16. Lawo makhosi omahlanu abaleka, acasha emhumeni waseMakheda.
17. Kwabikwa kuJoshuwa ukuthi: “Lawo makhosi omahlanu afunyanisiwe ecashile emhumeni waseMakheda.”
18. UJoshuwa wathi: “Gingqelani amatshe amakhulu emlonyeni womhume, nibeke amadoda ngakuwo ukuba awalinde;
19. kepha ningemi nina; xoshani izitha zenu, nibulale ezingasemuva, ningazivumeli ukuba zingene emizini yazo, ngokuba uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu uzinikele esandleni senu.”
20. Kwathi lapho uJoshuwa nabantwana bakwa-Israyeli sebeqedile ukubaceka ngokuceka okukhulu kakhulu baze baqedwa, insali yabo nokho isingenile emizini ebiyelweyo,
21. bonke abantu babuyela ekamu* kuJoshuwa eMakheda ngokuthula, akwabakho onyakazisa ulimi lwakhe ngomuntu wabantwana bakwa-Israyeli.
22. Wayesethi uJoshuwa: “Vulani umlomo womhume, nikhiphele kimi lawo makhosi omahlanu emhumeni.”
23. Benze njalo-ke; bawakhiphela kuye lawo makhosi omahlanu emhumeni: inkosi yaseJerusalema, nenkosi yaseHebroni, nenkosi yaseJarimuthi, nenkosi yaseLakishi, nenkosi yase-Egiloni.
24. Kwathi lapho bekhiphela kuJoshuwa lawo makhosi, uJoshuwa wabiza onke amadoda akwa-Israyeli, wathi ezinduneni zamadoda empi ezazihamba naye: “Sondelani, nibeke izinyawo zenu ezintanyeni zalawa makhosi.” Zasondela-ke, zabeka izinyawo zazo ezintanyeni zawo.
25. UJoshuwa wathi kuzo: “Ningesabi, ningabi naluvalo; qinani, nime isibindi, ngokuba uJehova uyakwenza kanjalo kuzo zonke izitha zenu enilwa nazo.”
26. Ngasemuva uJoshuwa wawagenca, wawabulala, wawaphanyeka emithini eyisihlanu, alenga emithini kwaze kwahlwa.
27. Kwathi ngesikhathi sokushona kwelanga uJoshuwa wayala, bawehlisa emithini, bawaphonsa emhumeni lapho ebecashe khona, babeka amatshe amakhulu emlonyeni womhume; akhona nanamuhla.
28. UJoshuwa wathatha iMakheda ngalolo suku, walichitha ngosiko lwenkemba kanye nenkosi yalo, wabaqothula nabo bonke abakulo, akashiyanga noyedwa owasalayo; wenza-ke kuyo inkosi yaseMakheda njengalokho ebenzile kuyo inkosi yaseJeriko.
29. UJoshuwa wasuka eMakheda nabo bonke abakwa-Israyeli benaye, waya eLibina, walwa neLibina;
30. uJehova walinikela nalo nenkosi yalo esandleni sakwa-Israyeli, walichitha ngosiko lwenkemba nabo bonke abakulo, akashiyanga noyedwa owasala phakathi kwalo; wenza-ke kuyo inkosi yalo njengalokho ebenzile kuyo inkosi yaseJeriko.
31. UJoshuwa wasuka eLibina nabo bonke abakwa-Israyeli benaye, waya eLakishi, wamisa malungana nalo, walwa nalo;
32. uJehova wanikela iLakishi esandleni sakwa-Israyeli, walithatha ngosuku lwesibili, walichitha ngosiko lwenkemba kanye nabo bonke ababekulo njengakho konke abekwenzile kulo iLibina.