Joshua 10:27

27 but at the time of the going down of the sun, Joshua commanded, and they took them down from the trees, and threw them into the cave where they had hidden themselves, and they set great stones against the mouth of the cave, which remain to this very day.

Joshua 10:27 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 10:27

And it came to pass, at the time of the going down of the
sun
Which was the time fixed by the law of God for taking down bodies that were hanged, ( Deuteronomy 21:23 ) ;

[that] Joshua commanded, and they took them down off the trees;
not from, any respect to them, but that they might not defile the land, as dead bodies in a ceremonial sense did, ( Deuteronomy 21:23 ) ; and this Joshua was the more careful of, as they were just entered into it, and were taking possession of it:

and they cast them into the cave wherein they had been hid;
so that what had been their hiding place now became their grave; and according to the Samaritan Chronicle ^F17, the trees also on which they were hanged were cast in with them;

and laid great stones in the cave's mouth:
not as a monumental pile, as in the instances of Achan and the king of Ai, ( Joshua 7:26 ) ( 8:29 ) ; but to prevent their carcasses being dragged out, and eaten by wild beasts, as some think; or that they might not be taken out, and buried in a more honourable manner:

[which remain] until this very day;
when Joshua was grown old, the writer of this book.

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 Apud Hottinger. Smegma. p. 511.

Joshua 10:27 In-Context

25 And Joshua said to them, "Do not be afraid or dismayed; be strong and of good courage; for thus the LORD will do to all your enemies against whom you fight."

26 And afterward Joshua smote them and put them to death, and he hung them on five trees. And they hung upon the trees until evening;

27 but at the time of the going down of the sun, Joshua commanded, and they took them down from the trees, and threw them into the cave where they had hidden themselves, and they set great stones against the mouth of the cave, which remain to this very day.

28 And Joshua took Makke'dah on that day, and smote it and its king with the edge of the sword; he utterly destroyed every person in it, he left none remaining; and he did to the king of Makke'dah as he had done to the king of Jericho.

29 Then Joshua passed on from Makke'dah, and all Israel with him, to Libnah, and fought against Libnah;