18. Joshua answered, “Roll some big stones over the mouth of the cave and leave a few soldiers to guard it.
19. But you and everyone else must keep following the enemy troops, because they will be safe if they reach their walled towns. Don't let them get away! The Lord our God is helping us get rid of them.”
20. So Joshua and the Israelites almost wiped out the enemy soldiers. Only a few safely reached their walled towns.
21. The Israelite army returned to their camp at Makkedah, where Joshua was waiting for them. No one around there dared say anything bad about the Israelites.
22. Joshua told his soldiers, “Now, move the rocks from the entrance to the cave and bring those five kings to me.”
23. The soldiers opened the entrance to the cave and brought out the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon.
24. After Joshua had called the army together, he forced the five kings to lie down on the ground. Then he called his officers forward and told them, “You fought these kings along with me, so put your feet on their necks.” The officers did,
25. and Joshua continued, “Don't ever be afraid or discouraged. Be brave and strong. This is what the Lord will do to all your enemies.”
26. Joshua killed the five kings and told his men to hang each body on a tree. Then at sunset
27. he told some of his troops, “Take the bodies down and throw them into the cave where the kings were found. Cover the entrance to the cave with big rocks.”Joshua's troops obeyed his orders, and those rocks are still there.