Joshua 10:16-27
Expanded Bible
16 During the fight the five kings ran away and hid in a cave ·near [at] Makkedah, 17 but someone found them hiding in the cave at Makkedah and told Joshua. 18 So he said, “·Cover the opening of the cave with large rocks [L Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave]. Put some men there to guard it, 19 but don’t stay there yourselves. Continue chasing the enemy and attacking them from behind. Don’t let them get to their cities, because the Lord your God will ·hand them over to you [L give them into your hand].”
20 So Joshua and the ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel] ·killed the enemy [L finished slaying them with a very great slaughter], but a ·few [remnant; few survivors] were able to get back to their strong, walled cities. 21 After the fighting, Joshua’s men came back safely to him at Makkedah. No one ·was brave enough to say a word against [or suffered even a scratch on his tongue; C the Hebrew idiom “sharpened/scratched his tongue” may mean to threaten with words or to suffer a minor injury] the ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel].
22 Joshua said, “Move the ·rocks that are covering the opening [L mouth] of the cave and bring those five kings out to me.” 23 So Joshua’s men brought the five kings out of the cave—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon. 24 When they brought the five kings out to Joshua, he called for all his men. He said to the commanders of his army, “Come here! Put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So they came close and put their feet on their necks [C a gesture of triumph and dominance; 2 Sam. 22:41; Ps. 18:41].
25 Joshua said to his men, “Be strong and brave! Don’t be afraid or ·discouraged [dismayed; 1:9; 8:1], because I will show you what the Lord will do to the enemies you will fight in the future.” 26 Then Joshua killed the five kings and hung their bodies on five trees [C an act of humiliation and shame; Deut. 21:23], where he left them until evening.
27 At sunset Joshua ·told [commanded] his men to take the bodies down from the trees. Then they threw them into the same cave where they had been hiding and covered the opening of the cave with large rocks, which are still there today.
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Joshua 10:16-27
New American Standard Bible
Victory at Makkedah
16 Now these (A)five kings had fled and hidden themselves in the cave at Makkedah. 17 And it was told to Joshua, saying, “The five kings have been found hidden in the cave at Makkedah.” 18 So Joshua said, “Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave, and post men by it to guard them, 19 but do not stay there yourselves; pursue your enemies and [a]attack them from behind. Do not allow them to enter their cities, for the Lord your God has handed them over to you.” 20 It came about when Joshua and the sons of Israel had finished striking them down in a very great defeat, (B)until they were destroyed, and the survivors of them who escaped [b]had entered the fortified cities, 21 that all the people returned to the camp, to Joshua at Makkedah in peace. No one [c]uttered a word against any of the sons of Israel.
22 Then Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave and bring these five kings out to me from the cave.” 23 They did so, and (C)brought these five kings out to him from the cave: the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon. 24 When they brought these kings out to Joshua, Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said to the leaders of the men of war who had gone with him, “Come forward, (D)put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So they came forward and put their feet on their necks. 25 Joshua then said to them, “(E)Do not fear or be dismayed! Be strong and courageous, for the Lord will do this to all your enemies with whom you fight.” 26 So afterward Joshua struck them and put them to death, and he (F)hanged them on five [d]trees; and they were hung on the [e]trees until evening. 27 Then it came about at [f]sunset that Joshua gave the command, and (G)they took them down from the [g]trees and threw them into the cave where they had hidden themselves, and put large stones over the mouth of the cave, to this very day.
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- Joshua 10:19 Lit strike their tail
- Joshua 10:20 Lit and had
- Joshua 10:21 Lit moved his tongue
- Joshua 10:26 Or wooden posts
- Joshua 10:26 Or wooden posts
- Joshua 10:27 Lit the time of the going of the sun
- Joshua 10:27 Or wooden posts
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New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
