Joshua 10:17

KJV

And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings are found hid in a cave at Makkedah.

KJV (with Strong's)

And it was told {H5046} Joshua {H3091}, saying {H559}, The five {H2568} kings {H4428} are found {H4672} hid {H2244} in a cave {H4631} at Makkedah {H4719}.

Complete Jewish Bible

and it was reported to Y'hoshua that the five kings had been found hiding in the cave at Makkedah.

Berean Standard Bible

And Joshua was informed: “The five kings have been found; they are hiding in the cave at Makkedah.”

American Standard Version

And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings are found, hidden in the cave at Makkedah.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Joshua 10:17 marks a pivotal moment in the narrative of Israel's conquest of Canaan, reporting the discovery of the five Amorite kings who had fled from the decisive battle at Gibeon. This concise yet potent announcement signals the immediate aftermath of God's miraculous intervention on behalf of Israel and sets the stage for the capture and execution of these defiant rulers, underscoring the inescapable nature of divine justice and the ongoing fulfillment of God's promises to His people.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Joshua 10:17 is situated immediately following one of the most dramatic and significant victories in the book of Joshua. The preceding verses ([Joshua 10:1-15](/joshua/10-1-15 "Joshua 10:1-15 - God's Miraculous Victory at Gibeon")) recount the Lord's intervention against a coalition of five southern Amorite kings who attacked Gibeon for making peace with Israel. This battle culminated in extraordinary divine assistance, including a devastating hailstorm ([Joshua 10:11](/joshua/10-11 "Joshua 10:11 - Hailstones from Heaven")) and the unprecedented lengthening of the day, famously known as the "sun standing still" ([Joshua 10:12-14](/joshua/10-12-14 "Joshua 10:12-14 - The Day the Sun Stood Still")). The Amorite kings, defeated and routed, fled the battlefield and sought refuge in a cave at Makkedah. Verse 17 serves as the pivotal announcement of their discovery, transitioning the narrative from the grand-scale battlefield victory to the specific pursuit and judgment of the enemy leaders, leading directly into their capture and execution in [Joshua 10:18-27](/joshua/10-18-27 "Joshua 10:18-27 - Capture and Execution of the Kings").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The conquest of Canaan, as depicted in the book of Joshua, was understood as a divinely mandated "holy war" or *herem*, where God commanded Israel to dispossess and destroy the wicked inhabitants of the land due to their egregious idolatry and moral depravity, as outlined in [Deuteronomy 9:4-5](/deuteronomy/9-4-5 "Deuteronomy 9:4-5 - Dispossessing Nations for Their Wickedness"). In the ancient Near East, defeated kings often fled to fortified cities, temples, or natural hiding places like caves to escape capture and execution. The act of capturing and publicly executing enemy kings was a common practice, demonstrating absolute victory and the subjugation of the defeated. Makkedah, a city in the Shephelah (lowlands) region of Judah, later listed among the cities allotted to the tribe of Judah ([Joshua 15:41](/joshua/15-41 "Joshua 15:41 - Makkedah in Judah's Allotment")), provided a specific geographical anchor for this event, grounding the miraculous narrative in tangible locations of the land being conquered.
* **Key Themes:** Joshua 10:17 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Joshua and the broader Old Testament narrative. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Sovereignty and Judgment**, demonstrating that no human power or cunning can escape God's reach or thwart His judgment against wickedness. The kings' desperate attempt to hide underscores the **Futility of Resistance** against the Lord's purposes; their perceived refuge became their trap. Secondly, the discovery of the kings serves as a direct **Fulfillment of God's Promises** to Joshua that He would deliver Israel's enemies into their hands, as promised in [Joshua 10:8](/joshua/10-8 "God's Promise to Joshua"). This event confirms God's active involvement and faithfulness in Israel's military success. Thirdly, it subtly reinforces **Joshua's Leadership and Obedience**, as the report is brought to him, and he will subsequently act decisively in accordance with God's will, ensuring the complete victory and the cleansing of the land, aligning with the theme of the **Holiness of the Land** and the need to purge its inhabitants.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **found (Hebrew, _mâtsâʼ'_):** A primitive root meaning "to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist," and transitively "to attain, i.e., find or acquire." In the context of Joshua 10:17, this word, used in its Niphal (passive) form, emphasizes that the kings were not merely hiding, but were *discovered*. This highlights the inescapable nature of their fate and the futility of their human efforts to evade divine judgment. It underscores their vulnerability and exposed state, revealing that their hiding place was compromised by divine providence.
* **hid (Hebrew, _châbâʼ'_):** A primitive root meaning "to secrete." This word, also in its Niphal (passive) form, describes the kings' desperate attempt to conceal themselves. The combination with "found" creates a powerful contrast, emphasizing that despite their best efforts to remain hidden, their location was revealed. This highlights the all-seeing nature of God and the ultimate inability of anyone to escape His notice or His appointed time of judgment.
* **Makkedah (Hebrew, _Maqqêdâh'_):** A specific place name in Palestine, derived from a root related to "fold" or "herding." The mention of this precise geographical location grounds the miraculous events in a tangible, historical setting. More than just a place, Makkedah becomes symbolic of divine judgment, as it is here that the five kings, representing the concentrated opposition to God's people, are cornered and brought to justice. The specificity of the location adds to the narrative's realism and historical claim, making it a concrete site of God's decisive victory.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And it was told Joshua, saying":** This opening clause indicates the communication of vital intelligence to the leader of Israel. It suggests the diligent pursuit of the enemy and the effectiveness of Israel's forces in tracking down the fleeing kings. The information is presented directly to Joshua, highlighting his central role as commander and decision-maker in the ongoing conquest and emphasizing that the Lord's plans are executed through His chosen servant.
* **"The five kings are found hid":** This is the core message of the verse. It identifies the high-value targets (the five Amorite kings who led the coalition against Gibeon and Israel) and reveals their desperate, yet ultimately unsuccessful, attempt to escape. The phrase "found hid" underscores their vulnerability and the fact that their perceived refuge was compromised, setting the stage for their imminent capture and judgment.
* **"in a cave at Makkedah":** This specifies the exact location of their concealment. Caves were common natural shelters in the region, often used for refuge. However, in this context, the cave at Makkedah becomes a trap rather than a sanctuary, a place where the kings' flight ends and their judgment begins. The geographical precision adds to the narrative's verisimilitude and underscores the inescapable nature of their predicament.

#### Literary Devices
The verse, though brief, employs several literary devices to enhance its impact. **Irony** is prominent, as the kings sought refuge in a cave, a seemingly secure hiding place, only for it to become the very site of their discovery and eventual demise. Their desperate attempt to escape judgment paradoxically leads them directly into its grasp. This discovery also serves as potent **Foreshadowing**, signaling the inevitable capture and execution of the kings detailed in the verses that immediately follow ([Joshua 10:18-27](/joshua/10-18-27 "Joshua 10:18-27 - Capture and Execution of the Kings")). The cave itself functions as **Symbolism**, representing a false sense of security or a futile attempt to evade divine reckoning. Makkedah, by association, becomes a symbolic place of inescapable judgment, where the forces opposing God's people are cornered and defeated. The direct and concise reporting style also contributes to the narrative's sense of immediate consequence and divine purpose, highlighting the swiftness of God's justice.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Joshua 10:17 serves as a stark reminder of God's inescapable justice and the futility of human rebellion against His sovereign will. The discovery of the kings, even in their hidden refuge, underscores the biblical truth that there is no place where one can hide from the presence or the judgment of God. This event powerfully illustrates God's faithfulness to His covenant promises, demonstrating that He actively fights for His people and delivers their enemies into their hands, just as He pledged. For those who defy Him, judgment is not merely a possibility but an inevitability, highlighting the certainty of divine retribution for unrepentant wickedness.

* [Psalm 139:7-12](/psalms/139-7-12 "Psalm 139:7-12 - God's Omnipresence and Omniscience")
* [Proverbs 11:21](/proverbs/11-21 "Proverbs 11:21 - The Wicked Will Not Go Unpunished")
* [Deuteronomy 7:1-2](/deuteronomy/7-1-2 "Deuteronomy 7:1-2 - Command to Dispossess the Nations")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Joshua 10:17 offers profound insights for contemporary believers. It reminds us that God's justice is not a theoretical concept but an active, unfolding reality. Just as the Amorite kings could not escape their divinely appointed fate, so too will every person ultimately face accountability before God. This truth should instill both a healthy fear of the Lord and a profound sense of assurance. For those who persist in defiance against God's will, this verse serves as a solemn warning: there is no hiding place from His all-seeing eye or His righteous judgment. For believers, however, it provides immense comfort and encouragement. It reaffirms God's absolute sovereignty over all circumstances, His unwavering faithfulness to His promises, and His active protection of His people. We can trust that He is working all things for His purposes, even when facing seemingly overwhelming opposition. This narrative calls us to steadfast obedience and unwavering faith, knowing that the Lord fights on our behalf and will ultimately bring about His perfect justice and establish His kingdom.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the discovery of the kings in a cave at Makkedah illustrate the futility of resisting God's sovereign will?**
* **In what ways does this event reinforce your understanding of God's justice and His faithfulness to His promises?**
* **What 'hiding places' might we be tempted to seek today when facing the consequences of our actions, and how does this verse speak to that temptation?**

### FAQ
**Why did the kings hide in a cave specifically?**

Answer: Caves were natural shelters and common places of refuge during warfare in ancient Canaan. They offered temporary concealment from immediate pursuit and a measure of protection, making them a logical choice for fleeing individuals or armies. In a landscape dotted with natural caves, such locations would be sought to regroup, hide, or escape. However, as demonstrated in this narrative, while offering initial concealment, caves could also become traps if discovered, leading to capture and judgment.

**What was the significance of Makkedah?**

Answer: Makkedah was a city in the Shephelah, the lowlands of Judah. Its mention grounds the narrative geographically, confirming the historical reality of the events. More significantly, Makkedah became a symbolic site of divine judgment and a key point in Israel's conquest. It was the place where these five prominent Amorite kings, leaders of the opposition against Israel and God's plan, were cornered, captured, and subsequently executed. This act fulfilled God's promise to deliver the land into Israel's hands and marked Makkedah as a place of decisive victory and divine retribution. It is later listed as one of the cities within Judah's tribal allotment in [Joshua 15:41](/joshua/15-41 "Joshua 15:41 - Makkedah in Judah's Allotment").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Joshua 10:17, with its depiction of kings hiding from an inescapable judgment, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the broader biblical narrative of divine judgment and the triumph of God's true King. The futile attempt of these Amorite kings to escape their fate foreshadows the universal truth that no one can hide from the ultimate judgment of God. While these kings sought refuge in a cave, only to be found and brought to justice, Christ, the true King, did not hide from the powers of sin and death but confronted them openly. His victory was not achieved by evasion but by voluntary sacrifice on the cross, where He disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities, triumphing over them ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Powers")). The judgment meted out to the Amorite kings points forward to the final, comprehensive judgment that Christ will execute upon all wickedness and rebellion at His second coming, when even the kings of the earth, the mighty, and the rich will seek to hide themselves in caves and among the rocks of the mountains, crying out for them to fall on them and hide them from the face of Him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb ([Revelation 6:15-17](/revelation/6-15-17 "Revelation 6:15-17 - Kings Hiding from God's Wrath")). In contrast to the kings of Canaan who faced a temporal judgment, Christ's work on the cross provides the only true refuge from eternal judgment, offering salvation to all who believe, for He came not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him ([John 3:17](/john/3-17 "John 3:17 - Christ Came to Save the World")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.