24 When they brought these kings out to Joshua , Joshua called for all the men of Israel , and said to the chiefs of the men of war who had gone with him, "Come near , put your feet on the necks of these kings ." So they came near and put their feet on their necks . 25 Joshua then said to them, " Do not fear or be dismayed ! Be strong and courageous , for thus the Lord will do to all your enemies with whom you fight ." 26 So afterward e Joshua struck them and put them to death , and he hanged them on five trees ; and they hung on the trees until evening . 27 It came about at sunset e that Joshua gave a command , and they took them down from the trees and threw them into the cave where e they had hidden themselves, and put large stones over the mouth of the cave , to this very day .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Joshua 10:24-27
Commentary on Joshua 10:15-27
(Read Joshua 10:15-27)
None moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel. This shows their perfect safety. The kings were called to an account, as rebels against the Israel of God. Refuges of lies will but secure for God's judgment. God punished the abominable wickedness of these kings, the measure of whose iniquity was now full. And by this public act of justice, done upon these ringleaders of the Canaanites in sin, he would possess his people with the greater dread and detestation of the sins of the nations that God cast out from before them. Here is a type and figure of Christ's victories over the powers of darkness, and of believers' victories through him. In our spiritual conflicts we must not be satisfied with obtaining some important victory. We must pursue our scattered enemies, searching out the remains of sin as they rise up in our hearts, and thus pursue the conquest. In so doing, the Lord will afford light until the warfare be accomplished.