Joshua 10:15-27

The Death of the Five Kings Joshua 10:15-27

15 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp of Gilgal.
16 But these five kings fled, and hid themselves in a cave at Makkedah.
17 And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings are found hid in a cave at Makkedah.
18 And Joshua said, Roll great stones upon the mouth of the cave, and set men by it for to keep them:
19 And stay ye not, but pursue after your enemies, and smite the hindmost of them; suffer them not to enter into their cities: for the Lord your God hath delivered them into your hand.
20 And it came to pass, when Joshua and the children of Israel had made an end of slaying them with a very great slaughter, till they were consumed, that the rest which remained of them entered into fenced cities.
21 And all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace: none moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel.
22 Then said Joshua, Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out those five kings unto me out of the cave.
23 And they did so, and brought forth those five kings unto him out of 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 it came to pass, when they brought out those kings unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them.
25 And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the Lord do to all your enemies against whom ye fight.
26 And afterward Joshua smote them, and slew them, and hanged them on five trees: and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening.
27 And it came to pass at the time of the going down of the sun, that Joshua commanded, and they took them down off the trees, and cast them into the cave wherein they had been hid, and laid great stones in the cave's mouth, which remain until this very day.

14.

Where was the cave of Makkedah? Joshua 10:15

The place has been identified with el-Mtighar, a spot southwest of Ekron. The name, el-Mughar, means the caves. The area is very far away from where the battle was fought, and the location is really not certain. Makkedah is best known only for this fact recorded here. The kings hid there, and nothing else of importance to Bible history occurred there. The place was later assigned to the tribe of Judah as part of their inheritance (Joshua 15:41).

15.

Where were the fenced cities? Joshua 10:20

The fenced cities were scattered throughout the land. Only cities which were of substantial size and importance would have these walls around them. There were enough of them that they provided hiding places to all who escaped from the war between Israel and the five kings of the South, Israel was not in a position to begin its total campaign against the Canaanites at the end of the battle with the kings associated with Adoni-zedek. There were still strong forces in the North which had to be subdued before the armies of Israel could lay siege against the fenced cities to force out those who had escaped from the battles fought in the open field. Eventually this task was to be performed by those tribes who settled in the area where the fenced cities were located.

16.

Why did the men put their feet on the necks of the kings? Joshua 10:24

This action was symbolic of the fact that the kings were utterly beaten. The inscription at Behistan shows clearly a picture of Cyrus with a group of vassal kings prostrate on the ground before him. He has his foot on the neck of one of the kings symbolizing the fact that he has completely overthrown his enemies. Israel was told not to leave the dead people hanging after sundown. These kings had been incarcerated in caves until the battle was finished; but when it was over, they were brought out and promptly executed. Their bodies were then thrown back into the caves and great stones were rolled across the doors making rock-hewn tombs for these beaten enemies of the armies of God.