15. So Yehoshua returned, and all Yisra’ĕl with him, to the camp at Gilgal.
16. Now these five sovereigns had fled and hidden themselves in a cave at Maqqĕḏah.
17. And it was reported to Yehoshua, saying, “The five sovereigns have been found hidden in the cave at Maqqĕḏah.”
18. And Yehoshua said, “Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave, and set men by it to guard them.
19. “And you, do not stand still, but pursue your enemies. And you shall smite them in the rear. Do not allow them to enter their cities, for יהוה your Elohim has given them into your hand.”
20. And it came to be, when Yehoshua and the children of Yisra’ĕl had ended smiting them with a very great slaughter, till they had finished – but those who escaped went into walled cities –
21. that all the people returned to the camp, to Yehoshua at Maqqĕḏah, in peace. No one moved his tongue against any of the sons of Yisra’ĕl.
22. Then Yehoshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out those five sovereigns to me from the cave.”
23. And they did so, and brought those five sovereigns to him from the cave: the sovereign of Yerushalayim, the sovereign of Ḥeḇron, the sovereign of Yarmuth, the sovereign of Laḵish, the sovereign of Eg̅lon.
24. And it came to be, when they brought out those sovereigns to Yehoshua, that Yehoshua called for all the men of Yisra’ĕl, and said to the chiefs of the men of battle who went with him, “Come near, put your feet on the necks of these sovereigns.” And they drew near and put their feet on their necks.
25. Then Yehoshua said to them, “Do not be afraid nor be discouraged, be strong and courageous, for this is what יהוה is going to do to all your enemies whom you are fighting.”
26. And afterward Yehoshua smote them and killed them, and hanged them on five trees. And they were hanging on the trees until evening.
27. And it came to be, at the time of the going down of the sun, that Yehoshua commanded, and they took them down from the trees, and threw them into the cave where they had been hidden, and laid large stones against the cave’s mouth, to this day.
28. And on that day Yehoshua captured Maqqĕḏah, and he smote it with the edge of the sword, and he put its sovereign under the ban – them and all the people who were in it, he left no survivor. And he did to the sovereign of Maqqĕḏah as he had done to the sovereign of Yeriḥo.
29. Then Yehoshua passed over, and all Yisra’ĕl with him, from Maqqĕḏah to Liḇnah. And they fought against Liḇnah.
30. And יהוה also gave it and its sovereign into the hand of Yisra’ĕl. And he smote it and all the people who were in it with the edge of the sword, he left no survivor in it. And he did to its sovereign as he had done to the sovereign of Yeriḥo.
31. Then Yehoshua passed over, and all Yisra’ĕl with him, from Liḇnah to Laḵish, and encamped against it and fought against it.