Joshua 10 27

Joshua 10:27 kjv

And it came to pass at the time of the going down of the sun, that Joshua commanded, and they took them down off the trees, and cast them into the cave wherein they had been hid, and laid great stones in the cave's mouth, which remain until this very day.

Joshua 10:27 nkjv

So it was at the time of the going down of the sun that Joshua commanded, and they took them down from the trees, cast them into the cave where they had been hidden, and laid large stones against the cave's mouth, which remain until this very day.

Joshua 10:27 niv

At sunset Joshua gave the order and they took them down from the poles and threw them into the cave where they had been hiding. At the mouth of the cave they placed large rocks, which are there to this day.

Joshua 10:27 esv

But at the time of the going down of the sun, Joshua commanded, and they took them down from the trees and threw them into the cave where they had hidden themselves, and they set large stones against the mouth of the cave, which remain to this very day.

Joshua 10:27 nlt

As the sun was going down, Joshua gave instructions for the bodies of the kings to be taken down from the poles and thrown into the cave where they had been hiding. Then they covered the opening of the cave with a pile of large rocks, which remains to this very day.

Joshua 10 verses

Joshua 10 27 Meaning

After executing the five Amorite kings—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon—Joshua ordered their bodies to be hung on five trees. These bodies remained exposed until sunset, demonstrating God's complete victory and the disgrace of His enemies, in strict adherence to Mosaic law regarding those put to death for great sin.

Joshua 10 27 Context

Joshua 10 records the crucial battle for the southern Canaanite region. After the Gibeonite deception led them to make a treaty with Israel, a coalition of five Amorite kings (Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, Eglon) formed an alliance to attack Gibeon. Gibeon appealed to Joshua for aid, and the Lord supernaturally intervened with hailstones and caused the sun and moon to stand still, ensuring Israel's decisive victory. Joshua pursued the kings who fled and hid in a cave at Makkedah. After the immediate pursuit and destruction of their armies, Joshua ordered the kings brought out of the cave. He then had his commanders put their feet on the kings' necks, signifying their complete subjugation and victory, before executing them. Verse 27 describes the final act of this specific incident, detailing the public display of their executed bodies as a symbol of their ignominious defeat and God's justice, strictly following the legal requirements given to Moses. Historically, this marked a significant consolidation of Israel's control over the central and southern parts of Canaan.

Joshua 10 27 Word analysis

• And afterward (achar - אַחַר): This Hebrew term signifies sequence in time, meaning "subsequently" or "after this." It indicates that the hanging was not the immediate act of the battle but followed the initial defeat, the kings' capture, the commanders stepping on their necks, and their execution. It emphasizes an orderly, deliberate execution of judgment.
• Joshua (Yehoshua - יְהוֹשׁוּעַ): Meaning "The LORD is salvation," Joshua acts here as the direct agent of God's will and judgment. His obedience to divine commands is a recurring theme in the book. This action is not personal vindictiveness but judicial execution commanded by God.
• struck them and put them to death (vayikhkêm vayyamitem - וַיַּכֵּם וַיְמִיתֵם): The two verbs hikam (to strike/smite) and yamitam (to kill/put to death) describe the violent and absolute termination of life. It implies a thorough and decisive act, indicating complete annihilation as per the herem (devotion to destruction) command for the Canaanites, which signified dedicating them completely to the Lord, often through destruction. This was God's judgment, not mere conquest.
• and he hanged them (vayitlēm - וַיִּתְלֵם): This verb means "to hang" or "to suspend." The act of hanging was a form of public shaming and a declaration of utter disgrace, typically reserved for heinous criminals and those cursed by God. It wasn't the method of execution in this instance, as they were "put to death" first, but a post-mortem display of their demise and infamy. It serves as a visual testament to divine wrath against rebellious kings and the triumph of God's people.
• on five trees (al chamishah etsim - עַל חֲמִשָּׁה עֵצִים): The specific number corresponds to the five executed kings, indicating a deliberate, public, and individual display. "Trees" here might refer to natural trees or possibly wooden poles/stakes erected for this purpose. The act of hanging on a tree held particular significance as per Mosaic law. This also stands as a symbolic reversal of pagan Canaanite tree-worship (sacred poles/asherah) – now their wicked kings hung on trees, instead of worship under trees.
• and they were hanging (vayihyu teluim - וַיִּהְיוּ תְּלוּיִם): This describes the continuous state of being suspended or hanging. It emphasizes the duration and visibility of the display.
• on the trees (al ha'etsim - עַל הָעֵצִים): The definite article "the" indicates these specific trees mentioned previously, signifying the same means and location of display.
• until evening (ad ha'erev - עַד הָעֶרֶב): This phrase specifies the precise duration of the bodies' public display, signifying a strict adherence to the Law given in Deut 21:22-23, which forbade a body from remaining on a tree overnight. This command prevented the land from being defiled and differentiated Israel's judicial practices from those of pagan nations who might leave bodies exposed indefinitely as a spectacle of desecration. It highlights Joshua's careful obedience to God's instructions regarding holiness and ritual purity for the land.

Joshua 10 27 Bonus section

The specific method of "hanging" described here, which occurred after the kings were "struck... and put to death," implies a post-mortem display rather than execution by hanging. This distinction is crucial for understanding the Old Testament law. Hanging as a method of execution was less common in Israel than stoning, but the display of bodies on a tree carried profound theological weight, signifying a person under a divine curse. The land itself would become "defiled" if a cursed body remained on a tree overnight, highlighting the sensitive spiritual purity required for the Promised Land and God's people within it. This act of public humiliation of the kings also asserted the supremacy of Israel's God, YHWH, over the false deities of Canaan, demonstrating that their supposed divine protectors were powerless to save them from His judgment.

Joshua 10 27 Commentary

Joshua 10:27 encapsulates several vital aspects of Israel's conquest and relationship with God. The execution and public display of the five Amorite kings underscore the principle of divine judgment against unrighteousness and the herem principle, where Canaanite nations were devoted to destruction due to their extreme wickedness (e.g., child sacrifice, widespread immorality). This act was not arbitrary cruelty but a commanded action for justice and land purity, demonstrating God's unwavering resolve against sin that had reached its full measure.

Central to this verse is Joshua's absolute obedience to the Mosaic Law, specifically Deuteronomy 21:22-23. The law stipulated that if a man was executed by hanging (or publicly displayed after execution), his body must be removed and buried before evening. This adherence prevented the land from being defiled by a body that bore the curse of God and maintained the sanctity of the Promised Land. Joshua's compliance showcases his character as a faithful servant who "left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses" (Josh 11:15).

The hanging served as a powerful public object lesson. It communicated total victory to the Israelites, warning to potential rebels, and served as a demoralizing sight for the remaining Canaanite population. The kings, once symbols of power, became symbols of divine judgment and utter disgrace. The "tree" motif is particularly significant as it becomes a biblical symbol for God's curse and judgment (Gal 3:13), ironically prefiguring the cross where Jesus, the ultimate deliverer, hung and bore the curse for humanity.

Practical Usages:

• Obedience: This passage reinforces the importance of meticulous obedience to God's commands, even when seemingly harsh or difficult to comprehend in modern contexts.
• Divine Justice: It illustrates God's unyielding commitment to justice and His eventual judgment upon all forms of evil and rebellion.
• Holiness: It speaks to the seriousness with which God views defilement and His desire for holiness in His people and their land.