Joshua 10:23-33

Jos 10:23

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.

Then the five pagan kings were brought out of the cave on Joshua’s orders.  They were named individually because that shows the reality of the fact that they were now defeated not only as an alliance of cities but individually as kings.

Jos 10:24

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.

Then when these five kings were brought out, Joshua then orders the captains of the men.  These would have been the chief officers of the army.  The kings were then made to kneel to the ground and the officers placed their feet upon the necks of the kings.  This is an ancient method of treating captured kings which is symbolic of complete subjugation or capitulation.  It was not done out of insult or arrogance but was done to show their complete defeat.

Jos 10:25

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.

Then while the kings were still in a position of subjection to Joshua, he then makes the statement reassuring the people of Israel that what they were seeing here is what the LORD will do to all the enemies who come against Israel or who resists them.  Therefore, they are to be strong and of good courage which is exactly what the LORD told Joshua when he took leadership over Israel after the death of Moses.  Now he tells the people they have nothing to fear and they are to be strong because the LORD is their strength in battle.

Jos 10:26

And afterward Joshua smote them, and slew them, and hanged them on five trees: and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening.

Then after they were humiliated before all of Israel, the five kings then received their punishment for their crimes against Israel and were slain.  Then they were hung on a tree until evening when they were to be taken down.  This was done to show the people of Makkedah what will happen to their king if he takes the same path the five kings took.

²² And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree: ²³ His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance. (Deuteronomy 21:22-23)

Jos 10:27

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.

Then when evening had come Joshua obeyed the law of God and had the bodies of the five pagan kings taken down from the tree and public spectacle and they were placed in the cave of Makkedah where they had hidden themselves.  Great stones were placed at the mouth of the cave which was now their permanent burial place.

Jos 10:28

And that day Joshua took Makkedah, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof he utterly destroyed, them, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain: and he did to the king of Makkedah as he did unto the king of Jericho.

The timing here seems to match the timing of the five kings being subjugated and then hung on the tree.  Before sundown Joshua mounted an attack upon the city of Makkedah and had destroyed everyone in the city including the king and there was no one left in the city.  They destroyed the king but did not hang his body on a tree like they did the king of Ai.

Jos 10:29

Then Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, unto Libnah, and fought against Libnah:

Then Joshua continued his conquest of Canaan and the next city he fought was Libnah.  Libnah was about 10 miles (16 KM) southwest of Makkedah.

Jos 10:30

And the LORD delivered it also, and the king thereof, into the hand of Israel; and he smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain in it; but did unto the king thereof as he did unto the king of Jericho.

Then the same scenario happens at Libnah as it did in Makkedah.  Joshua attacked them and they took the city and smote all of the inhabitants including the king which was killed with the sword along with his people but was not hanged on a tree. 

Jos 10:31

And Joshua passed from Libnah, and all Israel with him, unto Lachish, and encamped against it, and fought against it:

Then after the conquest of Libnah, Joshua then headed toward Lachish.  Lachish was 5 miles (8 KM) southwest of Libnah.  Here Joshua made his encampment as the people of Israel were going further into the land of Canaan.  Then once Joshua was ready he fought against the city of Lachish. 

Jos 10:32

And the LORD delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel, which took it on the second day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein, according to all that he had done to Libnah.

Then Joshua attacked Lachish but it seems they put up a fight and it took Joshua two days instead of one to defeat it nevertheless the LORD delivered Lachish into the hand of Joshua and they did to Lachish what they did to Libnah and had smote all the inhabitants so none lived to form any resistance against Israel.

Jos 10:33

Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish; and Joshua smote him and his people, until he had left him none remaining.