After this, Joshua struck down and killed the kings, and he hung their bodies on five trees and left them there until evening. After thisThis phrase indicates a sequence of events, suggesting that the actions taken by Joshua were a direct continuation of the divine mandate and military strategy previously outlined. In the broader context of Joshua 10, this follows the miraculous intervention by God, where He caused the sun to stand still. The phrase underscores the obedience of Joshua to God's commands, emphasizing the importance of following divine guidance in the life of a believer. Joshua struck them down
The act of striking down the enemies is a fulfillment of God's promise to deliver the Canaanite kings into Israel's hands. The Hebrew root for "struck" (נכה, nakah) often implies a decisive and divinely sanctioned action. This reflects the theme of divine justice and the execution of God's judgment against those who oppose His people. It serves as a reminder of the seriousness of sin and rebellion against God. and killed them
The completion of the act of judgment is signified by the phrase "and killed them." This reflects the totality of the victory granted by God. In the ancient Near Eastern context, the complete destruction of enemy leaders was a common practice to ensure the security and stability of the victors. Spiritually, it symbolizes the ultimate triumph of God's righteousness over evil. and he hung their bodies on five trees
Hanging the bodies on trees was a public display of the defeat and humiliation of the enemy. In Deuteronomy 21:22-23, the law states that a hanged man is cursed by God, which adds a theological dimension to this act. It signifies the curse upon those who oppose God's covenant people. The number five, often associated with grace, paradoxically highlights the severity of judgment against sin. and they were left hanging on the trees until evening
This phrase adheres to the Mosaic Law, which required that bodies not remain on the tree overnight (Deuteronomy 21:23). It demonstrates Joshua's adherence to the law even in the midst of executing judgment. The removal of the bodies by evening signifies the completion of justice and the restoration of order. It serves as a reminder of the balance between justice and mercy in God's character. Persons / Places / Events 1. JoshuaThe leader of the Israelites, successor to Moses, and a central figure in the conquest of Canaan. Known for his military leadership and faithfulness to God's commands. 2. Five Amorite KingsThe kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon who formed an alliance against Gibeon and were defeated by Joshua and the Israelites. 3. GibeonA city that made a peace treaty with Israel, prompting the Amorite kings to attack it, leading to the events of Joshua 10. 4. The Battle of GibeonA significant battle where God intervened by sending hailstones and stopping the sun, leading to Israel's victory. 5. The Hanging on TreesA practice used to display the defeat and judgment of enemies, signifying God's justice and the fulfillment of His promises to Israel. Teaching Points God's Justice and SovereigntyThe defeat and execution of the Amorite kings demonstrate God's justice against those who oppose His people and His plans. It reminds us that God is sovereign over nations and leaders. Obedience to God's CommandsJoshua's actions reflect his obedience to God's commands regarding the treatment of defeated enemies. This teaches us the importance of adhering to God's instructions in our lives. The Consequences of Sin and RebellionThe fate of the Amorite kings serves as a warning about the consequences of sin and rebellion against God. It encourages us to live in alignment with God's will. The Fulfillment of God's PromisesThe victory over the Amorite kings is a fulfillment of God's promise to give Israel the land of Canaan. It reassures us that God is faithful to His promises. The Symbolism of the TreeThe hanging on trees symbolizes judgment and curse, pointing forward to Christ's crucifixion, where He bore the curse for humanity's sin. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Joshua's treatment of the Amorite kings reflect his understanding of God's justice and commands? 2. In what ways does the account of the Amorite kings' defeat encourage us to trust in God's sovereignty over our own challenges? 3. How can we apply the principle of obedience to God's commands in our daily decision-making? 4. What lessons can we learn from the consequences faced by the Amorite kings about the dangers of opposing God's will? 5. How does the symbolism of the tree in Joshua 10:26 connect to the New Testament understanding of Christ's crucifixion and redemption? Connections to Other Scriptures Deuteronomy 21:22-23This passage provides the law regarding the hanging of executed criminals on a tree, emphasizing that the body should not remain overnight, which Joshua adhered to. Galatians 3:13Paul references the curse of hanging on a tree, connecting it to Christ's redemptive work, showing how Jesus took on the curse for us. Psalm 2:1-12This Psalm speaks of the futility of kings and rulers who oppose God's anointed, similar to the fate of the Amorite kings. 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 Afterward, Afterwards, Death, Evening, Hanged, Hangeth, Hanging, Hung, Joshua, Killed, Kings, Putteth, Slew, Smiteth, Smote, Struck, Till, TreesDictionary of Bible Themes Joshua 10:26 4933 evening
5322 gallows
5331 hanging
5485 punishment, legal aspects 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 10:26 NIVJoshua 10:26 NLTJoshua 10:26 ESVJoshua 10:26 NASBJoshua 10:26 KJV
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