This document is about Japhia (King of Lachish). For other homonyms, please refer to the Japhia document. During Joshua's conquest of Canaan, the people of Gibeon wished to form an alliance with them rather than confront them. So, they deceived Joshua and the people of Israel into forming an alliance, which led to neighboring nations invading to punish them. He was one of the five kings who invaded at that time.
Joshua 10:1they were very afraid, because Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were mighty.Joshua 10:2Therefore Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish, and Debir king of Eglon, saying,Joshua 10:3“Come up to me and help me. Let’s strike Gibeon); for they have made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel.”Joshua 10:4Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together and went up, they and all their armies, and encamped against Gibeon, and made war against it.Joshua 10:5The men of Gibeon sent to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal, saying, “Don’t abandon your servants! Come up to us quickly and save us! Help us; for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the hill country have gathered together against us.”