Joshua 10 16

Joshua 10:16 kjv

But these five kings fled, and hid themselves in a cave at Makkedah.

Joshua 10:16 nkjv

But these five kings had fled and hidden themselves in a cave at Makkedah.

Joshua 10:16 niv

Now the five kings had fled and hidden in the cave at Makkedah.

Joshua 10:16 esv

These five kings fled and hid themselves in the cave at Makkedah.

Joshua 10:16 nlt

During the battle the five kings escaped and hid in a cave at Makkedah.

Joshua 10 verses

Joshua 10 16 Meaning

Joshua 10:16 describes the immediate aftermath of the decisive battle where the five Amorite kings, who had united against Gibeon and subsequently battled Israel, are revealed to have fled the field of battle and sought refuge in a cave near the city of Makkedah. This verse highlights their desperate attempt to escape capture and death, following their catastrophic defeat by Joshua and the Lord. It signifies their utter defeat and vulnerability, contrasting with their prior position of power.

Joshua 10 16 Context

Joshua chapter 10 recounts one of the most significant campaigns of the conquest of Canaan. It begins with the reaction of the Amorite kings to the Gibeonites' treaty with Israel. Adoni-zedek, king of Jerusalem, forms a coalition with four other Amorite kings (from Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon) to attack Gibeon. The Gibeonites appeal to Joshua for help. Joshua, commanded by God, marches his army and decisively defeats the Amorite coalition with divine assistance, including a hailstorm and the sun standing still. This verse (Josh 10:16) immediately follows the description of the rout and the relentless pursuit by the Israelites. The fleeing and hiding of these kings underscore the totality of their defeat and their desperate, failed attempt to evade the inevitable judgment from Israel, empowered by the Lord. This act marks a critical moment as the focus shifts from battle pursuit to the final capture and execution of these prominent Canaanite rulers, further consolidating Israel's victory and dominance in the region.

Joshua 10 16 Word analysis

• But: The Hebrew conjunction וַ (wa-) functions here adversatively, introducing a contrasting piece of information. While the Israelite army was actively pursuing and slaughtering the enemy (vv. 10-11), this verse introduces the fate of the key enemy leaders who had momentarily escaped.
• the five kings: Hebrew חֲמֵ֣שׁ הַמְּלָכִים֮ (ḥamesh hamməlaḵîm).
  • חֲמֵשׁ (ḥamesh): "five." This specific number highlights the distinct coalition of powerful city-states (Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, Eglon). These kings represent significant political and military power in southern Canaan. Their collective defeat emphasizes the magnitude of God's victory through Joshua.
  • הַמְּלָכִים (hamməlaḵîm): "the kings," definite plural. The title "king" in this ancient Near Eastern context often referred to the ruler of a city-state and its surrounding territory. These were local monarchs with their own armies and spheres of influence, and their alliance demonstrates their shared alarm over Israel's progress.
• had fled: Hebrew נָ֑סוּ (nāsu). The verb נוּס (nūs) means "to flee, escape, take flight." It implies urgent, fearful, and desperate action taken to avoid capture or death. This shows the swiftness and terror of their defeat. Despite their status, they were reduced to mere fugitives.
• and hidden themselves: Hebrew וַֽיֵּחָבְא֣וּ (wayyeḥāve'û). The verb חבא (chava) in the Nifal stem, "to hide oneself, to be concealed." This indicates a deliberate act of seeking cover. Their choice to hide reflects their fear and perhaps a fleeting hope of remaining undiscovered and thus surviving the slaughter.
• in the cave: Hebrew בַּמְּעָרָה֙ (bamma‘ārāh). מְעָרָה (m'arah) means "cave, cavern." Caves were natural formations frequently used in ancient Israel and the Levant for shelter, storage, burial, or as places of refuge during times of conflict (e.g., David in Adullam, 1 Sam 22). Here, it signifies a primitive, exposed hiding spot, emphasizing their reduced circumstances and vulnerability.
• at Makkedah: Hebrew בְּמַקֵּדָֽה׃ (bəMakkēḏāh). Makkedah was a Canaanite city in the Shephelah, the low hills between the Philistine plain and the Judean mountains (Joshua 15:41). The precise geographical detail adds historical verisimilitude to the narrative and places the events in a real-world setting. It also suggests that their flight, though desperate, did not take them far from their familiar territory.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "But the five kings": This phrase emphasizes the immediate aftermath for the leaders of the enemy coalition. It signals that despite the general rout, the narrative is specifically turning its attention to these central figures, whose capture and demise will be crucial for the complete victory.
• "had fled and hidden themselves": This pair of verbs vividly portrays the abject state of the kings. They were not merely defeated; they were actively fleeing for their lives and then seeking to conceal their presence. This demonstrates the utter breakdown of their military and regal authority in the face of Israel's divinely assisted might. Their actions are those of hunted animals, not powerful rulers.
• "in the cave at Makkedah": This phrase provides a precise and ironic location for the kings' desperate refuge. A cave, a natural and often insecure hiding place, starkly contrasts with the fortified cities and palaces from which these kings ruled. Their chosen hiding place underscores their complete disempowerment and vulnerability, as it ultimately proves to be their trap and place of demise. The specificity of "Makkedah" grounds the event in historical geography.

Joshua 10 16 Bonus section

• The "Cave" Motif: In the biblical narrative, caves are multifaceted spaces. They are places of refuge (e.g., Lot in Gen 19, David in 1 Sam 22), burial sites (e.g., Machpelah in Gen 23), or symbolic places of darkness and hiding (e.g., Rev 6:15-16). In Joshua 10, the cave initially functions as a desperate refuge but swiftly transforms into a temporary prison, symbolizing the kings' inescapable doom. Their hope for concealment is short-lived, highlighting the omnipresence of divine judgment.
• God's Overpowering Victory: The fleeing of the kings further emphasizes that the victory was not merely by human might, but by divine intervention (Joshua 10:11, 14). The hailstones and the extended day (v. 13) were demonstrations of God's power that caused such panic and disarray among the enemy that their leaders resorted to hiding, showing the absolute superiority of the God of Israel over the pagan gods of Canaan.
• The Specificity of Makkedah: Makkedah becomes a landmark for divine justice. Its mention reinforces the historical accuracy claims of the Book of Joshua. The fact that Joshua was able to identify and corner them specifically there suggests the efficacy of his intelligence gathering and the relentless nature of the pursuit mandated by God.

Joshua 10 16 Commentary

Joshua 10:16 is a concise yet pivotal verse, marking the shift from the chaos of battle to the organized pursuit of the most prominent adversaries. It confirms the magnitude of the defeat dealt to the Amorite kings—a defeat so complete that these once-powerful rulers are reduced to desperately seeking refuge in a mere cave. Their flight and attempt to hide illustrate the divine terror (pahad YHWH) that the Lord had inflicted upon the Canaanite nations (Ex 23:27, Deut 2:25).

The inability of their power, status, or fortresses to protect them signifies that no one can ultimately hide from God's judgment and the unfolding of His redemptive plan for His people. This hiding place is not one of true refuge but a prelude to capture and execution (Josh 10:17-27). This serves as a stark warning to those who oppose God and His purposes, emphasizing the futility of resistance against His sovereign will.