15. After this, Joshua and his army went back to the camp at Gilgal.
16. The five Amorite kings, however, had escaped and were hiding in the cave at Makkedah.
17. Someone found them, and Joshua was told where they were hiding.
18. He said, “Roll some big stones in front of the entrance to the cave. Place some guards there,
19. but don't stay there yourselves. Keep on after the enemy and attack them from the rear; don't let them get to their cities! The Lord your God has given you victory over them.”
20. Joshua and the men of Israel slaughtered them, although some managed to find safety inside their city walls and were not killed.
21. Then all of Joshua's men came back safe to him at the camp at Makkedah.No one in the land dared even to speak against the Israelites.
22. Then Joshua said, “Open the entrance to the cave and bring those five kings out to me.”
23. So the cave was opened, and the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon were brought out
24. and taken to Joshua. Joshua then called all the men of Israel to him and ordered the officers who had gone with him to come and put their feet on the necks of the kings. They did so.
25. Then Joshua said to his officers, “Don't be afraid or discouraged. Be determined and confident because this is what the Lord is going to do to all your enemies.”
26. Then Joshua killed the kings and hanged them on five trees, where their bodies stayed until evening.
27. At sunset Joshua gave orders, and their bodies were taken down and thrown into the same cave where they had hidden earlier. Large stones were placed at the entrance to the cave, and they are still there.
28. Joshua attacked and captured Makkedah and its king that day. He put everyone in the city to death; no one was left alive. He did to the king of Makkedah what he had done to the king of Jericho.
29. After this, Joshua and his army went on from Makkedah to Libnah and attacked it.
30. The Lord also gave the Israelites victory over this city and its king. They spared no one, but killed every person in it. They did to the king what they had done to the king of Jericho.