10:4a

Come up and help me: The two clauses Come up and help me indicate that the king of Jerusalem asked these four kings to join with him in battle against the Gibeonites. The word Come up is used because Jerusalem was at a higher elevation than the other four towns. In languages that do not keep track of elevation, it may be more natural to say “come to me.”

We will attack Gibeon: The clause We will attack Gibeon indicates that the king of Jerusalem asked the other four kings to gather their armies together with his and attack the people of Gibeon.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

Come and help me attack Gibeon (Good News Translation)

10:4b

because they have made peace with Joshua and the Israelites: The clause they have made peace states the reason the king of Jerusalem wanted to attack the town of Gibeon. The Gibeonites had a treaty with the Israelites.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

because its people have made peace with Joshua and the Israelites (Good News Translation)

General Comment on 10:4a-b

It may be more natural in some languages to change the order of 4a and 4b, and state the reason first, as in Contemporary English Version:

4b The Gibeonites have made a peace treaty with Joshua and the Israelites. 4a Come and help me attack Gibeon! (Contemporary English Version)

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