And Joshua was informed: "The five kings have been found; they are hiding in the cave at Makkedah." The word came to JoshuaThis phrase indicates divine communication or revelation. In the context of the Old Testament, God often communicated His will and guidance to His chosen leaders. The Hebrew root for "word" is "dabar," which signifies not just a spoken word but a matter or thing. This highlights the importance and authority of the message being delivered to Joshua, emphasizing that it is not merely human intelligence but divine instruction. The five kings
These kings represent the coalition of Amorite rulers who opposed Israel. Historically, the Amorites were a significant group in Canaan, often seen as adversaries to the Israelites. The number five can symbolize human weakness and limitation, contrasting with the divine strength and completeness that Joshua, as God's appointed leader, embodies. This phrase sets the stage for the demonstration of God's power over earthly rulers. have been found
The discovery of the kings is significant, as it underscores the futility of opposing God's will. The Hebrew root "matsa" implies not just finding but encountering or coming upon something. This suggests that the kings' hiding was not hidden from God, reinforcing the theme of divine omniscience and sovereignty. they are hiding
The act of hiding indicates fear and vulnerability. In the biblical narrative, hiding often symbolizes a lack of faith or an attempt to escape divine judgment. The Hebrew word "chaba" conveys a sense of concealment or seeking refuge, which is ironic given that true refuge can only be found in God. This phrase highlights the contrast between the kings' fear and Joshua's faith. in the cave
Caves in biblical times were often used as places of refuge or burial. The Hebrew word "me'arah" refers to a natural or man-made cavity in the earth. Caves can symbolize darkness and entrapment, contrasting with the light and freedom found in following God's path. This setting underscores the kings' desperate situation and foreshadows their impending judgment. at Makkedah
Makkedah is a location in the Shephelah region of ancient Israel. Archaeologically, it is identified with the modern site of Khirbet el-Kheishum. The name "Makkedah" may derive from a root meaning "place of shepherds" or "herding," which is ironic given the kings' attempt to shepherd their own fate away from God's will. This geographical detail grounds the narrative in a real historical context, emphasizing the tangible reality of God's intervention in history. Persons / Places / Events 1. JoshuaThe leader of the Israelites, successor to Moses, and a central figure in the conquest of Canaan. Known for his faithfulness and obedience to God. 2. The Five KingsThese were the kings of the Amorites who formed an alliance against Israel. Their hiding in the cave represents their fear and defeat. 3. MakkedahA location in Canaan where the five kings sought refuge. It becomes a significant site of victory for Israel. 4. The AmoritesA group of Canaanite people who opposed Israel. Their defeat is part of God's promise to give the land to the Israelites. 5. The CaveSymbolizes a place of hiding and eventual judgment for the kings. It serves as a temporary refuge but ultimately leads to their capture. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty in BattleThe capture of the five kings demonstrates God's control over the events of history and His ability to deliver His people from their enemies. The Futility of Opposing GodThe kings' attempt to hide from Joshua illustrates the futility of resisting God's will. No plan against God can succeed. The Importance of ObedienceJoshua's leadership and success are rooted in his obedience to God's commands. Believers are called to follow God's guidance faithfully. Divine JusticeThe eventual capture and judgment of the kings remind us that God's justice will prevail. Wrongdoers may hide temporarily, but they cannot escape divine judgment. Faith in God's PromisesThe victory at Makkedah is a testament to God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to Israel. Believers can trust in God's promises today. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the account of the five kings hiding in the cave at Makkedah illustrate the futility of opposing God's plans? 2. In what ways does Joshua's leadership in this passage reflect the qualities of a faithful servant of God? 3. How can the concept of divine justice, as seen in the capture of the five kings, be applied to our understanding of justice in today's world? 4. What are some modern-day "caves" where people might try to hide from God's will, and how can we avoid these pitfalls? 5. How does the victory at Makkedah encourage us to trust in God's promises, even when facing seemingly insurmountable challenges? Connections to Other Scriptures Psalm 2This Psalm speaks of the futility of kings and rulers who oppose God's anointed. It parallels the futility of the five kings' resistance against Joshua, God's appointed leader. 1 Samuel 24David's encounter with Saul in a cave highlights themes of refuge and divine justice, similar to the kings hiding in Makkedah. Hebrews 11The chapter on faith includes references to the conquest of Canaan, emphasizing the faith-driven victories of leaders like Joshua. 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 Cave, Declared, Hid, Hidden, Hiding, Hole, Joshua, Kings, Makkedah, Makke'dah, Rock, SayingDictionary of Bible Themes Joshua 10:16-18 4218 cave Joshua 10:17-18 4354 rock 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 10:17 NIVJoshua 10:17 NLTJoshua 10:17 ESVJoshua 10:17 NASBJoshua 10:17 KJV
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