Victory at Makkedah

¹⁶ Now these five [Amorite] kings fled and hid themselves in the cave at Makkedah. ¹⁷ And Joshua was told, “The five kings have been found and are hidden in the cave at Makkedah.” ¹⁸ Joshua said, “Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave, and assign men by it to guard them, ¹⁹ but do not stay there yourselves; pursue your enemies and attack them from the rear. Do not allow them to enter their cities, for the Lord your God has given them into your hand.” ²⁰ Now when Joshua and the sons of Israel had finished striking the Amorites dead in a very great defeat, until they were wiped out, and the surviving remnant among them had entered the fortified cities, ²¹ all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace. No one ^[a]uttered a [threatening] word against any of the sons of Israel.

²² Then Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave and bring out to me those five [Amorite] kings from the cave.” ²³ They did so, and brought these five [Amorite] kings out of the cave to him—the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon. ²⁴ When they brought these kings out to Joshua, Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and told the commanders of the men of war who had gone with him, “Come up close, put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So they came forward and put their feet on the necks [of the five kings]. ²⁵ Joshua said to them, “Do not fear or be dismayed (intimidated)! Be strong and courageous, for this is what the Lord will do to all your enemies against whom you [are about to] fight.” ²⁶ Then afterward Joshua struck them [with his sword] and put them to death, and he hung them on five trees; and they ^[b]hung on the trees until evening. ²⁷ At sunset Joshua gave a command, and they took the bodies down from the trees and threw them into the cave where the kings had hidden themselves, and placed large stones over the mouth of the cave, [where they remain] to this very day.