I

As the winds of great destruction swept through many lands abroad,

Every warrior trembled at the battlefield of God.

From the cedars and the cypress groves of fertile Lebanon,

To the far extent of Goshen, where defeat blew on,

Scarce was there a city stronghold that had not been overthrown—

Many men lay strewn beneath a blood-red sun.

So, in fear the Gibeonites, the enemy among us—

With old, worn-out sandals shod,

Ragged garments to defraud—

Claimed to be ambassadors,

Coming from some distant shores;

Then appealed to make a treaty that would grant them peace.

Thus we saw them, thus we heard them, and to grant them peace,

Thus, we made a treaty sworn to God.

Yet, how foolish! We discovered that these men from far-off seas

Came defrauding, for they were our nearest enemies!

Now we’re bound to never kill them by the oath we gave them;

But because they spoke and wore deceit, we did enslave them.

Only more the nations feared,

As they of the treaty heard;

And the news of conquest at our hand—

Like the tidings of an evil threat,

When the tidings bear the sound of death,

Cast a looming shadow o’er the land.

Kings could not proclaim a valiant word,

And commanders trembled to command.

Glorious Jerusalem! Your power is a nation’s pride!

You have scores of men of courage, multitudes are multiplied—

But your victory over us tomorrow is denied.

Mighty the king upon your throne who sits behind your city wall,

Five strong cities stand behind him and await his battle-call.

Yet, your wickedness is great, and so shall be your fall.

II

Now the king no longer could delay,

No time could be wasted—not a day;

And he saw disaster, having grown,

Like an apparition coming nigh­­­­­­­­­­­­;

So, he thought that if he die

Better by our sword than by his own.

Then to us he made his way,

Bidding allies to the fray;

For he thought that with their aid,

War against us would be made.

Then the company immense

Round the city pitched their tents, 

All the land around they spanned,

At Jerusalem’s command.

Five the armies great in power, five that brought a fearful spell;

And the number of their soldiers and their strength, but God could tell.

Then upon the men of Gibeon many arrows fell.

Arrows rose, and arrows flew, and arrows from the heavens rained,

Piercing men that dropped and died—as many as the foe ordained:

When Jerusalem attacks, she cannot be restrained.

Gibeon’s forces fled in terror, struck by fear and struck by foe,

Frail against the enemy, defeated by a single blow;

They, too weak to hope for victory, then to us did go.

From the battleground there came a breathless messenger,

Desperate, he beseeched that we would save them from their near despair.

Not for obligation we beseeched the LORD in prayer.

Then, in confidence, we left the camp and climbed a nearby tor—

All the mighty men of valor, all the mighty men of war.

From the top we saw the foe—their number, and their power;

Not in vain did Gibeon tremble to behold that mighty host,

Kings had traveled from the valleys, some had mountains crossed—

All surrounding land they covered, like the morning frost.

Slowly evening came upon us like a gently blowing breeze,

Drifting from the somber surface of the dim, unconscious seas,

While the waves lay still and quiet on the dim, unconscious seas.

Swiftly darkness fell upon us—fast unfolding like a cloak,

Swathing, silent, sinuous; shadows to provoke.

Through the mystic calm, the LORD to us then spoke:

"א'ש מהם לא 'עמו לפנ'ך; כ' מסרת' אותם ב'רך, אל ת'רא מהם"

III

Straightaway and silently,

Down the hill descended we.

Soft and mellow shone the moon,

While the air was in a swoon;

Not a blade of grass was moving,

Not a single creature roving,

While we traveled, guided by the moon.

Back to Gilgal did we go—

Still the wind did never blow,

While we traveled, guided by the moon.

Shortly Gilgal came before us—

How the calmness did allure us!

Peaceful slumber did implore us!

Yet we knew we did not come to sleep.

Though a king was unelected,

By the LORD we were directed,

And our weapons were collected,

While the women somberly did weep.

Though we did not fear the mission,

Still the LORD we did petition—

Long was our appeal, our prayer deep.

Harsh was the path when we went forth,

Dark the night and damp the earth;

Weapons echoed like a chime,

And our marching like a battle-hymn.

Soft and mellow shone the moon,

Wind awoke with wild groan—

In the olive trees it blew,

Like a phantom whistling through;

Wailing out its woeful dirges while the lonely trail we trod.

Strange it felt when blowing on us, while we walked on dewy sod.

On the field beside us did a myriad of shadows fall,

Following the soldiers—ever moving, dim, and tall.

Onward marching, onward marching, man by man and row by row;

Forward, forward went the men whose power makes the nations bow,

Yet they march for they had not the power to break a vow.

Far into the night we journeyed, never stopping—resting not,

For a battle waited to be fought.

As this war for Gibeon was approaching,

Every man, with courage, was avouching:

“Never shall th’ unrighteous’ sword

E’er prevail against the LORD.”

This the men recited—this our chorus;

These the words that ever went before us.

On the pathway westward we did toil;

Still was every warrior steadfast, every heart was loyal.

Hour by hour and hour by hour,

Midnight then began to pour—

Streaming from ethereal fountains

Down upon the distant mountains,

Then o’er us was tarrying above.

For a moment only did it seem,

Till it did depart, as if a dream.

Onward still and westward did we move:

How each man to keep from sleeping strove!

Though with weary feet, we firmly stepped;

Though with sinking eyes, we never slept.

On the pathway westward did we toil;

Still was every warrior steadfast, every heart was loyal.

Weariness! O painful weariness!

On each body you did sorely press!

Slumber tempted—the relentless lure;

And each step did bow the soldiers more.

Knowing that no sweet repose ensued,

Only could we hope for strength renewed;

Still that pathway westward we did toil—

Still was every warrior steadfast, every heart was loyal.

Then we thought of Moses’ victories,

How the LORD destroyed his enemies.

Evident his faith; unknown his dread,

Whether for his life, or drink, or bread.

How for our disloyalty he mourned—

While his constant loyalty we scorned!

Now we grieve that Moses ever died;

We have crossed the river, but he cleaves the other side.

IV

Now the sky the darkness bears,

Now the mellow moon is gone;

Now, though faintly, light appears—

From the east horizon drawn.

Softer now became our steady march,

For a lighter sky began to arch.

Now before us stood the city of the Gibeonites—

This the city, this the people that Jerusalem despites;

This the city, this the people that Jerusalem now smites.

And not far before the city camped the armies of the foe—

Though our eyes were sinking, and although our steps were slow—

Suddenly upon them from behind we planned to go. 

In the twilight of the morning that was borne upon its wings,

There we saw the steaming vapor and the turtledove that sings;

Red was the sky on the horizon, but above us it was grey.

And it was our promise only that hurled us into the fray.

Hebron, Jarmuth turned their eye, and Eglon at us cursed;

Lachish was prepared to fight, Jerusalem athirst.

Suddenly our burning eyelids opened as the cool of dew,

And our limbs, that strained and quivered, filled with strength anew.

Now the music thundered from the captain’s battle-horn,

Then the armies ran unto us, smiling as in scorn.

The sun returned from every sword, and every spear was at the side;

Arrows fitted every bow that every archer was pulling wide;

Louder underneath our feet our footsteps rumbled at each stride.

Not a spear had left our hands, and not an arrow was a-flying,

When we heard a noise approaching—now like breathing, now like sighing;

Then there was a rush of wings—we saw our enemies were dying.

Down the road to Beth Horon, they fled from their unseen pursuer:

Vainly ran Jerusalem—the Messenger of Death passed through her;

With her allies and their hosts, the LORD did smite and strew her.

Many of her men of valor, many of her men of war,

Limp they fell without a struggle, lifeless dropped they by the score.

Now the Messenger ascended, and his breath was felt no more.

As the foe lay in confusion at what happened—what it meant—

Storm-clouds gathered o’er us, and the hail like stones was sent;

                     As a dream they fell from heaven, as a dream the foe they rent.

                     All the soldiers that escaped the breath of Death, the hail from heaven

Contemplated staying or advancing. But confused and craven,

There the foe remained; 

V

Now farther they were driven.

For we saw them fainthearted, and fell upon them suddenly—

Little could they do. The sun was now approaching half the sky,

And the remnant of the armies still was great that did not die;

Long and hard we fought until the sun was at mid-sky.

Hour after hour passed yet our endurance never waned;

Desperately the enemy did long for dusk to shroud the land,

Therefore, did we pray unto the LORD —for His command.

Now our men began to feel the soreness of unending war,

As the numbness drew the vigor from the sinews’ bleeding store.

Wounded men and blood commingled and extended through the moor;

Still, we stayed our confidence but in the LORD and in His power—

As we prayed, new strength was blooming like an op’ning flower.

Powerfully a voice from heaven burst and through the heavens rolled,

Words from Him who has upheld—from He who promised to uphold:

"שמש, עמוד דומם על גבעון, וירח, בגמק עג'לון"

Through the hills the verdict rumbled, from the valley it returned—

Now our hearts were beating stronger, now our men with ardor burned.

Rise! O Rise! We rose with courage, and like never before we fought!

How the foe did long for sundown! how they hated what was wrought!

The moon was fastened in its place, the sun descended not.

Shouting men and ringing metal mixed ascended for a day,

Blood, unceasing, stained the ground on which the dead men lay;

And until the morrow’s eve the evening did delay.   

When the kings foresaw their fate, their vaunting took them by the throat;

For they saw defeat was nigh to kill and o’er their bodies gloat.

So, “We cannot stay”, said they, “for Baal our armies smote.”

Furtively they tried to flee—we saw them from afar and sent

Five or six strong soldiers to pursue them to their encampment;

But the kings escaped their search. We knew not where they went.

Presently we did prevail, although the foe surrendered not.

Roads were crowded with the bodies slain by hail from heaven brought—

On that road to Beth Horon lay more than those we fought.

Ensigned with magnificence, and grandeur as their pride—

Look, behold—they falter and the golden steeds they ride;

Iron-girded they attacked, but empty-handed died.

Up into surrounding hills bewildered horses fled,

Madly dragging chariots whose riders now were dead.

VI

No more did the soldiers shout, nor did the metal ring;

Still and silent was the vale, no chiming did it bring.

All the men had fled, that sieged the city ‘round,

Save the many corpses, lying on the ground.

Those that did survive, into the mountains ran,

Fearing; for the LORD had heard the voice of man.

Rise! We rose—we rose in triumph, and the vict’ry claimed;

Everywhere we were revered, and for that battle famed.

When the sun began to move we did not see—we cannot tell;

Nonetheless we saw it was releaséd from its former spell,

Like a wearied warrior returning to his citadel.

So, we also congregated and to Gilgal did embark;

Slowly, smoothly slipped above the sun into the dark.

On that pathway westward did we travel armor-clad,

With empyrean strength, as ne’er before we had.

Dusk made way for dark until the sky with nighttime shone,

The celestial torches did a lustrous sheen send down,

Soon the earth was thus adorned with jewels to day unknown.

Though today we conquered armies and have done the same before,

This display did parch the thrill and pleasure of the din of war;

Looking upward we beheld true glory—and that not of war.

At our camp we now arrived; we gathered logs and lit a fire,

Gazing as the flames did spread and send the sparks and smoke up higher—

Tranquil was this forest that the stillness did inspire.

Now, the band of soldiers that erstwhile were sent away, 

To pursue the craven kings that had fled from the fray,

Then were summoned; and what happened they began to say:

“While we fought with all our might, each to the task was bidden;

So, we stole around the battlefield that was with bodies ridden,

Following the kings, but they escaped and now are hidden.”

“Quick! Set out,” came the command, “and search the hills beside the road;

For a cavern there, concealed from view, may now be their abode.”

Straightway we obeyed and through the darkened forest trod.

Here we crept behind a tree, and there behind a stone,

Here around the flowers, by the brier overgrown;

Not long had we traveled when we saw where they had gone:

On a grey, secluded cave the moon came down and shined.

Softly breathed a breeze on us, appearing from behind,

Slipping unseen ‘tween the rocks—about the trees entwined.

In the entrance of the cavern two guards stood awake, aware—

On the fourth watch; Several soldiers slept beside the lair.

We suspected that the kings within the cavern were.

Crept we closer to their hideout, hidden by the undergrowth,

Not a step did we betray, with soundlessness our inward troth;         

Nearing now, we overheard the talk of soldiers wroth.

First they mourned of their defeat, then marveled at our victory—

At the death-curse, at the hail, the sun imprisoned in the sky—

Then we heard them plotting, planning for the kings to flee.

As in silence we arrived, in silence we departed,

Swiftly we were hastening back, the path we quickly charted.

Through the shadowy woods we ran; the moon had dropped behind the trees,

Darkness was abating like the tides upon the seas.

We did not or rest or pause until we came unto the camp;

The tents were dark, the moon was dim, the air was cool and damp. 

“Haste!” we called; the men arose and many inquiries made—

“In a cave not far away the kings now hide,” we said.

VII

Once more through the woods we went, now by a company attended;

We were treading, treading softly, when the fourth watch ended.

No more did we view the moon—it fell below the lowest vale;

Soon the foe would reap the gallows, soon would all her allies wail.

When we came unto the cave, our men upon the guards did spring;

And we rolled large stones and thus did shut the opening.

For a moment only they endeavored to defend the cave—

Till, without a choice, into our hands the victory they gave.  

Down we chased them, down they ran; and up arose a golden dawn,

O’er the spectral mountains streaming, on the evening dew it shone. 

Many of the enemy did fall upon the battlefield:

On the gravel and the stones, along the path their blood was spilled.

Twice we fought against them, twice they fled away,

Leaving scores of soldiers dying where they lay.

Now we took the stones away that had the cavern sealed:

Venturing into its chambers, soon the kings we held. 

These were they who warred against us, who with mocking came;

They said nothing as we brought them white with hate and shame.

These were they who joined together to defeat the LORD,

As we thrust them to the ground they uttered not a word.

Now our captains gathered near—the foremost conquerors

Put their feet upon the necks of those who lay before us.

Once they cheered in royal halls; the spoils from other lands

Did surround them as they drank the red wine in their hands.

Once the warriors exulted, once the soldiers did applaud,

Burning incense, giving sacrifices to their god.

Never will they sip the wine of victory again,

Neither will they listen to the praises from their men;

Nevermore from smoking vessels will their incense rise,

To their god they will not give another sacrifice.

Now they lie upon the ground, their necks beneath the captains’ heels;

From their mouths they spoke no words, nor uttered hatred nor appeals,

But remained like silent stones while foes their honor steals.

Hebron, Jarmuth turned their eyes, and Eglon at us cursed;

Lachish did expect to die—Jerusalem was first.

For we took our swords in hand and like we struck the armies five,

Struck the kings that led the armies, that in glory did arrive;

That had led their men of valor, and in glory did arrive.

Five the armies that their weapons drew,

But all five our single army slew.

Five the kings that plotted our defeat—

Five the kings that perished at our feet.        

Then the dead kings’ bodies did we seize,

And we hanged the five upon five trees.

Until evening did we leave them—till the great light-bearer gone,

Brought across the firmament the nighttime like a curtain drawn,

That would not again be opened till the morrow’s dawn.      

Now we took them down and carried them unto a cave—

To the cave wherein they hid when they the vict’ry gave—

So, we cast them in their refuge and into their grave. 

And the stones that sealed the cave before, we rolled again—

Rolled them up against the walls so that wayfaring men,

Seeing thus a tombstone, ne’er may enter in.

Thus is the account of the destruction of the foe,

Such was the battle of the LORD, the wonders and the woe:

Day and night obeyed His word and halted in their track,

O’er the world remained and did not move until He spake.

Makkedah and Azekah have seen the hailstones fall,

Indeed, Beth Horon has heard the LORD from heaven call;

Never like that battle has a battle ever been:

In that day, the LORD did hearken to the voice of men.