Battle of Gibeon

Joshua 9–10 tells that the people of Gibeon, fearing Israel, tricked Joshua into a treaty by posing as envoys from a distant land, with worn-out sandals and dry, crumbled bread. Five Amorite kings, led by Adoni-Zedek of Jerusalem with the kings of Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon, then besieged Gibeon for going over to Israel. Joshua marched all night from Gilgal, surprised them and chased them down the ascent of Beth-Horon, where great hailstones killed more than the sword. Then Joshua said, "Sun, stand still upon Gibeon, and moon, in the valley of Aijalon," and the sun stopped in mid-heaven for about a whole day, a scene the text quotes from the lost Book of Jashar. The five kings hid in a cave at Makkedah and were put to death, and Joshua went on to take the cities of the south.

Jewish tradition dates the day the sun stood still to 3 Tammuz 2488. Gibeon itself, modern el-Jib north of Jerusalem, was excavated by James Pritchard from 1956 to 1962; he found a great rock-cut pool with a spiral staircase and jar handles inscribed with the name Gibeon.