‘ And afterwards Joshua smote them and slew them, and hung them on five trees, and they were hanging on the trees until the evening.'
The necessary executions had then to follow, for YHWH had commanded the slaying of all Canaanites who would not leave Canaan. And after they were dead their bodies were hung on trees as a warning to all around of what would be done to them if they troubled Israel. News would soon spread and fear would fill the hearts of the hearers. But in accordance with the Law the bodies were taken down at sunset lest they defile the land (Deuteronomy 21:23). Note the repetition of the idea of slaying in order to emphasise the fact to listeners.