22. Joshua said, “Open the cave’s mouth and bring the five kings out of the cave to me.”
23. They did as ordered; they brought the five kings out of the cave to him – the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon.
24. When they brought the kings out to Joshua, he summoned all the men of Israel and said to the commanders of the troops who accompanied him, “Come here and put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So they came up and put their feet on their necks.
25. Then Joshua said to them, “Don’t be afraid and don’t panic! Be strong and brave, for the Lord will do the same thing to all your enemies you fight.
26. Then Joshua executed them and hung them on five trees. They were left hanging on the trees until evening.
27. At sunset Joshua ordered his men to take them down from the trees. They threw them into the cave where they had hidden and piled large stones over the mouth of the cave. (They remain to this very day.)
28. That day Joshua captured Makkedah and put the sword to it and its king. He annihilated everyone who lived in it; he left no survivors. He did to its king what he had done to the king of Jericho.
29. Joshua and all Israel marched from Makkedah to Libnah and fought against it.
30. The Lord handed it and its king over to Israel, and Israel put the sword to all who lived there; they left no survivors. They did to its king what they had done to the king of Jericho.
31. Joshua and all Israel marched from Libnah to Lachish. He deployed his troops and fought against it.
32. The Lord handed Lachish over to Israel and they captured it on the second day. They put the sword to all who lived there, just as they had done to Libnah.
33. Then King Horam of Gezer came up to help Lachish, but Joshua struck down him and his army until no survivors remained.
34. Joshua and all Israel marched from Lachish to Eglon. They deployed troops and fought against it.
35. That day they captured it and put the sword to all who lived there. That day they annihilated it just as they had done to Lachish.