Joshua 10:15-40

15Then Joshua and all Israel with him returned to the camp 1at Gilgal.

16Now these 2five kings had fled and hidden themselves in the cave at Makkedah. 17And it was told to Joshua, saying, “The five kings have been found hidden in the cave at Makkedah.” 18So Joshua said, “Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave, and post men by it to guard them, 19but do not stay there yourselves; pursue your enemies and 3attack them from behind. Do not allow them to enter their cities, for the Lord your God has handed them over to you.” 20It came about when Joshua and the sons of Israel had finished striking them down in a very great defeat, 4until they were destroyed, and the survivors of them who escaped 5had entered the fortified cities, 21that all the people returned to the camp, to Joshua at Makkedah in peace. No one 6uttered a word against any of the sons of Israel.

22Then Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave and bring these five kings out to me from the cave.” 23They did so, and 7brought these five kings out to him from the cave: the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon. 24When they brought these kings out to Joshua, Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said to the leaders of the men of war who had gone with him, “Come forward, 8put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So they came forward and put their feet on their necks. 25Joshua then said to them, “9Do not fear or be dismayed! Be strong and courageous, for the Lord will do this to all your enemies with whom you fight.” 26So afterward Joshua struck them and put them to death, and he 10hanged them on five 11trees; and they were hung on the 12trees until evening. 27Then it came about at 13sunset that Joshua gave the command, and 14they took them down from the 15trees and threw them into the cave where they had hidden themselves, and put large stones over the mouth of the cave, to this very day.

28Now Joshua captured Makkedah on that day, and struck it and its king with the edge of the sword; 16he 17utterly destroyed 18it and every 19person who was in it. He left no survivor. So he did to the king of Makkedah 20just as he had done to the king of Jericho.

29Then Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Makkedah to 21Libnah, and fought against Libnah. 30And the Lord also handed it over to Israel, with its king, and he struck it and every person who was in it with the edge of the sword. He left no survivor in it. So he did to its king just as he had done to the king of Jericho.

31And Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Libnah to Lachish, and they camped by it and fought against it. 32And the Lord handed Lachish over to Israel; and he captured it on the second day, and struck it and every person who was in it with the edge of the sword, according to all that he had done to Libnah.

33Then Horam king of 22Gezer came up to help Lachish, and Joshua 23defeated him and his people until he had left him no survivor.

34And Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Lachish to Eglon, and they camped by it and fought against it. 35They captured it on that day and struck it with the edge of the sword; and he 24utterly destroyed on that day every person who was in it, according to all that he had done to Lachish.

36Then Joshua and all Israel with him went up from Eglon to 25Hebron, and they fought against it. 37And they captured it and struck it and its king and all its cities and all the persons who were in it with the edge of the sword. He left no survivor, according to all that he had done to Eglon. And he 26utterly destroyed it and every person who was in it.

38Then Joshua and all Israel with him returned to 27Debir, and they fought against it. 39He captured it and its king and all its cities, and they struck them with the edge of the sword, and 28utterly destroyed every person who was in it. He left no survivor. Just as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir and its king, as he had also done to Libnah and its king.

40So Joshua struck all the land, 29the hill country and the 30Negev and the lowland and the slopes, and 31all their kings. He left no survivor, but 32he 33utterly destroyed all who breathed, just as the Lord, the God of Israel, had commanded.