Then Joshua said, "Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me." Then Joshua saidThis phrase introduces the leader of Israel, Joshua, who is a central figure in the conquest narratives of the Old Testament. The name "Joshua" is derived from the Hebrew "Yehoshua," meaning "Yahweh is salvation." Joshua is a type of Christ, leading God's people into the Promised Land, much like Jesus leads believers into eternal life. His leadership is marked by obedience to God and courage in the face of overwhelming odds, serving as an example for Christian leaders today. Open the mouth of the cave
The "cave" here is a significant location in the narrative. Caves in the ancient Near East were often used as places of refuge or burial. In this context, the cave serves as a temporary prison for the five Amorite kings. The act of opening the cave signifies a transition from concealment to exposure, symbolizing the revelation of hidden sins or enemies. Spiritually, it can be seen as a call to bring hidden sins into the light of God's truth for judgment and redemption. and bring those five kings out to me
The "five kings" represent the coalition of Amorite rulers who opposed Israel. Historically, this reflects the common practice of city-states forming alliances for mutual defense. Spiritually, these kings can symbolize the various strongholds or sins that believers must confront and overcome with God's help. Joshua's command to bring them out signifies the necessity of confronting and dealing with sin directly, rather than allowing it to remain hidden or ignored. This act of bringing them to Joshua, the leader appointed by God, underscores the importance of submitting our struggles to divine authority for resolution. Persons / Places / Events 1. JoshuaThe leader of the Israelites, successor to Moses, and a central figure in the conquest of Canaan. He is known for his faithfulness and obedience to God's commands. 2. The Five KingsThese were the kings of the Amorite cities: Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon. They formed an alliance against Gibeon and were defeated by Joshua and the Israelites. 3. The CaveThe place where the five kings hid after their defeat. It symbolizes a temporary refuge that ultimately leads to their exposure and judgment. 4. GibeonA city that made a peace treaty with Israel, prompting the alliance of the five kings to attack it. This event led to the battle where God intervened on behalf of Israel. 5. The Battle of GibeonA significant event where God miraculously aided Israel by causing the sun to stand still, allowing them to achieve victory over their enemies. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty in BattleGod is in control of all circumstances, including battles and conflicts. Just as He delivered the five kings into Joshua's hands, He can deliver us from our struggles. The Consequences of Opposing GodThe fate of the five kings serves as a warning against opposing God's will. It reminds us that rebellion against God leads to judgment. The Importance of ObedienceJoshua's actions demonstrate the importance of following God's commands. Obedience leads to victory and fulfillment of God's promises. God's Faithfulness to His PromisesThe victory over the five kings is a testament to God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to Israel. We can trust that God will fulfill His promises to us as well. The Role of Leadership in God's PlanJoshua's leadership was crucial in guiding Israel to victory. Godly leadership is essential in fulfilling God's purposes in our lives and communities. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the account of the five kings hiding in the cave illustrate the futility of trying to escape God's judgment? 2. In what ways does Joshua's leadership in this passage reflect the qualities of a godly leader? How can we apply these qualities in our own lives? 3. How does the defeat of the five kings demonstrate God's faithfulness to His promises? Can you think of a time when God fulfilled a promise in your life? 4. What lessons can we learn from the alliance of the five kings against Gibeon, and how does this relate to the spiritual battles we face today? 5. How can the account of Joshua 10:22 encourage us to trust in God's sovereignty and power in the face of overwhelming odds? Connections to Other Scriptures Joshua 10:16-27Provides the broader context of the capture and execution of the five kings, illustrating God's judgment and the fulfillment of His promises to Israel. Psalm 2:1-12Reflects on the futility of earthly kings and rulers who oppose God's anointed, similar to the fate of the five kings. Romans 8:31-39Emphasizes that if God is for us, no one can stand against us, paralleling the divine support Joshua received in battle. People Adonizedec, Amorites, Debir, Eglon, Gibeon, Hoham, Horam, Israelites, Japhia, Jasher, Joshua, PiramPlaces Ai, Azekah, Beth-horon, Debir, Eglon, Gaza, Gezer, Gibeon, Gilgal, Hebron, Jarmuth, Jericho, Jerusalem, Kadesh-barnea, Lachish, Libnah, Makkedah, Negeb, Valley of AijalonTopics Bring, Cave, Forth, Hole, Joshua, Kings, Mouth, Open, Rock, StonesDictionary of Bible Themes Joshua 10:22 5167 mouth Joshua 10:22-23 4218 cave Joshua 10:22-26 5568 suffering, causes Library Five Kings in a Cave
TEXT: "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. 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."--Joshua 10:24-25. The history of the …
J. Wilbur Chapman—And Judas IscariotPraying Saints of the Old Testaments
The Holy Spirit will give to the praying saint the brightness of an immortal hope, the music of a deathless song, in His baptism and communion with the heart, He will give sweeter and more enlarged visions of heaven until the taste for other things will pall, and other visions will grow dim and distant. He will put notes of other worlds in human hearts until all earth's music is discord and songless.--Rev. E. M. Bounds Old Testament history is filled with accounts of praying saints. The leaders of …
Edward M. Bounds—Prayer and Praying Men Gibeon. Josh 10:06
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John Newton—Olney Hymns The Northern Coast of Judea. Beth-Horon.
This coast is marked out Joshua 18:12; where, at verse 14, are very many versions to be corrected, which render the sea; such are, the Syriac, the Seventy, the Vulgar, the Italian, ours, &c.: whence ariseth a sense of insuperable difficulty to a chorographical eye: when it should, indeed, be rendered of the west, as the Chaldee, Arabic, R. Solomon, &c. rightly do. We read of a double Beth-horon in the Old Testament, but one only under the second Temple... At that place that great Canaanitish army …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica Subterraneous Places. Mines. Caves.
Thus having taken some notice of the superficies of the land, let us a little search into its bowels. You may divide the subterraneous country into three parts: the metal mines, the caves, and the places of burial. This land was eminently noted for metal mines, so that "its stones," in very many places, "were iron, and out of its hills was digged brass," Deuteronomy 8:9. From these gain accrued to the Jews: but to the Christians, not seldom slavery and misery; being frequently condemned hither by …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica Sign Seekers, and the Enthusiast Reproved.
(Galilee on the Same Day as the Last Section.) ^A Matt. XII. 38-45; ^C Luke XI. 24-36. ^c 29 And when the multitudes were gathering together unto him, ^a 38 Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, Teacher, we would see a sign from thee. [Having been severely rebuked by Jesus, it is likely that the scribes and Pharisees asked for a sign that they might appear to the multitude more fair-minded and open to conviction than Jesus had represented them to be. Jesus had just wrought …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel Subjects of Study. Home Education in Israel; Female Education. Elementary Schools, Schoolmasters, and School Arrangements.
If a faithful picture of society in ancient Greece or Rome were to be presented to view, it is not easy to believe that even they who now most oppose the Bible could wish their aims success. For this, at any rate, may be asserted, without fear of gainsaying, that no other religion than that of the Bible has proved competent to control an advanced, or even an advancing, state of civilisation. Every other bound has been successively passed and submerged by the rising tide; how deep only the student …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
THE ISRAELITES IN THE LAND OF CANAAN: THE JUDGES--THE PHILISTINES AND THE HEBREW KINGDOM--SAUL, DAVID, SOLOMON, THE DEFECTION OF THE TEN TRIBES--THE XXIst EGYPTIAN DYNASTY--SHESHONQ OR SHISHAK DAMASCUS. The Hebrews in the desert: their families, clans, and tribes--The Amorites and the Hebrews on the left bank of the Jordan--The conquest of Canaan and the native reaction against the Hebrews--The judges, Ehud, Deborah, Jerubbaal or Gideon and the Manassite supremacy; Abimelech, Jephihdh. The Philistines, …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 6 Meditations of the True Manner of Practising Piety on the Sabbath-Day.
Almighty God will have himself worshipped, not only in a private manner by private persons and families, but also in a more public sort, of all the godly joined together in a visible church; that by this means he may be known not only to be the God and Lord of every Singular person, but also of the creatures of the whole universal world. Question--But why do not we Christians under the New, keep the Sabbath on the same seventh day on which it was kept under the Old Testament? I answer--Because our …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety Divine Support and Protection
[What shall we say then to these things?] If God be for us, who can be against us? T he passions of joy or grief, of admiration or gratitude, are moderate when we are able to find words which fully describe their emotions. When they rise very high, language is too faint to express them; and the person is either lost in silence, or feels something which, after his most laboured efforts, is too big for utterance. We may often observe the Apostle Paul under this difficulty, when attempting to excite …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2 Joshua
The book of Joshua is the natural complement of the Pentateuch. Moses is dead, but the people are on the verge of the promised land, and the story of early Israel would be incomplete, did it not record the conquest of that land and her establishment upon it. The divine purpose moves restlessly on, until it is accomplished; so "after the death of Moses, Jehovah spake to Joshua," i. 1. The book falls naturally into three divisions: (a) the conquest of Canaan (i.-xii.), (b) the settlement of the …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Joshua 10:22 NIVJoshua 10:22 NLTJoshua 10:22 ESVJoshua 10:22 NASBJoshua 10:22 KJV
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