Joshua 10:16-28

The Kings of the Amorites Are Killed

16 But these five kings fled and hid themselves in the cave at Makkedah.

17 And it was told to Joshua, saying, "The five kings were found hidden in the cave at Makkedah."

18 And Joshua said, "Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave, and set men in front of it to guard them.

19 But do not stay [there]; pursue after your enemies and attack them from the rear. Do not allow them to go into their cities, for Yahweh your God has given them into your hand."

20 When Joshua and the {Israelites} had finished striking them [with] a very great blow, until they perished, {those of them who survived} went into the fortified cities,

21 and all the people returned to the camp safely to Joshua [at] Makkedah. {No one spoke} against the {Israelites}.

22 And Joshua said, "Open the mouth of the cave, and bring to me those five kings from the cave."

23 And they did so, and brought him these five kings from the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon.

24 And when they brought these kings to Joshua, Joshua called all the men of Israel and said to the commanders of {the fighting men} who had gone with him, "Come near, put your feet on the necks of these kings." So they came near and put their feet on their necks.

25 And Joshua said to them, "Do not be afraid or dismayed! Be strong and bold, for thus Yahweh will do to all your enemies whom you [are] about to fight.

26 And after this Joshua struck them down and killed them, and he hanged them on five trees. And they were hanging on the trees until the evening.

27 And it happened {at the time of sunset}, Joshua commanded, and they took them down from the trees and threw them into the cave where they had hidden themselves, and they put large stones against the mouth of the cave, [which are there] to this very day.

28 Joshua captured Makkedah on that day, and he struck it and its king with {the edge of the sword}; he utterly destroyed it and everyone that was in it. He did not leave behind a survivor. So he did to the king of Makkedah just as he did to the king of Jericho.

Joshua 10:16-28 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]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
• [b]. Literally "the survivors [who] survived"
• [c]. Or "in peace"
• [d]. Literally "No one moved his tongue"
• [e]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
• [f]. Literally "the men of war"
• [g]. Literally "at the time of the going of the sun"
• [h]. Literally "[the] mouth of [the] sword"