Joshua 10:16-43

Israel executes five kings

16 Then those five kings fled and hid in the cave at Makkedah.

17 It was reported to Joshua, "The five kings have been found, hidden in the cave at Makkedah."

18 Joshua said, "Roll large stones over the mouth of the cave. Station some men by it to guard them,

19 but don't you stay there. Chase after your enemies and attack them from the rear. Don't let them enter their cities, because the LORD your God has given them into your power."

20 Joshua and the Israelites finished dealing them a stunning blow until they were finished off. Some survivors among them escaped into the fortified cities.

21 Then the whole people came back safely to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah. Not a single person threatened the Israelites.

22 Joshua said, "Open up the mouth of the cave. Bring those five kings out of the cave to me."

23 They did so. They brought the five kings out of the cave to him: the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon.

24 When they brought these kings out to Joshua, Joshua called for every Israelite. He said to the military commanders who had gone out with him, "Come forward. Put your feet on the necks of these kings." So they went forward and put their feet on their necks.

25 Then Joshua said to them, "Don't be afraid or terrified. Be brave and strong, because this is how the LORD will deal with all the enemies you fight."

26 Next, Joshua struck them down. He put them to death and then hanged them on five trees. They were hanging on the trees until evening.

27 At sundown, Joshua gave an order, and they took them down from the trees. They threw them into the cave where they had hidden themselves, and they set large stones over the mouth of the cave. The stones are still there to this very day.

Victories in the south

28 On that day, Joshua captured Makkedah. With a sword, he struck it and its king without mercy. He wiped them out, treating everyone in the city as something reserved for God. He left no survivors. He did to the king of Makkedah exactly as he had done to the king of Jericho.

29 Then Joshua along with all Israel moved on from Makkedah to Libnah. They attacked Libnah.

30 The LORD also gave it and its king into the power of Israel. With a sword, he struck it and everyone in it without mercy. He left no survivors in it. He did to its king exactly as he had done to the king of Jericho.

31 Joshua along with all Israel moved on from Libnah to Lachish. They camped near it and attacked it.

32 The LORD gave Lachish into the power of Israel. Joshua captured it on the second day. With a sword, he struck it and everyone in it without mercy, just exactly as he had done to Libnah.

33 Then Gezer's King Horam came up to help Lachish. But Joshua struck him and his people down, until no survivors were left.

34 Joshua along with all Israel moved on from Lachish to Eglon. They camped against it and attacked it.

35 They captured it on the same day and struck it down without mercy. On that day, he wiped out everyone in it as something reserved for God, just exactly as he had done to Lachish.

36 Joshua along with all Israel went up from Eglon to Hebron and attacked it.

37 They captured it and struck it down without mercy, along with its king, all its towns, and everyone in it. He left no survivors, just exactly as he had done to Eglon. He wiped out the city and everyone in it as something reserved for God.

38 Joshua along with all Israel turned back to Debir and attacked it.

39 He captured it along with its king and all its cities. They struck them down without mercy and wiped out everyone in it as something reserved for God. He left no survivors. Exactly as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir and its king—exactly as he had done to Libnah and its king.

40 So Joshua struck at the whole land: the highlands, the arid southern plains, the lowlands, the slopes, and all their kings. He left no survivors. He wiped out everything that breathed as something reserved for God, exactly as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded.

41 Joshua struck them down from Kadesh-barnea to Gaza, and the whole land of Goshen as far as Gibeon.

42 Joshua captured all these kings and their land all at the same time. This was because the LORD, the God of Israel, fought for Israel.

43 Then Joshua along with all Israel came back to the camp at Gilgal.

Joshua 10:16-43 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOSHUA 10

This chapter treats of the combination of five kings against the Gibeonites, Jos 10:1-5; and of the application of the Gibeonites to Joshua, for assistance, in virtue of the league between them, which was granted, Jos 10:6-9; of the slaughter of the army by the kings of Israel, and chiefly by hailstones from heaven, Jos 10:10,11; and of the standing still of the sun, and of the moon, while vengeance was taken on them, Jos 10:12-14; and of the five kings being hid in a cave, and of the usage of them when taken, Jos 10:15-27; and of the taking of Makkedah, Libnah, Lachish, Eglon, Hebron, and Debir, Jos 10:28-39; which finished the conquest of the southern part of the land, Jos 10:40-43.