Joshua 10:27

27 And it came to pass toward the setting of the sun, Joshua commanded, and they took them down from the trees, and cast them into the cave into which they fled for refuge, and rolled stones to the cave, till this 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 fear them, neither be cowardly; be courageous and strong, for thus the Lord will do to all your enemies, against whom ye fight.

26 And Joshua slew them, and hanged them on five trees; and they hung upon the trees until the evening.

27 And it came to pass toward the setting of the sun, Joshua commanded, and they took them down from the trees, and cast them into the cave into which they fled for refuge, and rolled stones to the cave, till this day.

28 And they took Makeda on that day, and slew the inhabitants with the edge of the sword, and they utterly destroyed every living thing that was in it; and there was none left in it that was preserved and had escaped; and they did to the king of Makeda, as they did to the king of Jericho.

29 And Joshua and all Israel with him departed out of Makeda to Lebna, and besieged Lebna.