After the Lord caused the sun to stand still while Israel defeated the Amorites at Gibeon, Joshua and his men went back to the Israelite camp at Gilgal. While there, Joshua receives word regarding the location of the five kings. "Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal. Now the five kings had fled and hidden in the cave at Makkedah. When Joshua was told that the five kings had been found hiding in the cave at Makkedah, he said, 'Roll large rocks up to the mouth of the cave, and post some men there to guard it. But don't stop; pursue your enemies! Attack them from the rear and don't let them reach their cities, for the Lord your God has given them into your hand.'" (Joshua 10:16-19)
Joshua orders his men to trap the kings inside the cave while they pursue and overtake the escaped Amorite soldiers. They must catch up with as many of them as possible before they reach their hometowns or else they will be able to hide behind the fortified walls of their cities. There they can regroup and plot another attack if there are enough of them left to go on a military raid. The Bible tells us the Israelites managed to catch up with all but a few of these enemy soldiers. "So Joshua and the Israelites defeated them completely, but a few survivors managed to reach their fortified cities. The whole army then returned safely to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah, and no one uttered a word against the Israelites." (Joshua 10:20-21)
The fear of Israel's God comes so strongly upon the nations and tribes of the land of Canaan that no one dares speak a word against Israel in case the Lord should hear it and take action. The inhabitants of Canaan are heathen idolaters but they have no doubt that Israel's God is real, though they believe Him to be only one of many gods. There is no doubt Israel's God is strong. There is no doubt God defends those who are His. The unbelievers of the world today should take heed to guard their tongues in regard to those who belong to the Lord, for He hears every word spoken against His children, and anyone who speaks out against His children will have to answer to Him.
Now that the soldiers of Israel have decisively defeated the Amorite forces who came up to attack Gibeon, it's time to deal with the five kings. "Joshua said, 'Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me.' So they brought the five kings out of the cave---the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon. When they had brought these kings to Joshua, he summoned all the men of Israel and said to the army commanders who had come with him, 'Come here and put your feet on the necks of these kings.' So they came forward and placed their feet on their necks." (Joshua 10:22-24) This is an age-old method of displaying triumph over one's enemy. These kings are defeated foes. Anyone who makes themselves the enemy of the people of God will end up as defeated foes sooner or later---even the devil himself, because the Scriptures assure us, "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet." (Romans 16:20a) The one who has made himself the enemy of our souls is already a defeated foe, though our feet are not yet planted on his neck. But anything the Lord says is as good as done, whether it happens today or a thousand years from now. Just as Joshua allows his generals who fought the battle to place their feet on the necks of their enemies, the Lord will allow us (because we have had to fight the temptations thrown at us by Satan) to participate in the humiliation of our chief enemy.
As Joshua's generals stand before him with their feet on the necks of the once-mighty kings who are now groveling in the dust, he uses this scene to illustrate the statement of faith he's about to make. "Joshua said to them, 'Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the Lord is going to do to all the enemies you are going to fight.'" (Joshua 10:25-26) This scene is to be imprinted upon their minds so they will not lose confidence the next time they face fierce enemies. Joshua says, "Fear not! Just as the Lord defeated these enemies and planted your feet in their necks, so He will defeat every enemy who comes against you. You will stand in triumph over every one of them."
"Then Joshua put the kings to death and exposed their bodies on five poles, and they were left hanging on the poles until evening. 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 10:26-27) Displaying the dead body of a vanquished foe was also an age-old military custom. But in accordance with the law given by the Lord to Israel, Joshua does not leave their bodies hanging past sundown. The Lord said in Deuteronomy 21:22-23, "If someone guilty of a capital offense is put to death and their body is exposed on a pole, you must not leave the body hanging on the pole overnight. Be sure to bury it that same day, because anyone who is hung on a pole is under God's curse. You must not desecrate the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance."
Many ancient cultures would leave a body hanging out in the elements until it was torn apart by scavengers or until it decayed and fell apart on its own. They would not allow anyone---not even the family members of the deceased---to take the body down and bury it. The Lord has mercy on the loved ones of executed persons. He does not want them to be tormented by the sight or the thought of their relative's body undergoing such terrible things. He allows the Israelites to display the body of the executed person, perhaps as a deterrent to others who are tempted to commit the same crimes, but the body must be taken down and buried before dark. Joshua follows the Lord's instructions. He orders the bodies taken down before nightfall and has his men inter the bodies in the cave and place stones over the opening to prevent animals from disturbing the remains. This turns the cave into a tomb.
On the heels of the great victory won when Israel defended Gibeon from the Amorites, Joshua and his men conquer many of the southern cities of the land of Canaan in tomorrow's study.
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