('to help') — a classical idiom; takes the dative τῇ Λαχις; ironically, the would-be helper is destroyed.
τῇtheDativearticle (with Λαχις, marking dative)the article τῇ marks the dative of indeclinable Λαχις ('to Lachish').
ΛαχιςLachishDativedative object of βοηθήσων (indeclinable)Λαχις: Lachish; the city Horam came to relieve.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπάταξενstruck downAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πατάσσωmain verb→ constative aorist (the smiting)πατάσσω: 'strike / smite / strike down'; renders הִכָּה; the standard battle-verb for defeating an army; here Joshua smites Horam and his host.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object (= Horam)αὐτὸν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubjectἸησοῦς: declinable.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrument, fixed idiom)ἐν στόματι ξίφους: 'with the edge of the sword'; see v. 28.
στόματιedgeDativedative (with ἐν)στόμα: 'mouth / edge'.
ξίφουςof the swordGenitivegenitive (with στόματι)ξίφος: 'sword'.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with λαόν)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸνpeople / armyAccusativesecond direct object of ἐπάταξενλαός: 'people'; here Horam's army, struck down with him.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἕωςuntilpreposition + genitive articular infinitive (result/extent)ἕως τοῦ + infinitive: 'until / to the point of'; a result-extent construction — 'until no survivor was left.'
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with the infinitive καταλειφθῆναι)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μὴnotnegative particle (with infinitive)μή: negation with the articular infinitive.
καταλειφθῆναιto be leftAor Pass Inf · καταλείπωarticular infinitive (with ἕως τοῦ μή: result/extent)→ constative aorist infinitive (passive)καταλείπω (aor. pass. inf.): 'be left remaining'; ἕως τοῦ μὴ καταλειφθῆναι ('until none was left') restates the no-survivor refrain in infinitive form.
αὐτῶνof themGenitivepartitive genitive (with the infinitive's implied subject)αὐτός: 'of them'; partitive — none of Horam's host.
σεσῳσμένονa survivor / one savedPerf Pass Ptc Acc Masc Sg · σῴζωaccusative subject of the passive infinitive (a survivor)→ resultative perfect participle (one in a saved state)σῴζω (perf. pass. ptc.): 'save / preserve'; here the simplex (not the compound διασῴζω of vv. 28, 30) but in the same merism-pair with διαπεφευγότα — 'no one saved or escaped.'
καὶand / orcoordinate conjunction (joining participle pair)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
διαπεφευγόταa fugitive / one escapingPerf Act Ptc Acc Masc Sg · διαφεύγωaccusative (paired with σεσῳσμένον)→ resultative perfect participle (one having escaped)διαφεύγω (perf. act. ptc.): 'escape'; the merism-pair completes the no-survivor formula (cf. vv. 28, 30).
34
καὶ ἀπῆλθεν Ἰησοῦς καὶ πᾶς Ισραηλ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἐκ Λαχις εἰς Οδολλαμ καὶ περιεκάθισεν αὐτὴν καὶ ἐπολιόρκησεν αὐτήν
And Joshua, and all Israel with him, went on from Lachish to Eglon, and encamped around it and besieged it.
The transit-formula again (cf. vv. 29, 31), now to Eglon (Greek Οδολλαμ, the fifth coalition city). Here the siege-verb is the aorist ἐπολιόρκησεν ('besieged', completed) rather than the imperfect, signaling a swifter reduction.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπῆλθενmoved onAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀπέρχομαιmain verb→ constative aoristἀπέρχομαι: 'go on'; the transit-verb; see v. 29.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubjectἸησοῦς: declinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πᾶςallNominativeattributive adjective (with Ισραηλ)πᾶς: 'all'.
ΙσραηλIsraelsubject in apposition (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)μετ᾿: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετ᾿αὐτοῦ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)ἐκ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΛαχιςLachishgenitive of source (indeclinable)Λαχις: Lachish; the point of departure.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΟδολλαμEglonaccusative of goal (indeclinable)Οδολλαμ: Eglon (Greek Odollam); see v. 3; the fifth coalition city.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
περιεκάθισενencamped aroundAor Act Indic 3 Sg · περικαθίζωmain verb (encirclement)→ constative aoristπερικαθίζω: 'encamp around'; see vv. 5, 31.
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect objectαὐτὴν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπολιόρκησενbesiegedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πολιορκέωmain verb→ constative aorist (completed siege)πολιορκέω: 'besiege'; here the aorist (completed) rather than the imperfect of vv. 29, 31 — a swifter reduction of Eglon.
αὐτήνitAccusativedirect objectαὐτήν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
35
καὶ παρέδωκεν αὐτὴν κύριος ἐν χειρὶ Ισραηλ καὶ ἔλαβεν αὐτὴν ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ καὶ ἐφόνευσεν αὐτὴν ἐν στόματι ξίφους καὶ πᾶν ἐμπνέον ἐν αὐτῇ ἐφόνευσαν ὃν τρόπον ἐποίησαν τῇ Λαχις
And the LORD gave it into the hand of Israel; and he took it on that day, and put it to the sword, and every living thing in it they slew, as they had done to Lachish.
The Eglon-formula notes the same-day capture (ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ) and uses the singular ἐν χειρί ('into the hand'). The comparison now points back to Lachish (v. 32), continuing the chained precedent. The verb of total slaughter shifts to the front of its clause (πᾶν ἐμπνέον … ἐφόνευσαν), emphasizing the ḥērem.
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
παρέδωκενgave overAor Act Indic 3 Sg · παραδίδωμιmain verb (divine handover)→ constative aoristπαραδίδωμι: 'hand over'; the handover-leitwort; see v. 30.
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect objectαὐτὴν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubjectκύριος: the Tetragrammaton יהוה.
ἐνintopreposition + dative (handover idiom, singular)ἐν χειρί: 'into the hand'; a singular variant of the εἰς χεῖρας idiom (cf. v. 30).
χειρὶhandDativedative object of ἐνχείρ: 'hand'.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔλαβενhe tookAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb→ constative aorist (capture)λαμβάνω: 'take / capture'.
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect objectαὐτὴν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐνonpreposition + dative (temporal)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῇtheDativearticle (with ἡμέρᾳ)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of timeἡμέρα: 'day'; ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ('on that day') — same-day capture.
ἐκείνῃthatDativedemonstrative adjective (with ἡμέρᾳ)ἐκεῖνος: 'that'.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐφόνευσενhe put to the swordAor Act Indic 3 Sg · φονεύωmain verb→ constative aoristφονεύω: 'slay'; here singular ('he slew'); see v. 28.
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect objectαὐτὴν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrument, fixed idiom)ἐν στόματι ξίφους: 'with the edge of the sword.'
στόματιedgeDativedative (with ἐν)στόμα: 'mouth / edge'.
ξίφουςof the swordGenitivegenitive (with στόματι)ξίφος: 'sword'.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πᾶνeveryAccusativeattributive adjective (with ἐμπνέον)πᾶς: 'every'.
ἐμπνέονbreathing thingPres Act Ptc Acc Neut Sg · ἐμπνέωsubstantival participle (object, fronted)→ imperfective aspect (every living thing)ἐμπνέω: 'breathe / be alive'; πᾶν ἐμπνέον; the object is fronted before its verb ἐφόνευσαν for emphasis.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτῇitDativedative object of ἐναὐτῇ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐφόνευσανthey slewAor Act Indic 3 Pl · φονεύωmain verb (with fronted object)→ constative aorist (total slaughter)φονεύω: 'slay'; here plural, completing the ḥērem of every living thing.
ὃνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (with τρόπον)ὅς: in ὃν τρόπον.
τρόπονmannerAccusativeadverbial accusative (manner)τρόπος: 'manner'.
ἐποίησανthey didAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωverb of comparison clause→ constative aoristποιέω: 'do'; the comparison points to Lachish (v. 32).
τῇtheDativearticle (with Λαχις, marking dative)the article τῇ marks the dative of indeclinable Λαχις ('to Lachish').
ΛαχιςLachishDativedative object of ἐποίησαν (indeclinable)Λαχις: Lachish; the immediately preceding conquest.
36
καὶ ἀπῆλθεν Ἰησοῦς καὶ πᾶς Ισραηλ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ εἰς Χεβρων καὶ περιεκάθισεν αὐτήν
And Joshua, and all Israel with him, went up to Hebron and encamped around it.
The campaign turns from the Shephelah back up into the southern hill country, to Hebron (the city of Hoham, v. 3). The transit-formula here omits the 'from X' element (Joshua simply goes 'to Hebron') and pairs only the single siege-verb περιεκάθισεν.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπῆλθενwentAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀπέρχομαιmain verb→ constative aoristἀπέρχομαι: 'go / move on'; the transit-verb; see v. 29.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubjectἸησοῦς: declinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πᾶςallNominativeattributive adjective (with Ισραηλ)πᾶς: 'all'.
ΙσραηλIsraelsubject in apposition (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)μετ᾿: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετ᾿αὐτοῦ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΧεβρωνHebronaccusative of goal (indeclinable)Χεβρων: Hebron; see v. 3; the chief city of the southern hill country.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
περιεκάθισενencamped aroundAor Act Indic 3 Sg · περικαθίζωmain verb→ constative aoristπερικαθίζω: 'encamp around / besiege'; see vv. 5, 31, 34.
αὐτήνitAccusativedirect objectαὐτήν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
37
καὶ ἐπάταξεν αὐτὴν ἐν στόματι ξίφους καὶ πᾶν ἐμπνέον ὅσα ἦν ἐν αὐτῇ οὐκ ἦν διασεσῳσμένος ὃν τρόπον ἐποίησαν τὴν Οδολλαμ ἐξωλέθρευσαν αὐτὴν καὶ ὅσα ἦν ἐν αὐτῇ
And he struck it with the edge of the sword, and every living thing — as many as were in it; there was no survivor. As they had done to Eglon, so they utterly destroyed it and all that was in it.
The Hebron-formula expands the totality with ὅσα ἦν ἐν αὐτῇ ('as many as were in it') and an explicit οὐκ ἦν διασεσῳσμένος ('there was no survivor'). The comparison points to Eglon (Odollam, v. 35). The verb πατάσσω ('struck') here replaces λαμβάνω/φονεύω as the lead verb.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπάταξενstruckAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πατάσσωmain verb→ constative aorist (the smiting)πατάσσω: 'strike / smite'; see v. 33; here of the smiting of Hebron.
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect objectαὐτὴν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrument, fixed idiom)ἐν στόματι ξίφους: 'with the edge of the sword.'
στόματιedgeDativedative (with ἐν)στόμα: 'mouth / edge'.
ξίφουςof the swordGenitivegenitive (with στόματι)ξίφος: 'sword'.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πᾶνeveryAccusativeattributive adjective (with ἐμπνέον)πᾶς: 'every'.
ἐμπνέονbreathing thingPres Act Ptc Acc Neut Sg · ἐμπνέωsubstantival participle (object)→ imperfective aspect (every living thing)ἐμπνέω: 'breathe / be alive'; πᾶν ἐμπνέον; see v. 28.
ὅσαas many asNominativerelative pronoun (quantitative: 'as many as')ὅσος: 'as much/many as'; ὅσα ἦν ἐν αὐτῇ ('all that were in it') reinforces the totality of the destruction.
ἦνwas / wereImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of relative clause→ imperfect (existed)εἰμί: 'be'; the imperfect ἦν with neuter plural ὅσα ('all that was/were') — neuter plural subjects regularly take a singular verb in Greek.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτῇitDativedative object of ἐναὐτῇ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἦν)οὐ: negation.
ἦνthere wasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (existential: 'there was no…')→ imperfect (existential negation)εἰμί: 'be'; οὐκ ἦν διασεσῳσμένος ('there was no survivor') — the no-survivor refrain in existential form.
διασεσῳσμένοςa survivorPerf Pass Ptc Nom Masc Sg · διασῴζωpredicate participle (subject of ἦν: 'a survivor')→ resultative perfect participle (one in a saved state)διασῴζω (perf. pass. ptc.): 'survive'; the substantival participle as subject of the existential ἦν — 'no one surviving'; see v. 28.
ὃνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (with τρόπον)ὅς: in ὃν τρόπον.
τρόπονmannerAccusativeadverbial accusative (manner)τρόπος: 'manner'.
ἐποίησανthey didAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωverb of comparison clause→ constative aoristποιέω: 'do'; the comparison points to Eglon (Odollam, v. 35).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with Οδολλαμ)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΟδολλαμEglondirect object of ἐποίησαν (indeclinable)Οδολλαμ: Eglon (Greek Odollam); the preceding conquest (vv. 34–35).
ἐξωλέθρευσανthey utterly destroyedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐξολεθρεύωmain verb (resuming after comparison)→ constative aorist (total ḥērem)ἐξολεθρεύω: 'utterly destroy'; the ḥērem-leitwort; here the main clause resumes after the ὃν τρόπον comparison.
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect objectαὐτὴν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὅσαas many as / all thatAccusativerelative pronoun (quantitative object)ὅσος: 'all that'; 'and all that was in it' — the comprehensive object of the destruction.
ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of relative clause→ imperfect (existed)εἰμί: 'be'; 'all that was in it.'
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτῇitDativedative object of ἐναὐτῇ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
38
καὶ ἀπέστρεψεν Ἰησοῦς καὶ πᾶς Ισραηλ εἰς Δαβιρ καὶ περικαθίσαντες αὐτὴν
And Joshua, and all Israel, turned back to Debir, and having encamped around it,
The last city of the catalogue. ἀπέστρεψεν ('turned back') varies the transit-verb. Notably the sentence is left grammatically suspended — the participle περικαθίσαντες ('having encamped around it') runs on without a finite verb, completing only in v. 39 (ἔλαβον): a rare LXX run-on across the verse boundary, binding vv. 38–39 into one syntactic unit.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπέστρεψενturned backAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστρέφωmain verb→ constative aorist (the turning)ἀποστρέφω: 'turn back / return'; here transitive-intransitive 'turned (himself) back'; varies the transit-formula's usual ἀπῆλθεν.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubjectἸησοῦς: declinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πᾶςallNominativeattributive adjective (with Ισραηλ)πᾶς: 'all'.
ΙσραηλIsraelsubject in apposition (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΔαβιρDebiraccusative of goal (indeclinable place-name)Δαβιρ: here the city of Debir (MT דְּבִר); indeclinable; note the same form was the personal name of the king of Eglon in v. 3 — the LXX uses Δαβιρ for both.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
περικαθίσαντεςhaving encamped aroundAor Act Ptc Nom Masc Pl · περικαθίζωcircumstantial participle (left suspended; completed by ἔλαβον in v. 39)→ constative aorist participle (antecedent action: after besieging)περικαθίζω (aor. ptc.): 'encamp around / besiege'; the participle περικαθίσαντες ('having besieged it') has no finite verb within v. 38 — the construction runs on into v. 39, where ἔλαβον supplies the main verb, binding the two verses syntactically.
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect object of the participleαὐτὴν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
39
ἔλαβον αὐτὴν καὶ τὸν βασιλέα αὐτῆς καὶ τὰς κώμας αὐτῆς καὶ ἐπάταξαν αὐτὴν ἐν στόματι ξίφους καὶ ἐξωλέθρευσαν αὐτὴν καὶ πᾶν ἐμπνέον ἐν αὐτῇ καὶ οὐ κατέλιπον αὐτῇ οὐδένα διασεσῳσμένον ὃν τρόπον ἐποίησαν τὴν Χεβρων καὶ τῷ βασιλεῖ αὐτῆς οὕτως ἐποίησαν τῇ Δαβιρ καὶ τῷ βασιλεῖ αὐτῆς
they took it and its king and its villages, and they struck it with the edge of the sword and utterly destroyed it and every living thing in it; and they left in it no survivor. As they had done to Hebron and its king, so they did to Debir and its king.
The finite verb ἔλαβον completes the suspended sentence of v. 38. The Debir-formula is the fullest, adding 'its villages' (τὰς κώμας) to the captured city and king and giving a double comparison: Debir treated as Hebron (the previous city) was treated — closing the conquest catalogue with the now-familiar ḥērem-pattern.
Word-by-word analysis· 47 words
ἔλαβονthey tookAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λαμβάνωmain verb (completing the v. 38 participle)→ constative aorist (capture)λαμβάνω: 'take / capture'; this finite verb supplies the main clause for the suspended participle περικαθίσαντες of v. 38 — vv. 38–39 form one sentence.
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect objectαὐτὴν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with βασιλέα)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέαkingAccusativesecond direct object of ἔλαβονβασιλεύς: 'king'; the king of Debir.
αὐτῆςitsGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτῆς: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with κώμας)τὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κώμαςvillagesAccusativethird direct object of ἔλαβονκώμη: 'village / hamlet'; renders בָּנוֹת ('daughter-towns') / חֲצֵרִים; the dependent settlements around Debir, included in the conquest — the only city in the catalogue whose villages are named.
αὐτῆςitsGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτῆς: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπάταξανthey struckAor Act Indic 3 Pl · πατάσσωmain verb→ constative aoristπατάσσω: 'strike / smite'; see v. 33.
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect objectαὐτὴν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrument, fixed idiom)ἐν στόματι ξίφους: 'with the edge of the sword.'
στόματιedgeDativedative (with ἐν)στόμα: 'mouth / edge'.
ξίφουςof the swordGenitivegenitive (with στόματι)ξίφος: 'sword'.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξωλέθρευσανthey utterly destroyedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐξολεθρεύωmain verb→ constative aorist (total ḥērem)ἐξολεθρεύω: 'utterly destroy'; the ḥērem-leitwort.
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect objectαὐτὴν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πᾶνeveryAccusativeattributive adjective (with ἐμπνέον)πᾶς: 'every'.
ἐμπνέονbreathing thingPres Act Ptc Acc Neut Sg · ἐμπνέωsubstantival participle (object)→ imperfective aspect (every living thing)ἐμπνέω: 'breathe / be alive'; πᾶν ἐμπνέον; see v. 28.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτῇitDativedative object of ἐναὐτῇ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οὐnotnegative particle (with κατέλιπον)οὐ: negation.
κατέλιπονthey leftAor Act Indic 3 Pl · καταλείπωmain verb (active 'no survivor' formula)→ constative aorist (active)καταλείπω: 'leave behind / leave remaining'; the active 'they left no survivor' (variant of the passive κατελείφθη of vv. 28, 30).
αὐτῇin itDativedative of place (locatival: 'in it')αὐτός: dative 'in/to it' — no survivor left in the city.
οὐδέναno oneAccusativedirect object of κατέλιπονοὐδείς: 'no one'; the accusative object — they left no survivor.
διασεσῳσμένονsurvivingPerf Pass Ptc Acc Masc Sg · διασῴζωpredicate participle (with οὐδένα)→ resultative perfect participle (in a saved state)διασῴζω (perf. pass. ptc.): 'survive'; 'no one surviving'; see v. 28.
ὃνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (with τρόπον)ὅς: in ὃν τρόπον.
τρόπονmannerAccusativeadverbial accusative (manner)τρόπος: 'manner'.
ἐποίησανthey didAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωverb of comparison clause→ constative aoristποιέω: 'do'; the comparison points to Hebron (vv. 36–37).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with Χεβρων)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΧεβρωνHebrondirect object of ἐποίησαν (indeclinable)Χεβρων: Hebron; the immediately preceding conquest.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τῷto theDativearticle (with βασιλεῖ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεῖkingDativedative (recipient: 'to its king', i.e. Hebron's)βασιλεύς: 'king'; the king of Hebron — Debir's king is treated as Hebron's was.
αὐτῆςitsGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτῆς: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
οὕτωςsoadverb (correlative with ὃν τρόπον: 'just as … so')οὕτως: 'thus / so'; completes the comparison correlative (cf. v. 1).
ἐποίησανthey didAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωmain verb of comparison apodosis→ constative aoristποιέω: 'do'; 'so they did to Debir and its king.'
τῇtheDativearticle (with Δαβιρ, marking dative)the article τῇ marks the dative of indeclinable Δαβιρ ('to Debir').
ΔαβιρDebirDativedative object of ἐποίησαν (indeclinable)Δαβιρ: Debir; the final city of the catalogue.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τῷto theDativearticle (with βασιλεῖ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεῖkingDativedative (recipient: 'to its king', i.e. Debir's)βασιλεύς: 'king'; the king of Debir.
αὐτῆςitsGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτῆς: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
40
καὶ ἐπάταξεν Ἰησοῦς πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν τῆς ὀρεινῆς καὶ τὴν Ναγεβ καὶ τὴν πεδινὴν καὶ τὴν Ασηδωθ καὶ τοὺς βασιλεῖς αὐτῆς οὐ κατέλιπον αὐτῶν σεσῳσμένον καὶ πᾶν ἐμπνέον ζωῆς ἐξωλέθρευσεν ὃν τρόπον ἐνετείλατο κύριος ὁ θεὸς Ισραηλ
And Joshua struck all the land of the hill country and the Negeb and the lowland and the slopes, and all their kings; they left none of them surviving. And every living thing that breathed he utterly destroyed, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded.
The summary moves from individual cities to the whole land, enumerated by its four geographic zones (hill country, Negeb, lowland/Shephelah, slopes/Asedoth). The destruction is grounded in divine command — ὃν τρόπον ἐνετείλατο κύριος ὁ θεὸς Ισραηλ ('as the LORD God of Israel commanded') — making the ḥērem an act of obedience to the God who fights for Israel (v. 42).
Word-by-word analysis· 37 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπάταξενstruckAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πατάσσωmain verb (summary)→ constative/summary aorist (the whole campaign in one stroke)πατάσσω: 'strike / smite'; here summarizing the entire southern campaign — Joshua 'struck' the whole land.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubjectἸησοῦς: declinable.
πᾶσανallAccusativeattributive adjective (with γῆν)πᾶς: 'all / whole'; 'all the land' — the comprehensive scope of the summary.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with γῆν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνlandAccusativedirect object of ἐπάταξενγῆ: 'land / earth / region'; renders אֶרֶץ; the whole southern territory.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with ὀρεινῆς)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀρεινῆςhill countryGenitivegenitive (defining γῆν: 'land of the hill country')ὀρεινή: 'hill country'; substantivized adjective; the first of the four geographic zones (cf. v. 6); renders הָהָר.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with Ναγεβ)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΝαγεβNegeb / the Southaccusative object (indeclinable, second zone)Ναγεβ: transliteration of Hebrew נֶגֶב ('Negeb / the South / the dry country'); indeclinable; the southern, arid region — the second of the four zones.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with πεδινήν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πεδινὴνlowland / plainAccusativesubstantival adjective (third zone)πεδινός: 'level / flat'; the feminine substantivized πεδινή ('the lowland / plain', sc. γῆ) renders הַשְּׁפֵלָה (the Shephelah, the foothill lowland); the third zone.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with Ασηδωθ)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
Ασηδωθthe slopes / Ashdothaccusative object (indeclinable, fourth zone)Ασηδωθ: transliteration of Hebrew אֲשֵׁדוֹת ('slopes / mountain-slopes'); indeclinable; the LXX treats the Hebrew common noun as a place-designation — the fourth of the four geographic zones (the descents/slopes).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with βασιλεῖς)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεῖςkingsAccusativedirect object (and all their kings)βασιλεύς: 'king'; all the kings of the conquered zones.
αὐτῆςitsGenitivegenitive of possession (of the land)αὐτός: 'its' (referring to the land, γῆν) — 'its kings.'
οὐnotnegative particle (with κατέλιπον)οὐ: negation.
κατέλιπονthey leftAor Act Indic 3 Pl · καταλείπωmain verb (no-survivor formula)→ constative aoristκαταλείπω: 'leave remaining'; the no-survivor refrain (cf. v. 39); 'they left none of them surviving.'
αὐτῶνof themGenitivepartitive genitiveαὐτός: 'of them'; partitive — none of the inhabitants/kings.
σεσῳσμένονa survivorPerf Pass Ptc Acc Masc Sg · σῴζωdirect object of κατέλιπον (substantival participle)→ resultative perfect participle (one in a saved state)σῴζω (perf. pass. ptc.): 'save / preserve'; the simplex (cf. v. 33); 'they left no survivor.'
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πᾶνeveryAccusativeattributive adjective (with ἐμπνέον)πᾶς: 'every'.
ἐμπνέονbreathing thingPres Act Ptc Acc Neut Sg · ἐμπνέωsubstantival participle (object of ἐξωλέθρευσεν)→ imperfective aspect (every living thing)ἐμπνέω: 'breathe / be alive'; πᾶν ἐμπνέον ζωῆς ('every breathing thing of life / everything that draws the breath of life') — an expanded, emphatic form of the ḥērem-phrase (cf. v. 28).
ζωῆςof lifeGenitivegenitive (defining ἐμπνέον: 'breath of life')ζωή: 'life'; the genitive ζωῆς with ἐμπνέον ('that breathes life') is a Hebraizing fullness (cf. נִשְׁמַת חַיִּים, Gen 2:7) intensifying the totality of the destruction.
ἐξωλέθρευσενhe utterly destroyedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξολεθρεύωmain verb→ constative aorist (total ḥērem)ἐξολεθρεύω: 'utterly destroy'; the ḥērem-leitwort, here in the summary; singular ('he destroyed', Joshua).
ὃνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (with τρόπον)ὅς: in ὃν τρόπον.
τρόπονmannerAccusativeadverbial accusative (manner)τρόπος: 'manner'; ὃν τρόπον here introduces not a city-comparison but the divine command as the measure of the action.
ἐνετείλατοcommandedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιverb of comparison clause→ constative aorist (the prior command)ἐντέλλομαι: 'command / charge'; renders צִוָּה; the destruction is done 'as the LORD commanded' — the ḥērem as obedience to the divine war-mandate (cf. Deut 20:16–17); cf. Joshua's own command in v. 27.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἐνετείλατοκύριος: the Tetragrammaton יהוה; here in the full title κύριος ὁ θεὸς Ισραηλ ('the LORD God of Israel'), the commanding and warring God.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with θεός)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativenominative in apposition to κύριοςθεός: 'God'; κύριος ὁ θεὸς Ισραηλ — the covenant title of the divine warrior (cf. v. 42).
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'God of Israel')Ισραηλ: indeclinable; 'God of Israel.'
41
ἀπὸ Καδης Βαρνη ἕως Γάζης πᾶσαν τὴν Γοσομ ἕως τῆς Γαβαων
from Kadesh-Barnea to Gaza, all the land of Goshen, as far as Gibeon.
A verbless appositional clause defining the territorial extent of v. 40's conquest by its boundary-markers: from Kadesh-Barnea (the southern desert frontier) to Gaza (the southwest coast), all Goshen (the southern grazing region), up to Gibeon (the northern limit, where the campaign began). The ἀπό … ἕως … ἕως merism frames the totality of the southern land.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (starting-point of merism)ἀπό: 'from'; the ἀπό … ἕως construction frames the geographic span of the conquest.
ΚαδηςKadeshgenitive of source (indeclinable place-name)Καδης: transliteration of Hebrew קָדֵשׁ (Kadesh); indeclinable; with Βαρνη forms 'Kadesh-Barnea', the southern desert frontier.
ΒαρνηBarneagenitive of relationship (indeclinable, with Καδης)Βαρνη: transliteration of Hebrew בַּרְנֵעַ (Barnea); indeclinable; Kadesh-Barnea, the oasis at the southern border of Canaan.
ἕωςto / as far aspreposition + genitive (extent)ἕως: 'as far as'; the western limit.
ΓάζηςGazaGenitivegenitive of extent (object of ἕως)Γάζα (gen. Γάζης): 'Gaza'; renders עַזָּה; declined as a first-declension noun in the LXX (hence 'n'); the southwestern coastal city, the western boundary of the conquest.
πᾶσανallAccusativeattributive adjective (with Γοσομ)πᾶς: 'all / whole'; 'all the land of Goshen.'
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with Γοσομ)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΓοσομGoshenaccusative (indeclinable place-name, in apposition)Γοσομ: transliteration of Hebrew גֹּשֶׁן (Goshen); indeclinable; here not the Egyptian Goshen but the southern Judean region of that name (cf. Josh 11:16; 15:51); 'all Goshen' lies within the conquered land.
ἕωςas far aspreposition + genitive (extent, northern limit)ἕως: 'as far as'; the northern limit of the sweep.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with Γαβαων, marking genitive)the article τῆς marks the genitive of indeclinable Γαβαων.
ΓαβαωνGibeonGenitivegenitive of extent (object of ἕως, indeclinable)Γαβαων: Gibeon; indeclinable; the northern limit — where the whole campaign began (vv. 1–12); the summary thus closes the geographic loop back to the chapter's opening.
42
καὶ πάντας τοὺς βασιλεῖς αὐτῶν καὶ τὴν γῆν αὐτῶν ἐπάταξεν Ἰησοῦς εἰς ἅπαξ ὅτι κύριος ὁ θεὸς Ισραηλ συνεπολέμει τῷ Ισραηλ
And all their kings and their land Joshua struck at one stroke, because the LORD God of Israel was fighting for Israel.
The chapter's closing thesis. The objects are fronted (πάντας τοὺς βασιλεῖς … καὶ τὴν γῆν) before the verb ἐπάταξεν for emphasis; εἰς ἅπαξ ('at one stroke / all at once') compresses the whole campaign into a single decisive act. The grounding ὅτι-clause restates the theme of v. 14 in imperfect (durative) aspect: κύριος ὁ θεὸς Ισραηλ συνεπολέμει τῷ Ισραηλ — 'the LORD God of Israel was (continually) fighting for Israel.' This is the theological summary of the entire southern conquest.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πάνταςallAccusativeattributive adjective (with βασιλεῖς, fronted object)πᾶς: 'all'; the fronting of the object 'all their kings' gives the summary rhetorical weight.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with βασιλεῖς)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεῖςkingsAccusativedirect object (fronted)βασιλεύς: 'king'; all the kings of the conquered land.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with γῆν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνlandAccusativesecond direct object (fronted)γῆ: 'land'; 'their land' — the whole conquered territory.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἐπάταξενstruckAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πατάσσωmain verb (after fronted objects)→ constative/summary aorist (the whole campaign as one act)πατάσσω: 'strike / smite'; the summary verb, gathering the entire campaign; with εἰς ἅπαξ, 'struck at one stroke.'
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubjectἸησοῦς: declinable; the human agent of the conquest the LORD won.
εἰςatpreposition + adverb (idiomatic: 'at once')εἰς ἅπαξ: 'at one stroke / all at once / once for all'; an idiom compressing the whole southern campaign into a single decisive blow.
ἅπαξonce / one strokeadverb (with εἰς: 'at one stroke')ἅπαξ: 'once / one time'; in εἰς ἅπαξ ('at once / in one campaign') it stresses the swift completeness of the conquest.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (grounding the whole)ὅτι: 'because'; introduces the theological ground — and the chapter's thesis.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of συνεπολέμεικύριος: the Tetragrammaton יהוה; in the full title κύριος ὁ θεὸς Ισραηλ — the divine warrior who is the true conqueror.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with θεός)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativenominative in apposition to κύριοςθεός: 'God'; κύριος ὁ θεὸς Ισραηλ ('the LORD God of Israel'), the covenant title repeated from v. 40.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'God of Israel')Ισραηλ: indeclinable; 'God of Israel.'
συνεπολέμειwas fighting alongsideImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · συμπολεμέωmain verb of ὅτι-clause (the thesis)→ imperfect (durative: was continually fighting for Israel)συμπολεμέω: 'wage war together with / fight on the side of'; the imperfect συνεπολέμει ('was fighting alongside / kept fighting for') answers the aorist συνεπολέμησεν of v. 14, now in durative aspect — throughout the whole campaign the LORD was Israel's fellow-combatant; takes the dative τῷ Ισραηλ; the chapter's crowning thesis.
τῷtheDativearticle (with Ισραηλ, marking dative)the article τῷ marks the dative of indeclinable Ισραηλ ('for/with Israel').
ΙσραηλIsraelDativedative object of συνεπολέμει ('fought alongside Israel')Ισραηλ: indeclinable, here dative by the article τῷ; 'the LORD God of Israel was fighting for Israel' — the closing thesis of the chapter.