Victory at Makkedah

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

²² Then Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave and bring these five kings out to me from the cave.” ²³ They did so, and ^(C)brought 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. ²⁴ When 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, ^(D)put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So they came forward and put their feet on their necks. ²⁵ Joshua then said to them, “^(E)Do not fear or be dismayed! Be strong and courageous, for the Lord will do this to all your enemies with whom you fight.” ²⁶ So afterward Joshua struck them and put them to death, and he ^(F)hanged them on five ^[d]trees; and they were hung on the ^[e]trees until evening. ²⁷ Then it came about at ^[f]sunset that Joshua gave the command, and ^(G)they took them down from the ^[g]trees 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.