20. When Joshua and the children of Israel had finished striking them with overwhelming force until they were completely defeated, the survivors escaped from them and went back to their fortified cities.
21. Then all the people returned safely to Joshua at the Makkedah settlement, and no one spoke against any of the children of Israel.
22. Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out to me those five kings from the cave.”
23. They did this, and they brought out those five kings from the cave: the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon.
24. When they brought out those five kings to Joshua, he called out to all the men of Israel and the army commanders, “Come here and place your feet on the necks of these kings.” So they came near and placed their feet on their necks.
25. Then Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid or dismayed. Be strong and courageous! For this is what the Lord will do to all your enemies against whom you fight.”
26. After that, Joshua struck them down, killed them, and hung them on five trees. They were hanging on the trees until evening.
27. At sundown Joshua commanded men to take them down from the trees and throw them into the cave in which they had hidden themselves. Over the mouth of the cave he placed large stones, which remain to this day.
28. Joshua took Makkedah that day and struck it and its king with the edge of the sword. He destroyed it and all life within it. He did not leave any survivors. He did to the king of Makkedah just as he did to the king of Jericho.
29. Then Joshua passed from Makkedah to Libnah with all of Israel, and they fought against Libnah.
30. The Lord gave Libnah and its king into the hand of Israel, and they struck all who lived in it with the edge of the sword. There were no survivors left. They did to its king what they had done to the king of Jericho.
31. Then Joshua passed from Libnah to Lachish with all of Israel, camped against it, and waged war against it.
32. The Lord gave Lachish into the hand of Israel. They captured it on the second day and struck all who lived in it with the edge of the sword, just as they had done to Libnah.
33. King Horam of Gezer came up to help Lachish, but Joshua attacked him and his people until he did not have a single survivor left.
34. From Lachish, Joshua and all of Israel passed to Eglon. They camped against it and waged war against it.
35. They captured it that day and struck it with the edge of the sword. All who lived in it were destroyed that day, just as Israel had done to Lachish.