Joshua 10:18

Translations

Modern

So Joshua said, “Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave, and post men there to guard them.

Traditional

And Joshua said, Roll great stones upon the mouth of the cave, and set men by it for to keep them:

Literal

And Joshua said, “Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave, and set by it men to guard them.

Latin

Qui præcepit sociis, et ait: Volvite saxa ingentia ad os speluncæ, et ponite viros industrios, qui clausos custodiant:

Original

Hebrew

English

So Joshua said, “Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave, and post men there to guard them.

Notes

Joshua 10:18–19

By blocking the opening of the cave, Joshua reduced the number of guards needed to keep the kings from escaping. This also eliminated danger to the guards and freed more men to pursue the fleeing people.

Joshua 10:1–43

Gibeon and its neighboring cities were on a plateau (high flat place) north of Jerusalem (see study note on 7:2). With Gibeon now as an ally with Israel, Israel controlled the plateau and the central hill country near Gibeon. Historically, controlling the plateau often meant controlling the hill country. The kings of Canaan had to conquer Gibeon, or they would fail.

Joshua 7:1–12:24

This second major section of the book records Joshua's southern and northern campaigns against two coalitions of kings from Canaan. Joshua's victories allowed Israel to settle the hill country from Galilee in the north to the Negev in the south.

Theme notes and profiles

Joshua

Events

War with Canaanites

Related verses

Matthew 27:66
So they went and secured the tomb by sealing the stone and posting the guard.
Amos 5:19
It will be like a man who flees from a lion, only to encounter a bear, or who enters his house and rests his hand against the wall, only to be bitten by a snake.
Joshua 10:22
Then Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me.”
Job 21:30
Indeed, the evil man is spared from the day of calamity, delivered from the day of wrath.
Amos 9:1
I saw the Lord standing beside the altar, and He said: “Strike the tops of the pillars so that the thresholds shake. Topple them on the heads of all the people, and I will kill the rest with the sword. None of those who flee will get away; none of the fugitives will escape.
Judges 9:46–49
On hearing of this, all the leaders in the tower of Shechem entered the inner chamber of the temple of El-berith.

People

Joshua: Moses' assistant who led Israel into Canaan

Glossary

Adoni-Zedek Azekah Conquest and Allotment of the Land Gibeon, Gibeonites Gilgal Hoham Japhia (Person) Jerusalem Joshua, Book of Judges, Book of Makkedah Tribe of Dan

Topics

Adoni-Zedek: A King of Jerusalem Amorites: Kings of Captive: Cruelty to Putting to Death Cave: Place of Refuge Debir: King of Eglon Hebron: Hoham, King of, Confederated with Other Kings of the Canaanites Against Joshua Jerusalem: Confederated Kings Defeated, and the King of Jerusalem Killed by Joshua Jerusalem: The King of, Defeated and Slain by Joshua Makkedah: Five Kings of the Amorites Hide in a Cave of, and are Killed by Joshua Piram: Overcome and Killed by Joshua Prisoners of War: Put to Death War of Extermination

Joshua 10:18

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