Joshua 10:16-42

16 And these five kings fled, and hid themselves in a cave that is in Makeda.

17 And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings have been found hid in the cave that is in Makeda.

18 And Joshua said, Roll stones to the mouth of the cave, and set men to watch over them.

19 But do not ye stand, but pursue after your enemies, and attack the rear of them, and do not suffer them to enter into their cities; for the Lord our God has delivered them into our hands.

20 And it came to pass when Joshua and all Israel ceased destroying them utterly with a very great slaughter, that they that escaped took refuge in the strong cities.

21 And all the people returned safe to Joshua to Makeda; and no one of the children of Israel murmured with his tongue.

22 And Joshua said, Open the cave, and bring out these five kings out of the cave.

23 And they brought out the five kings out of the cave, the king of Jerusalem, and the king of Chebron, and the king of Jerimuth, and the king of Lachis, and the king of Odollam.

24 And when they brought them out to Joshua, then Joshua called together all Israel, and the chiefs of the army that went with him, saying to them, Come forward and set your feet on their necks; and they came and set their feet on their necks.

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.

30 And the Lord delivered it into the hands of Israel: and they took it, and its king, and slew the inhabitants with the edge of the sword, and every thing breathing in it; and there was not left in it any that survived and escaped; and they did to its king, as they did to the king of Jericho.

31 And Joshua and all Israel with him departed from Lebna to Lachis, and he encamped about it, and besieged it.

32 And the Lord delivered Lachis into the hands of Israel; and they took it on the second day, and they put the inhabitants to death with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed it, as they had done to Lebna.

33 Then Elam the king of Gazer went up to help Lachis; and Joshua smote him and his people with the edge of the sword, until there was not left to him one that was preserved and escaped.

34 And Joshua and all Israel with him departed from Lachis to Odollam, and he besieged it and took it.

35 And the Lord delivered it into the hand of Israel; and he took it on that day, and slew the inhabitants with the edge of the sword, and slew every thing breathing in it, as they did to Lachis.

36 And Joshua and all Israel with him departed to Chebron, and encamped about it.

37 And he smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the living creatures that were in it; there was no one preserved: they destroyed it and all things in it, as they did to Odollam.

38 And Joshua and all Israel returned to Dabir; and they encamped about it;

39 and they took it, and its king, and its villages: and he smote it with the edge of the sword, and they destroyed it, and every thing breathing in it; and they did not leave in it any one that was preserved: as they did to Chebron and her king, so they did to Dabir and her king.

40 And Joshua smote all the land of the hill country, and Nageb and the plain country, and Asedoth, and her kings, they did not leave of them one that was saved: and they utterly destroyed every thing that had the breath of life, as the Lord God of Israel commanded,

41 from Cades Barne to Gaza, all Gosom, as far as Gabaon.

42 And Joshua smote, once for all, all their kings, and their land, because the Lord God of Israel fought on the side of Israel.

Joshua 10:16-42 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. fasten upon or seize.
• [b]. sound, or healthy.
• [c]. of the war.
• [d]. it.
• [e]. mouth.
• [f]. Israel.
• [g]. vigourously attacked it.
• [h]. south.