Joshua 10:26

26 After this, Joshua struck down and killed the kings, and he hung their bodies on five trees ^[a] and left them there until evening.

Joshua 10:26 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 10:26

And afterwards Joshua smote them and slew them
With the sword; either by his own hands, or by others whom he ordered to slay them:

and hanged them on five trees;
to their shame and disgrace, and the terror of others:

and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening;
by way of contempt of them, and as a spectacle of terror to others, especially to the inhabitants of Makkedah, and their king they were now besieging.

Joshua 10:26 In-Context

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.

25 “Do not be afraid or discouraged,” Joshua said. “Be strong and courageous, for the LORD will do this to all the enemies you fight.”

26 After this, Joshua struck down and killed the kings, and he hung their bodies on five trees and left them there until evening.

27 At sunset Joshua ordered that they be taken down from the trees and thrown into the cave in which they had hidden. Then large stones were placed against the mouth of the cave, and the stones are there to this day.

28 On that day Joshua captured Makkedah and put it to the sword, along with its king. He devoted to destruction everyone in the city, leaving no survivors. So he did to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho.

Footnotes

• [a] Or impaled their bodies on five poles; similarly in verse 27