²⁶ Joshua did not draw back his hand that was holding the javelin until all the inhabitants of Ai were completely destroyed.^(A)

Conquest of Southern Cities

²⁸ On that day Joshua captured Makkedah and struck it down with the sword, including its king. He completely destroyed it^[a] and everyone in it, leaving no survivors. So he treated the king of Makkedah as he had the king of Jericho.^(A)

³⁵ On that day they captured it and struck it down, putting everyone in it to the sword. He completely destroyed it that day, just as he had done to Lachish.

³⁶ Next, Joshua and all Israel with him went up from Eglon to Hebron^(A) and attacked it. ³⁷ They captured it and struck down its king, all its villages, and everyone in it with the sword. He left no survivors, just as he had done at Eglon. He completely destroyed Hebron and everyone in it.

³⁸ Finally, Joshua turned toward Debir^(B) and attacked it. And all Israel was with him. ³⁹ He captured it—its king and all its villages. They struck them down with the sword and completely destroyed everyone in it, leaving no survivors. He treated Debir and its king as he had treated Hebron and as he had treated Libnah and its king.

⁴⁰ So Joshua conquered the whole region^(C)—the hill country, the Negev, the Judean foothills,^[a] and the slopes—with all their kings, leaving no survivors. He completely destroyed every living being, as the Lord, the God of Israel, had commanded.^(D)

¹¹ They struck down everyone in it with the sword, completely destroying^(A) them; he left no one alive. Then he burned Hazor.

¹² Joshua captured all these kings and their cities and struck them down with the sword. He completely destroyed them, as Moses the Lord’s servant^(B) had commanded.

²⁰ For it was the Lord’s intention to harden their hearts,^(A) so that they would engage Israel in battle, be completely destroyed without mercy, and be annihilated, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

²¹ At that time Joshua proceeded to exterminate the Anakim^(B) from the hill country—Hebron, Debir, Anab—all the hill country of Judah and of Israel. Joshua completely destroyed them with their cities.

²⁰ If you abandon the Lord and worship foreign gods, he will turn against you, harm you, and completely destroy^(A) you, after he has been good to you.”

¹⁷ Judah went with his brother Simeon, struck the Canaanites who were living in Zephath, and completely destroyed the town. So they named the town Hormah.^(A)

¹¹ This is what you should do: Completely destroy every male, as well as every woman who has gone to bed with a man.”