76 BATTLES OF THE BIBLE.

We believe it to have been in obedience to divine direc-
tion that Joshua gave this order. . The general then
spoke some words of encouragement to his soldiers, tell-
ing them to fear no other kings who might afterwards
come against them, for so would the Lord do to all their
enemies. Then Adonizedek and his four allies were
slain with the sword, and their bodies hanged on a tree
till the evening, when they were thrown into the cave
where they had been hidden. It was made their grave.
The same day Joshua took Makkedah, and put to death
the king and all the people of it. He next took Libnah,
and treated it in the same manner, Then he fought against
Lachish, the city of one of the kings who had hid in the
cave. It also the Lord delivered into his hand ; he took
it on the second day, and treated it as he had done the
former places. Horam, king of Gezer, went up to help
Lachish. He rushed upon his own destruetion, for
Joshua smote him and his people till none were left
remaining. Then Joshua took Eglon and Hebron, cities
belonging to two of the five kings. Debir was also
taken, and all its inhabitants slain. The whole of the
southern part of Canaan was now conquered—that part
which afterwards belonged to Simeon, J udah, Dan, Ben-
jamin, and Ephraim. All the people were killed, ex-
cept the Gibeonites who had submitted, and those who
fled to other countries, a plan which many.of them are
thought to have adopted. Those only remained who
had hardened their hearts against the Lord, and believed
themselves able to defy the mighty God of Jacob. Their