Joshua 10:22-43 ▼

22 Then Joshua (YHWH saves) 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 (city of peace), Hebron (association), Jarmuth (heights), Lachish (invincible), and Eglon (calf-like).

24 When they had brought the kings to Joshua (YHWH saves), he summoned all the men of Israel (he wrestles with God) and said to the army commanders who had accompanied him, “Come here and put your⁺ feet on the necks of these kings.” So the commanders came forward and put their feet on their necks.

25 “Do not be afraid or discouraged,” Joshua (YHWH saves) said. “Be strong and courageous, for the LORD {YHWH} will do this to all the enemies you⁺ fight.”

26 After this, Joshua (YHWH saves) struck down and killed the kings, and he hung their bodies on five trees (impaled their bodies on five poles) and left them there until evening.

27 At sunset Joshua (YHWH saves) ordered that they be taken down from the trees and thrown into the cave in which they had hidden. Then large stones were placed against the mouth of the cave, and the stones are there to this day.

28 On that day Joshua (YHWH saves) captured Makkedah (place of shepherds) and put it to the sword, along with its king. He devoted to destruction everyone in the city, leaving no survivors. So he did to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho (city of palms).

29 Then Joshua (YHWH saves) and all Israel (he wrestles with God) with him moved on from Makkedah (place of shepherds) to Libnah (pavement) and fought against Libnah.

30 And the LORD {YHWH} also delivered that city and its king into the hand of Israel (he wrestles with God), and Joshua put all the people to the sword, leaving no survivors. And he did to the king of Libnah as he had done to the king of Jericho (city of palms).

31 And Joshua (YHWH saves) and all Israel (he wrestles with God) with him moved on from Libnah (pavement) to Lachish (invincible). They laid siege to it and fought against it.

32 And the LORD {YHWH} delivered Lachish (invincible) into the hand of Israel (he wrestles with God), and Joshua captured it on the second day. He put all the people to the sword, just as he had done to Libnah (pavement).

33 At that time Horam (exalted) king of Gezer (portion) went to help Lachish (invincible), but Joshua (YHWH saves) struck him down along with his people, leaving no survivors.

34 So Joshua (YHWH saves) moved on from Lachish (invincible) to Eglon (calf-like), and all Israel (he wrestles with God) with him. They laid siege to it and fought against it.

35 That day they captured Eglon and put it to the sword, and Joshua devoted to destruction everyone in the city, just as he had done to Lachish (invincible).

36 Then Joshua (YHWH saves) and all Israel (he wrestles with God) with him went up from Eglon (calf-like) to Hebron (association) and fought against it.

37 They captured it and put to the sword its king, all its villages, and all the people. Joshua left no survivors, just as he had done at Eglon (calf-like); he devoted to destruction Hebron and everyone in it.

38 Finally Joshua (YHWH saves) and all Israel (he wrestles with God) with him turned toward Debir (sanctuary) and fought against it.

39 And they captured Debir, its king, and all its villages. They put them to the sword and devoted to destruction everyone in the city, leaving no survivors. Joshua did to Debir (sanctuary) and its king as he had done to Hebron (association) and as he had done to Libnah (pavement) and its king.

40 So Joshua (YHWH saves) conquered the whole region—the hill country, the Negev (southland), the foothills {Shephelah}, and the slopes, together with all their kings—leaving no survivors. He devoted to destruction everything that breathed, just as the LORD, the God {YHWH Elohe} of Israel (he wrestles with God), had commanded.

41 Joshua (YHWH saves) conquered the area from Kadesh-barnea (holy) to Gaza (the strong), and the whole region of Goshen (drawing near) as far as Gibeon (hill city).

42 And because the LORD, the God {YHWH Elohe} of Israel (he wrestles with God), fought for Israel, Joshua (YHWH saves) captured all these kings and their land in one campaign.

43 Then Joshua (YHWH saves) returned with all Israel (he wrestles with God) to the camp at Gilgal (a wheel).