And it came to pass, when they brought out these kings unto
Joshua
And set them before him, and he had passed sentence on them:
that he called for all the men of Israel;
that is, for the chief men, the principal officers of the army:
and said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him;
the chiliarchs and centurions, the captains of thousands and hundreds, of the several regiments in the army who went out to battle with him, and under him:
come near, put your feet on the necks of these kings;
not in a contemptuous and insulting manner, not through vanity and haughtiness, but for the mortification of the kings; and as a token of their extreme subjection, and as a proper punishment for their crimes of idolatry, tyranny, and cruelty; and by way of terror to others of the kings of Canaan that should fight against them, and as a pledge and confirmation of the subjection of the rest, as well as to fulfil the promises and predictions of God, ( Deuteronomy 33:29 ) ; and which was done not of himself, but by the order, and according to the will of God:
and they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them;
as Joshua ordered them, and in obedience to him their general.