Daily Bread

Five Amorite Kings Killed

¹⁶ Now the five kings had fled^(A) and hidden in the cave at Makkedah. ¹⁷ When Joshua was told that the five kings had been found hiding in the cave at Makkedah, ¹⁸ he said, “Roll large rocks up to the mouth of the cave, and post some men there to guard it. ¹⁹ But don’t stop; pursue your enemies! Attack them from the rear and don’t let them reach their cities, for the Lord your God has given them into your hand.”

²⁰ So Joshua and the Israelites defeated them completely,^(B) but a few survivors managed to reach their fortified cities.^{(C) 21} The whole army then returned safely to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah, and no one uttered a word against the Israelites.

²² Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me.” ²³ So they brought the five kings out of the cave—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon. ²⁴ When they had brought these kings^(D) to Joshua, he summoned all the men of Israel and said to the army commanders who had come with him, “Come here and put your feet^(E) on the necks of these kings.” So they came forward and placed their feet^(F) on their necks.

²⁵ Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous.^(G) This is what the Lord will do to all the enemies you are going to fight.” ²⁶ Then Joshua put the kings to death and exposed their bodies on five poles, and they were left hanging on the poles until evening.

²⁷ At sunset^(H) Joshua gave the order and they took them down from the poles and threw them into the cave where they had been hiding. At the mouth of the cave they placed large rocks, which are there to this day.^(I)

Southern Cities Conquered

²⁸ That day Joshua took Makkedah. He put the city and its king to the sword and totally destroyed everyone in it. He left no survivors.^(J) And he did to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho.^(K)

²⁹ Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Makkedah to Libnah^(L) and attacked it. ³⁰ The Lord also gave that city and its king into Israel’s hand. The city and everyone in it Joshua put to the sword. He left no survivors there. And he did to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho.

³¹ Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Libnah to Lachish;^(M) he took up positions against it and attacked it. ³² The Lord gave Lachish into Israel’s hands, and Joshua took it on the second day. The city and everyone in it he put to the sword, just as he had done to Libnah. ³³ Meanwhile, Horam king of Gezer^(N) had come up to help Lachish, but Joshua defeated him and his army—until no survivors were left.

³⁴ Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Lachish to Eglon;^(O) they took up positions against it and attacked it. ³⁵ They captured it that same day and put it to the sword and totally destroyed everyone in it, just as they had done to Lachish.

³⁶ Then Joshua and all Israel with him went up from Eglon to Hebron^(P) and attacked it. ³⁷ They took the city and put it to the sword, together with its king, its villages and everyone^(Q) in it. They left no survivors. Just as at Eglon, they totally destroyed it and everyone in it.

³⁸ Then Joshua and all Israel with him turned around and attacked Debir.^{(R) 39} They took the city, its king and its villages, and put them to the sword. Everyone in it they totally destroyed. They left no survivors. They did to Debir and its king as they had done to Libnah and its king and to Hebron.^(S)

⁴⁰ So Joshua subdued the whole region, including the hill country, the Negev,^(T) the western foothills and the mountain slopes,^(U) together with all their kings.^(V) He left no survivors. He totally destroyed all who breathed, just as the Lord, the God of Israel, had commanded.^{(W) 41} Joshua subdued them from Kadesh Barnea^(X) to Gaza^(Y) and from the whole region of Goshen^(Z) to Gibeon. ⁴² All these kings and their lands Joshua conquered in one campaign, because the Lord, the God of Israel, fought^(AA) for Israel.

⁴³ Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.^(AB)