Joshua 10:22

22 Then Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me.”

Joshua 10:22 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 10:22

Then said Joshua, open the mouth of the cave
That is, roll away the great stones that were laid at the mouth of it:

and bring out those five kings unto me out of the cave;
to receive their sentence in a public manner, for the encouragement of his troops and the terror of the Canaanites, particularly Makkedah, now besieged by him.

Joshua 10:22 In-Context

20 So Joshua and the Israelites continued to inflict a terrible slaughter until they had finished them off, and the remaining survivors retreated to the fortified cities.

21 The whole army returned safely to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah, and no one dared to utter a word against the Israelites.

22 Then Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me.”

23 So they brought the five kings out of the cave—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon.

24 When they had brought the kings to Joshua, he summoned all the men of Israel and said to the army commanders who had accompanied him, “Come here and put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So the commanders came forward and put their feet on their necks.