Yehoshua 10:16-43

16 But these five melachim fled, and hid themselves in a me’arah (cave) at Makkedah.

17 And it was told Yehoshua, saying, The five melachim are found hiding in a me’arah at Makkedah.

18 And Yehoshua said, Roll avanim gedolot upon the mouth of the me’arah, and post anashim by it to be shomer over them;

19 And stop ye not, but pursue after your enemies, and attack them; allow them not to enter into their towns; for Hashem Eloheichem hath delivered them into your yad.

20 And it came to pass, when Yehoshua and the Bnei Yisroel had made an end of striking them with a makkah gedolah me’od, until they were consumed, that the rest which remained of them entered into fortified cities.

21 And kol HaAm returned to the machaneh to Yehoshua at Makkedah in shalom; none moved his tongue against any of the Bnei Yisroel.

22 Then said Yehoshua, Open the mouth of the me’arah, and bring out those five melachim unto me out of the me’arah.

23 And they did so, and brought forth those five melachim unto him out of the me’arah, Melech Yerushalayim, Melech Chevron, Melech Yarmut, Melech Lachish, and Melech Eglon.

24 And it came to pass, when they brought out those melachim unto Yehoshua, that Yehoshua called for kol Ish Yisroel, and said unto the Ketzinei Anshei HaMilchamah which went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these melachim. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them.

25 And Yehoshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be discouraged, be strong and of good courage; for thus shall Hashem do to all your enemies against whom ye fight.

26 And afterward Yehoshua struck them down, and slaughtered them, and hanged them on chamishah etzim; and they were hanging upon the etzim until the erev.

27 And it came to pass at the time of the going down of the shemesh, that Yehoshua commanded, and they took them down off the etzim, cast them into the me’arah wherein they had been hiding, and laid avanim gedolot on the mouth of the me’arah, which remain until this very day.

28 And that day Yehoshua took Makkedah, and struck it down with the edge of the cherev, and the Melech thereof he utterly destroyed, them, and every nefesh that was therein; he let none remain; and he did to the Melech of Makkedah as he did unto the Melech of Yericho [See Yehoshua 6:21].

29 Then Yehoshua passed from Makkedah, and kol Yisroel with him, unto Livnah, and fought against Livnah;

30 And Hashem delivered it also, and the melech thereof, into the yad Yisroel; and he struck it down with the edge of the cherev, and kol hanefesh therein; he let none remain in it; but did unto the melech thereof as he did unto the melech of Yericho [See Yehoshua 6:21].

31 And Yehoshua passed from Livnah, and kol Yisroel with him, unto Lachish, and encamped against it, and fought against it;

32 And Hashem delivered Lachish into the yad Yisroel, which took it on the yom hasheni, and struck it down with the edge of the cherev, and kol hanefesh therein, according to all that he had done to Livnah.

33 Then Horam Melech Gezer came up to help Lachish; and Yehoshua struck him down and his army, until he had left him none remaining.

34 And from Lachish, Yehoshua passed unto Eglon, and kol Yisroel with him; and they encamped against it, and fought against it;

35 And they took it on that day, and struck it down with the edge of the cherev, and kol hanefesh therein he utterly destroyed that day, according to all that he had done to Lachish.

36 And Yehoshua went up from Eglon, and kol Yisroel with him, unto Chevron; and they fought against it;

37 And they took it, and struck it down with the edge of the cherev, and the melech thereof, and all the towns thereof, and kol hanefesh therein; he left none remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon; but destroyed it utterly, and kol hanefesh therein.

38 And Yehoshua returned, and kol Yisroel with him, to Devir; and fought against it;

39 And he took it, and the melech thereof, and all the towns thereof; and they struck them down with the edge of the cherev, and utterly destroyed kol nefesh therein; he left none remaining; as he had done to Chevron, so he did to Devir, and to the melech thereof; as he had done also to Livnah, and to its melech.

40 So Yehoshua subdued kol HaAretz HaHar, and of the Negev, and of the Shefelah, and of the asedot (slopes), and all their melachim; he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed kol haneshamah, as Hashem Elohei Yisroel commanded.

41 And Yehoshua struck them down from Kadesh-Barnea even unto Azah (Gaza), and all the country of Goshen, even unto Giv’on.

42 And all these melachim and their land did Yehoshua take at one time, because Hashem Elohei Yisroel fought for Yisroel.

43 And Yehoshua returned, and kol Yisroel with him, unto the machaneh at Gilgal.

Yehoshua 10:16-43 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.