And afterward Joshua struck them and put them to death, and he hanged them on five trees. And they hung on the trees until evening.
The five kings looked formidable when they marched out, but hailstones scattered them utterly. Yet Joshua knew his work was not finished; victory must be pursued, not merely won. A prudent general completes his conquests before he triumphs over captives.
AI summary
Commenting on Joshua 10:15-27
And it came to pass, at the time of the going down of the sun,.... Which was the time fixed by the law of God for taking down bodies that were hanged, Deu 21:23, that Joshua commanded, and they took them down off the trees; not from, any respect to them, but that they might not defile the land, as dead bodies in a ceremonial...
The pursuit drove hard to Makkedah without stopping. Joshua halted the main force there while detachments hunted down the rest, but some few reached their cities. The next day he finished it: the five kings were put to death as the Law demanded, their bodies hung on trees until evening.
AI summary
Commenting on Joshua 10:16-27