King James Version

What Does Joshua 10:24 Mean?

Joshua 10:24 in the King James Version says “And it came to pass, when they brought out those kings unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and sa... — study this verse from Joshua chapter 10 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And it came to pass, when they brought out those kings unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them.

Joshua 10:24 · KJV


Context

22

Then said Joshua, Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out those five kings unto me out of the cave.

23

And they did so, and brought forth those five kings unto him out of the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon.

24

And it came to pass, when they brought out those kings unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them.

25

And Joshua said unto them, 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.

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.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And it came to pass, when they brought out those kings unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them.

This public ceremony served multiple purposes. The phrase "Joshua called for all the men of Israel" (וַיִּקְרָא יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אֶל־כָּל־אִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל, vayiqra Yehoshua el-kol-ish Yisra'el) indicates assembly of the entire army—maximum visibility for maximum pedagogical impact. Joshua specifically addressed "the captains of the men of war" (קְצִינֵי אַנְשֵׁי הַמִּלְחָמָה, qetsinei anshei hamilchamah), honoring military leaders and reinforcing leadership hierarchy.

The command "put your feet upon the necks of these kings" (שִׂימוּ אֶת־רַגְלֵיכֶם עַל־צַוְּארֵי הַמְּלָכִים הָאֵלֶּה, simu et-ragleichem al-tsavarei hamelachim ha'eleh) enacted ancient Near Eastern victory symbolism (Psalm 110:1). Placing one's foot on an enemy's neck signified total domination and humiliation. Egyptian and Assyrian victory reliefs show pharaohs and kings with feet on conquered enemies' necks. This wasn't sadistic cruelty but ritualized demonstration of complete victory—psychological warfare as much as physical.

The repetition "they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them" emphasizes obedient execution of Joshua's command. This ceremony strengthened troop morale, demonstrated God's faithfulness in delivering enemies into their hands, and prepared Israel psychologically for subsequent conquests. Christ quotes Psalm 110:1 (echoing this imagery) as messianic prophecy (Matthew 22:44), showing His ultimate victory over all enemies, with the final enemy death itself placed under His feet (1 Corinthians 15:25-27).

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Historical & Cultural Context

The symbolic act of placing feet on enemies' necks appears throughout ancient Near Eastern iconography and texts. The Egyptian temple at Medinet Habu shows Ramesses III with his foot on captives' heads. Assyrian reliefs from Nineveh depict similar scenes. The practice communicated absolute victory—the victor literally standing over the vanquished, who were rendered prostrate and powerless. This visual symbolism transcended language barriers, making it effective psychological warfare.

The specific involvement of military captains served to reward and honor those who had fought bravely, binding them to Joshua's leadership through participation in victory's consummation. Ancient military culture relied heavily on honor and shame; this ceremony distributed honor to Israel's leaders while maximizing shame on defeated Canaanite kings. The reversal was complete—kings who had ruled proudly now lay prostrate beneath Israelite commanders' feet.

The theological dimension distinguishes this from mere human triumphalism. This wasn't arbitrary humiliation but enacted judgment on covenant-breaking peoples whose sins had reached full measure (Genesis 15:16). The Amorites' wickedness—including child sacrifice, temple prostitution, and extreme violence—had invited divine judgment. Israel served as God's instrument of temporal judgment, prefiguring eternal judgment to come (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10).

Reflection Questions

  1. How does this ceremony of subjugation prefigure Christ's ultimate victory over sin, death, and Satan—and what does it mean that believers share in His triumph?
  2. What role does public testimony of God's victories play in strengthening faith and encouraging believers facing their own battles?
  3. How can we maintain the biblical tension between celebrating God's justice in defeating evil while avoiding triumphalistic cruelty toward defeated enemies?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 34 words
וַ֠יְהִי1 of 34
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

כְּֽהוֹצִיאָ֞ם2 of 34

And it came to pass when they brought out

H3318

to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim

אֶת3 of 34
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

הַמְּלָכִ֣ים4 of 34

of these kings

H4428

a king

הָאֵלֶּה֮5 of 34
H428

these or those

אֶל6 of 34
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

יְהוֹשֻׁ֜עַ7 of 34

that Joshua

H3091

jehoshua (i.e., joshua), the jewish leader

וַיִּקְרָ֨א8 of 34

called

H7121

to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)

יְהוֹשֻׁ֜עַ9 of 34

that Joshua

H3091

jehoshua (i.e., joshua), the jewish leader

אֶל10 of 34
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

כָּל11 of 34
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

אִ֣ישׁ12 of 34

for all the men

H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל13 of 34

of Israel

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

וַ֠יֹּאמֶר14 of 34

and said

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֶל15 of 34
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

קְצִינֵ֞י16 of 34

unto the captains

H7101

a magistrate (as deciding) or other leader

אַנְשֵׁ֤י17 of 34

of the men

H582

properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the more dignified h0120); hence, a man in general (singly or collectively)

הַמִּלְחָמָה֙18 of 34

of war

H4421

a battle (i.e., the engagement); generally, war (i.e., war-fare)

הֶהָֽלְכ֣וּא19 of 34

which went

H1980

to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

אִתּ֔וֹ20 of 34
H854

properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc

וַֽיִּקְרְב֔וּ21 of 34

And they came near

H7126

to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose

וַיָּשִׂ֥ימוּ22 of 34

and put

H7760

to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)

אֶת23 of 34
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

רַגְלֵיהֶ֖ם24 of 34

their feet

H7272

a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a step; by euphemistically the pudenda

עַֽל25 of 34
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

צַוְּארֵיהֶֽם׃26 of 34

upon the necks

H6677

the back of the neck (as that on which burdens are bound)

הַמְּלָכִ֣ים27 of 34

of these kings

H4428

a king

הָאֵ֑לֶּה28 of 34
H428

these or those

וַֽיִּקְרְב֔וּ29 of 34

And they came near

H7126

to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose

וַיָּשִׂ֥ימוּ30 of 34

and put

H7760

to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)

אֶת31 of 34
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

רַגְלֵיהֶ֖ם32 of 34

their feet

H7272

a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a step; by euphemistically the pudenda

עַל33 of 34
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

צַוְּארֵיהֶֽם׃34 of 34

upon the necks

H6677

the back of the neck (as that on which burdens are bound)


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Joshua. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Joshua 10:24 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Joshua 10:24 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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