So they brought the five kings out of the cave--the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon. So they brought outThis phrase indicates a decisive action taken by Joshua and the Israelites. The Hebrew root for "brought out" is "yatsa," which often implies a forceful or deliberate removal. This action signifies the triumph of God's people over their enemies, fulfilling God's promise of victory. It is a reminder of the power of divine intervention and the importance of obedience to God's commands. the five kings
The number five in biblical numerology often symbolizes God's grace. These kings represent the coalition of Canaanite forces that opposed Israel. Their capture and subsequent defeat underscore the futility of resisting God's will. Historically, these kings were leaders of significant city-states, emphasizing the magnitude of Israel's victory. from the cave
The cave served as a temporary refuge for the kings, but it ultimately became a place of their exposure and defeat. Caves in biblical times were often used as hiding places or burial sites, symbolizing both protection and entrapment. This imagery highlights the theme of God's light exposing darkness and the inevitability of divine justice. the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon
Each of these cities held strategic and cultural significance in Canaan. Jerusalem, later to become the spiritual center of Israel, was initially a stronghold of opposition. Hebron was a city of refuge and a place of patriarchal heritage. Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon were fortified cities, representing human strength and pride. The defeat of these kings illustrates the dismantling of earthly powers before the sovereignty of God. It serves as a testament to the fulfillment of God's promises to Abraham regarding the land of Canaan and the establishment of Israel as His chosen nation. Persons / Places / Events 1. JoshuaThe leader of Israel, who succeeded Moses and led the Israelites into the Promised Land. He is a central figure in this account, demonstrating faith and obedience to God's commands. 2. Five KingsThe kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon. These kings formed an alliance against Israel but were defeated and captured by Joshua and the Israelites. 3. CaveThe place where the five kings hid during the battle. It symbolizes the futility of resisting God's will and the ultimate exposure of those who oppose Him. 4. JerusalemOne of the cities whose king was captured. It later becomes a significant city in biblical history as the capital of Israel and the site of the Temple. 5. Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, EglonCities in the southern region of Canaan, each with its own king. Their defeat represents the broader conquest of the land by the Israelites. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty in BattleThe capture of the five kings illustrates God's control over the events of history and His ability to bring about His purposes despite human opposition. The Futility of Opposing GodThe hiding of the kings in the cave and their eventual capture serve as a reminder that no plan against God will succeed. It encourages believers to align themselves with God's will. Leadership and ObedienceJoshua's role in this event highlights the importance of faithful leadership and obedience to God's commands. Leaders are called to trust in God's promises and act courageously. Divine JusticeThe judgment on the five kings reflects God's justice against those who oppose His people. It reassures believers that God will ultimately vindicate His righteousness. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the capture of the five kings demonstrate God's sovereignty and power in the face of human opposition? 2. In what ways can we see the futility of opposing God in our own lives and the world around us? 3. How does Joshua's leadership in this passage inspire us to act with faith and courage in our own roles and responsibilities? 4. What lessons can we learn about divine justice from the fate of the five kings, and how does this shape our understanding of God's character? 5. How can the themes of this passage encourage us to trust in God's promises and remain steadfast in our faith, even when facing formidable challenges? Connections to Other Scriptures Joshua 10:1-5Provides context for the alliance of the five kings and their opposition to Israel, setting the stage for their eventual defeat. Psalm 2Reflects on the futility of kings and rulers who plot against the Lord and His anointed, echoing the theme of divine victory over earthly powers. Romans 8:31Emphasizes that if God is for us, no one can stand against us, paralleling the assurance of victory that Joshua experienced. 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, Eglon, Forth, Hebron, Hole, Jarmuth, Jerusalem, Kings, LachishDictionary of Bible Themes 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 10:23 NIVJoshua 10:23 NLTJoshua 10:23 ESVJoshua 10:23 NASBJoshua 10:23 KJV
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