Joshua 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.

Joshua 10:26 (KJV)

Context

This verse closes the account of Israel’s victory over five Amorite kings. These kings had joined forces to attack Gibeon because the Gibeonites had made peace with Israel. After the Lord gave Israel a great victory, the kings fled and hid in a cave at Makkedah. Joshua brought them out, and in the previous verse he told the men of Israel, “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.“

Meaning

Joshua smote and slew the five kings, then hanged their bodies on five trees until evening. This public display was a sign of shame and disgrace. It served as a warning to the inhabitants of Makkedah, whom Israel was besieging, and to all who opposed God’s people. The hanging was not mere cruelty; it was a divinely sanctioned act of judgment. The bodies were taken down at sunset, obeying the law in Deuteronomy 21:22-23, and cast into the cave where the kings had hidden, with great stones laid over its mouth.

Biblical connections

The hanging on trees points forward to the crucifixion of Christ. Galatians 3:13 says that Christ became a curse for us, bearing the judgment we deserved. Joshua executed judgment on others; Christ bore judgment for His people. The defeat of these five kings also shows that no enemy can stand against God’s purposes. Their opposition to Israel represents the resistance of nations to God’s plan of redemption, and their downfall foreshadows the final victory of God over all His enemies.

Application

This verse calls believers to trust in God’s justice and sovereignty. God fights for His people, and He will deal with all who oppose His will. The public judgment on these kings reminds us that sin is serious and that God’s judgment is certain. Yet the cross of Christ offers hope: the judgment we deserved fell on Him. Therefore, believers can live in obedience and courage, knowing that God is faithful to His promises.

Reflection

Consider how this event reveals both God’s holiness and His mercy. The same God who judged these kings provided a way of escape through Christ. As Joshua encouraged Israel to be strong and courageous, so believers today can face their spiritual battles with confidence, not in their own strength, but in the certain victory that God has already secured.