Joshua 10:27

27 It came about at sunset * that Joshua gave a command, and ¹they took them down from the trees and threw them into the cave where * they had hidden themselves, and put large stones over the mouth of the cave, 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 Joshua then said to them, "Do not fear or be dismayed! Be strong and courageous, for thus the LORD will do to all your enemies with whom you fight."

26 So afterward Joshua struck them and put them to death, and he hanged them on five trees; and they hung on the trees until evening.

27 It came about at sunset that Joshua gave a command, and they took them down from the trees and threw them into the cave where they had hidden themselves, and put large stones over the mouth of the cave, to this very day.

28 Now Joshua captured Makkedah on that day, and struck it and its king with the edge of the sword; he utterly destroyed it and every person who was in it. He left no survivor. Thus he did to the king of Makkedah just as he had done to the king of Jericho.

29 Then Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Makkedah to Libnah, and fought against Libnah.

Cross References

• 1. Deuteronomy 21:22, 23

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "the time of the going of the sun"