"Now these five kings had fled and hidden themselves in the cave at Makkedah. It was told Joshua, saying, “The five kings have been found hidden in the cave at Makkedah.” Joshua said, “Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave, and assign men by it to guard them, but do not stay there yourselves; pursue your enemies and attack them in the rear. Do not allow them to enter their cities, for the LORD your God has delivered them into your hand.” It came about when Joshua and the sons of Israel had finished slaying them with a very great slaughter, until they were destroyed, and the survivors who remained of them had entered the fortified cities, that all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace. No one uttered a word against any of the sons of Israel." Joshua 10:16-21
The five kings hid themselves in a cave - we examined this narrative from the viewpoint of the Five Kings in the last newsletter. But this month I would like to consider this event from Joshua’s viewpoint. Why did Joshua choose not to judge and execute the Five Kings immediately? The military answer is that these Kings were already no threat as they were trapped and neutralized in this cave. The real battle involved those fighters fleeing to defensive positions and who would soon recover their courage and muster for a counter attack. Pursuit and defeat while the enemy was in full panic was of first importance. The army of the sons of Israel had much work to accomplish and five kings in a cave could wait.
Before we return to the Five Kings let us consider an apparent problem with the text. In a number of places, the narrative appears to imply a 'final' victory but in light of further information found in the book of Judges we clearly see that the work of occupying the Land was ongoing. The generation who experienced these events first hand understood that, even with the initial victories, ongoing efforts to suppress the enemy would follow. The narrative in Joshua raises a few questions as most English words used in the various translations seem to imply that the Canaanite people were totally destroyed and occupation of the land was completed. A couple of explanations help us understand this apparent discrepancy. First, from a linguistic standpoint, we find that the specific word used by the writer seems to state that the battles were finally 'won.' However, according to Dale Ralph Davis in his commentary on the book of Joshua, “the Hebrew verb translated 'took' or 'capture' as in "Now Joshua captured Makkedah on that day ..." (Joshua 10:28) means 'once' or 'one time' and is not "declaring that Joshua took the land all at one time, but that he took it once, which suggests the possibility that later battles were required to retake certain locals. In such a case, further tribal efforts are not surprising." Dale Ralph Davis, No Falling Words footnotes, page 89.
So I think this issue of a apparent discrepancy in the text is resolved but this brings us to a second question. If all Canaan was to be judged and destroyed, why were there further battles to be fought?
From the start, we understood the book of Joshua to be a record of both the judgment of the wicked Canaanites and the occupation of the Promised Land by the children of Abraham. So, even if it is not explicitly stated here, we know that this historical event is about more than merely beating the armies of Canaan. Remember that part of the promise was that the Lord would give the sons of Israel, “... great and splendid cities which you did not build, houses full of all good things which you did not fill, and hewn cisterns which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant, and you eat and are satisfied ... " (Deuteronomy 6:10-11). It is reasonable to assume that though the judgment of the wicked Canaanites was violent and total, there still remained some Canaanite survivors to care for and tend to whatever physical assets not yet occupied by Israel.
Untended grape vines and olive trees and fields of grain would need workers to continue the 'cultivation' until the descendants of Abraham actually took physical possession of those various properties. Though the Scripture on this point is silent, is it possible that these remaining Canaanites were grafted into Israel? We know that later the descendants of the remaining Canaanites were enemies of the people of God. But considering the Sons of Israel, these children of promise, also failed to teach their children, it is not so big a stretch to believe that the ingrafted Canaanite families would also eventually fail in the task of teaching their children? That would explain the later record contained in the book of Judges telling us that many of the native Canaanite children eventually became mortal enemies of the Nation of Israel. It is mere speculation on my part, but I do think that the first generation of Israelites clearly understood the ongoing nature of the work of occupation. They understood that after the initial battles there would be smaller battles as they came to live in these previously unoccupied sections of Canaan. Sadly, many of the Israelite fathers apparently failed to teach their children these vital lessons about the ongoing work of perseverance in the faith - but that is a story for another article!
So in a larger, spiritual sense, this section of Scripture gives us a picture of both the patience of God in judgment as well as a picture of the believers ongoing struggle with sin. Today we know that, although Satan is defeated, ultimate judgment for him is delayed. Whatever view of end-times you may have, you will agree that ultimately Satan will be "thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever" (Revelation 20:10) at the final judgment. So this is another one of the 'Now-but-not-Yet" aspects of the promises of God. What I am saying is that the Five Kings represent the rebellious evil one - a Satan figure. Their power is broken but the war continues.
Yes, sin no longer reigns in the life of the believer (Romans 6:17-18) because of the life and work of Christ! Satan’s power over us has been broken. Nevertheless a battle continues daily as each believer struggles to slay sin in his or her life - the war continues. This is a picture of sanctification. Joshua and the sons of Israel were not, of course, fighting the enemy on their own power but they were nevertheless fighting - they were not sitting in their tents lamenting about how hard their life was and how difficult it was to resist the enemy. Neither do believers fight sin in their own strength - Christ not only saved us but He also fights for us! These sons of Abraham were under no illusion that life in the Promised Land would be easy with no struggle, we also should not be surprised or discouraged when the fight continues. They were assured, though, that the Lord was with them as long as they remained faithful to the covenant (see Joshua's farewell address to the people in Joshua 23). We have a similar assurance and a similar promise - that some day we also will inherit a spiritual 'Promised Land', a land where there is no sin, no struggle with sin, no tears of sorrow, and full communion with the Holy Trinity. Though we may see occasional glimpses of the promise, we do not see the fullness of the Promise today, and perhaps we will not see it for many years to come - but by faith we believe that we will, some day, see the fulfillment of the Promise. Telling our children or a new believer that there will be instantaneous deliverance from sin and temptation is only setting them up for unnecessary discouragement. Christ is sufficient, but our struggle with sin remains till our life on earth is ended or until He returns as the great, and ultimate, Warrior-King.
From the first telling of this event, the hearers understood its historical importance but I think they also understood these spiritual applications. Joshua's farewell address later in the book reminded them that there was a need to remain vigilant not only for mere physical enemies, but also spiritual: “When you transgress the covenant of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and you will perish quickly from off the good land which He has given you.” (Joshua 23:16).
Later readers of the book of Joshua, those who were experiencing the Jewish dispersion in Babylon, would see in this narrative a promise: although now they were no longer in the Promised Land, and justice seems delayed, foreigners defiling the Temple, and the wicked prospering, there would come a day when the Righteous Judge would set things right and ultimate peace would reign throughout the Lord's Kingdom.
And for persecuted Christians reading the book of Joshua many centuries later, they would read this narrative and be reminded that the day of deliverance was merely delayed but not forgotten. That wonderful day would come in which Christ Jesus returns – as promised – as the final and perfect Warrior-King. Meanwhile, the battle, for them – and for us – would be ongoing. Joshua 10:22-28, though true history, is a picture of both believers fighting sin and of the return of Christ. Though by the life and work of Christ, salvation is purchased for His people and Satan is restrained, ‘smaller’ battles continue to be fought in the lives of individual believers; still there will be a final battle where all wickedness and evil is defeated. Satan and all evildoers will be put on display and the chosen ones will forever memorialize the great victory of the King of Glory (see Revelation 19).
"Then Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave and bring these five kings out to me from the cave.” They did so, and brought these five kings out to him from the cave: the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon. 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. 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.” So afterward Joshua struck them and put them to death, and he hanged them on five trees; and they hung on the trees until evening. It came about at sunset that Joshua gave a command, and they took them down from the trees and threw them into the cave where they had hidden themselves, and put large stones over the mouth of the cave, to this very day." Joshua 10:22-27
Christ will return as the greater Joshua to judge the unrighteous: the wicked will not always prosper. Christ will return as the greater Joshua to deliver His people to a full and complete Promise Land. Meanwhile, we have both a present reality and this future hope. The present reality is that Christ has redeemed us to fellowship with Him and delivered us from our former slavery to sin, nevertheless, we continue to struggle with remaining sin. Be thankful that we have this future promise - that at the resurrection we will be taken to that Promise Land where we will no longer battle sin. Robin
