At sunset Joshua ordered that they be taken down from the trees and thrown into the cave in which they had hidden. Then large stones were placed against the mouth of the cave, and the stones are there to this day. At sunsetThe phrase "at sunset" signifies the end of a day, a time often associated with closure and completion in biblical narratives. In Hebrew culture, the day begins at sunset, so this moment marks both an end and a beginning. It reflects the completion of God's judgment on the Canaanite kings and the transition to a new phase of Israel's conquest. The setting sun can symbolize the end of the kings' reign and the darkness that comes with their defeat, contrasting with the light of God's guidance for Israel. Joshua gave the command
Joshua, as the leader appointed by God after Moses, acts with divine authority. His command reflects obedience to God's will and the fulfillment of His promises to Israel. The Hebrew root for "command" (צָוָה, tsavah) implies a directive that is not merely a suggestion but an authoritative order, underscoring Joshua's role as God's chosen leader. that they be taken down from the trees
The act of taking the bodies down from the trees is significant in the context of Deuteronomy 21:22-23, which instructs that a hanged body should not remain on a tree overnight. This adherence to the law demonstrates Israel's commitment to God's commandments, even in the treatment of their enemies. It also reflects a respect for the dignity of human life, even in death, aligning with the broader biblical principle of justice tempered with mercy. and thrown into the cave where they had hidden
The cave, initially a place of refuge for the kings, becomes their tomb. This ironic twist highlights the futility of opposing God's will. The Hebrew word for "cave" (מְעָרָה, me'arah) often denotes a place of hiding or refuge, yet here it becomes a symbol of divine retribution. The act of throwing them into the cave signifies the finality of their defeat and the inescapability of God's judgment. Then they placed large stones over the mouth of the cave
Placing large stones over the cave's mouth serves both a practical and symbolic purpose. Practically, it ensures the kings' bodies remain undisturbed, while symbolically, it represents the sealing of their fate. The use of stones in biblical narratives often signifies permanence and memorialization, as seen in other contexts where stones are used to mark significant events or covenants. where the remains are to this day
This phrase underscores the historical reliability of the account, suggesting that the site was known and could be verified by the original audience. It serves as a testament to God's faithfulness in delivering Israel's enemies into their hands. The enduring presence of the remains acts as a physical reminder of God's power and the fulfillment of His promises, encouraging future generations to trust in His sovereignty. Persons / Places / Events 1. JoshuaThe leader of Israel who succeeded Moses. He led the Israelites into the Promised Land and was instrumental in the conquest of Canaan. 2. The Five Amorite KingsThese were the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon who formed an alliance against Gibeon and were defeated by Joshua and the Israelites. 3. The Cave at MakkedahThe hiding place of the five Amorite kings after their defeat. It became their tomb after they were executed. 4. The IsraelitesThe people of God, led by Joshua, who were in the process of conquering the Promised Land as God had commanded. 5. The Large StonesThese were used to seal the cave, symbolizing the finality of the kings' defeat and serving as a lasting memorial of God's deliverance. Teaching Points Obedience to God's LawJoshua's actions reflect adherence to God's commands regarding the treatment of executed individuals, emphasizing the importance of obedience to divine law. God's Judgment and MercyThe defeat and execution of the Amorite kings illustrate God's judgment on sin, while the sparing of Gibeon (earlier in the chapter) highlights His mercy. Memorials of God's DeliveranceThe stones over the cave serve as a reminder of God's deliverance and faithfulness, encouraging believers to remember and recount God's past faithfulness in their lives. Leadership and ResponsibilityJoshua's leadership in executing justice and following God's commands sets an example for leaders to act with integrity and courage. The Finality of God's VictoryThe sealing of the cave symbolizes the complete and final victory God grants over His enemies, encouraging believers to trust in God's ultimate triumph. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Joshua's adherence to the law in Deuteronomy 21:22-23 reflect his character and leadership? How can we apply this principle of obedience in our own lives? 2. In what ways does the account of the Amorite kings' defeat and burial serve as a warning about the consequences of sin? How can this understanding shape our daily decisions? 3. How do the large stones over the cave serve as a memorial of God's deliverance? What are some ways we can create "memorials" in our lives to remember God's faithfulness? 4. Compare the sealing of the cave with the burial of Jesus in Matthew 27:60. What are the similarities and differences, and what do they teach us about God's power over life and death? 5. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's deliverance in your life. How can you use that experience to encourage others in their faith journey? Connections to Other Scriptures Deuteronomy 21:22-23This passage provides the law regarding the treatment of executed criminals, which Joshua adhered to by taking the bodies down at sunset. Genesis 15:16This verse speaks of the iniquity of the Amorites, which had reached its full measure, leading to their judgment through Israel's conquest. Matthew 27:60The burial of Jesus in a tomb sealed with a stone draws a parallel to the sealing of the cave, though with a vastly different outcome. 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 Cast, Cave, Cave's, Command, Commanded, Hid, Hidden, Hiding, Hole, Joshua, Joshua's, Laid, Large, Mouth, Order, Orders, Pass, Placed, Rocks, Safe, Setting, Stones, Sunset, Themselves, Threw, Till, Trees, WhereinDictionary of Bible Themes Joshua 10:27 4218 cave
4354 rock
5167 mouth
5241 burial 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 10:27 NIVJoshua 10:27 NLTJoshua 10:27 ESVJoshua 10:27 NASBJoshua 10:27 KJV
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