20. So Joshua and the Israelites killed the enemy, but a few were able to get back to their strong, walled cities.
21. After the fighting, Joshua’s men came back safely to him at Makkedah. No one was brave enough to say a word against the Israelites.
22. Joshua said, “Move the rocks that are covering the opening of the cave and bring those five kings out to me.”
23. So Joshua’s men brought the five kings out of the cave—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon.
24. When they brought the five kings out to Joshua, he called for all his men. He said to the commanders of his army, “Come here! Put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So they came close and put their feet on their necks.
25. Joshua said to his men, “Be strong and brave! Don’t be afraid, because I will show you what the Lord will do to the enemies you will fight in the future.”
26. Then Joshua killed the five kings and hung their bodies on five trees, where he left them until evening.
27. At sunset Joshua told his men to take the bodies down from the trees. Then they threw them into the same cave where they had been hiding and covered the opening of the cave with large rocks, which are still there today.
28. That day Joshua defeated Makkedah. He killed the king and completely destroyed all the people in that city as an offering to the Lord; no one was left alive. He did the same thing to the king of Makkedah that he had done to the king of Jericho.
29. Joshua and all the Israelites traveled from Makkedah to Libnah and attacked it.
30. The Lord handed over the city and its king. They killed every person in the city; no one was left alive. And they did the same thing to that king that they had done to the king of Jericho.
31. Then Joshua and all the Israelites left Libnah and went to Lachish, which they surrounded and attacked.
32. The Lord handed over Lachish on the second day. The Israelites killed everyone in that city just as they had done to Libnah.
33. During this same time Horam king of Gezer came to help Lachish, but Joshua also defeated him and his army; no one was left alive.
34. Then Joshua and all the Israelites went from Lachish to Eglon. They surrounded Eglon, attacked it, and