Joshua 10:23 kjv
And they did so, and brought forth those five kings unto him out of the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon.
Joshua 10:23 nkjv
And they did so, and brought out those five kings 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.
Joshua 10:23 niv
So they brought the five kings out of the cave?the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon.
Joshua 10:23 esv
And they did so, and brought those 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.
Joshua 10:23 nlt
So they brought the five kings out of the cave ? the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon.
Joshua 10 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 15:16 | "But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete." | God's patience, now judgment is due. |
| Deut 7:2 | "and you shall utterly destroy them; you shall make no covenant with them nor show mercy to them." | God's command for total destruction of Canaanites. |
| Deut 20:17 | "but you shall utterly destroy them: the Hittite and the Amorite..." | Divine imperative for conquest and cleansing. |
| Josh 10:16 | "But these five kings fled and hid themselves in the cave at Makkedah." | Immediate context: Kings hiding from Joshua. |
| Josh 10:18 | "And Joshua said, 'Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave...'" | Joshua's strategy to trap the kings. |
| Josh 10:19 | "And Joshua said, 'Do not stay there; pursue your enemies...'" | Emphasis on completing the military victory. |
| Josh 10:24 | "And when they brought out those kings to Joshua... 'Put your feet on the necks of these kings.'" | Subsequent action: public humiliation and execution. |
| Josh 10:28 | "That day Joshua took Makkedah and struck it with the edge of the sword..." | Conquering cities after defeating their kings. |
| Num 21:35 | "So they struck him and his sons and all his people, until there was not one left alive..." | Similar divine judgment on resisting kings. |
| Deut 3:2 | "And the Lord said to Moses, 'Do not fear him, for I have delivered him and all his people..." | God empowers His people against formidable kings. |
| Josh 1:5 | "No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life..." | God's promise of unstoppable victory to Joshua. |
| 1 Sam 15:3 | "Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have..." | Parallel command for total destruction in war. |
| Ps 2:9 | "You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel." | Prophetic image of absolute royal conquest. |
| Ps 110:1 | "The Lord says to my Lord: 'Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.'" | Ultimate subjugation of enemies by Messiah. |
| Ps 110:5 | "The Lord is at Your right hand; He shall execute kings in the day of His wrath." | God's final judgment and victory over earthly kings. |
| Isa 60:12 | "For the nation and kingdom which will not serve you shall perish..." | Divine consequence for opposing God's chosen. |
| Rom 13:4 | "For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain..." | Human authority's role in executing justice. |
| Rev 17:14 | "These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings..." | Christ's final victory over worldly rulers. |
| Rev 19:19 | "And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies gathered together to make war against Him..." | Futility of earthly powers against God. |
| Rev 20:10 | "The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire..." | Ultimate defeat of evil's instigator. |
| Heb 4:8 | "For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day." | Points to Joshua as a type, foretelling spiritual rest. |
Joshua 10 verses
Joshua 10 23 Meaning
Joshua commands his officers to bring out the five Amorite kings who had taken refuge in the cave at Makkedah. This action marks the culmination of their defeat and initiates a public display of their humiliation, demonstrating the complete victory of Israel, empowered by God, over their formidable enemies.
Joshua 10 23 Context
Joshua chapter 10 recounts one of Israel's most dramatic victories during the conquest of Canaan. After Gibeon made a covenant with Israel, five Amorite kings (from Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon) formed an alliance to attack Gibeon. God miraculously intervened in the ensuing battle, sending large hailstones from heaven and extending the day by making the sun stand still, allowing Israel to utterly rout the Amorite forces. In the chaos, these five kings fled and sought refuge in a cave at Makkedah. Joshua, informed of their hiding place, commanded stones to be rolled over the cave's entrance to trap them, while Israelite soldiers continued their pursuit and slaughter of the fleeing enemy armies. This verse, Joshua 10:23, signifies the conclusion of that initial phase of military pursuit and the turning point towards addressing the captive leadership. Historically, this event fulfilled centuries-old prophecies regarding God's judgment on the Canaanite inhabitants, whose widespread idolatry, child sacrifice, and depraved practices had accumulated divine wrath. It demonstrates Yahweh's supremacy over the local deities and earthly rulers of Canaan.
Joshua 10 23 Word analysis
And afterward (וַאֲחַר כֵּן, wa'achar ken): This phrase signals a temporal transition, indicating a deliberate sequence of events. It shows Joshua's methodical leadership: first, the pursuit of the main army, then the attention to the captured leaders. It emphasizes ordered execution of the divine plan.
Joshua (יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, Yehoshua): Meaning "Yahweh is salvation" or "Yahweh saves." He is God's appointed leader, acting under divine instruction. His commands are a direct outworking of God's will for the conquest and purification of the land.
said (אָמַר, amar): A simple verb denoting clear communication and command. It implies authoritative decree, not a request.
Bring out (הַוֹּצִֽיאוּ, havo'tzi'u): This is a Hiphil imperative in Hebrew, meaning "cause to come out" or "extract." It's a strong, forceful command, underscoring the authority behind the order and the direct, compulsory nature of the action. It's not a suggestion, but an order for immediate retrieval.
to me (אֵלַי, elai): Specifies the destination of the kings—directly before Joshua. This emphasizes Joshua's supreme authority in the context of this campaign and highlights the public nature of the upcoming event, ensuring accountability and witness.
those five kings (אֶת־חֲמֵשֶׁת הַמְּלָכִים הָאֵ֔לֶּה, et chamesh shat ha'm'lachim ha'eleh): Identifies the precise individuals who, despite their former status, are now powerless captives. The numerical specificity ("five") underscores the comprehensive nature of the victory over the coalition. The title "kings" contrasts sharply with their current ignominious state.
from the cave (מִן־הַמְּעָרָ֖ה, min ha'm'arah): Specifies their futile place of hiding. The cave, a natural sanctuary often associated with safety, became a temporary prison and a symbol of their failed resistance to God's judgment. It emphasizes their complete capture.
from there (מִשָּֽׁם, mish'sham): A reinforcing adverb, redundant yet impactful, drawing full attention to the specific location of their captivity, stressing that their hiding was precisely where they were found and will be removed.
Words-group analysis:
- "And afterward Joshua said": This opening phrase highlights Joshua's controlled and sequential leadership. He waits until the main military objective (the pursuit of the fleeing army) is secured before addressing the captured leadership, reflecting disciplined strategy and adherence to a planned operation.
- "Bring out to me those five kings": This is a direct, imperative command showcasing Joshua's absolute authority as God's representative. The active "bring out" (Hiphil) signifies that these once powerful rulers are now passive objects, completely subject to Israel's will, symbolizing the total reversal of power engineered by God. Their status as "kings" ironically accentuates the completeness of their humiliation and downfall.
- "from the cave": This phrase succinctly conveys the dramatic shift in circumstances for the kings, from wielding power in their cities to desperately hiding in a dark crevice. The cave represents a last, failed attempt at escape from inevitable divine judgment.
Joshua 10 23 Bonus section
- The detail of fetching all five kings, the very leaders of the confederacy, underscores the completeness of Israel's victory and God's judgment. No leader of the enemy alliance escaped.
- This verse prepares for the significant symbolic act of the Israelite commanders putting their feet on the kings' necks (Joshua 10:24-25), a visual demonstration of ultimate victory and subjugation.
- The event illustrates the "holy war" concept in the Old Testament, where God uses Israel as His instrument of judgment against exceptionally wicked nations whose iniquity had "come to completion."
- The immediate action of addressing the kings after securing the military rout highlights Joshua's priority: dismantling the Canaanite leadership structure and sending a clear message to all remaining opposition about the futility of resistance.
Joshua 10 23 Commentary
Joshua 10:23 succinctly describes a moment of decisive triumph in Israel's conquest. It follows a miraculous victory and showcases Joshua's steadfast leadership and obedience to divine will. The command to extract the five Amorite kings from their hiding place is not an act of gratuitous cruelty, but a precise step in fulfilling God's long-delayed judgment upon the wicked inhabitants of Canaan and establishing His covenant people in the promised land. This verse sets the stage for the public display of their defeat, powerfully signifying Yahweh's absolute sovereignty over earthly powers and idolatry. It underlines that no strength, strategy, or hiding place can ultimately withstand the force of God's appointed will. This action established a pattern of total victory where the destruction of kings meant the fall of their cities and the ultimate cleansing of the land, demonstrating God's unwavering commitment to His covenant with Israel.