King James Version

What Does Joshua 10:27 Mean?

Joshua 10:27 in the King James Version says “And it came to pass at the time of the going down of the sun, that Joshua commanded, and they took them down off the tre...” — study this verse from Joshua chapter 10 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And it came to pass at the time of the going down of the sun, that Joshua commanded, and they took them down off the trees, and cast them into the cave wherein they had been hid, and laid great stones in the cave's mouth, which remain until this very day.”

Joshua 10:27 · KJV

Context

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.

27

And it came to pass at the time of the going down of the sun, that Joshua commanded, and they took them down off the trees, and cast them into the cave wherein they had been hid, and laid great stones in the cave's mouth, which remain until this very day.

28

And that day Joshua took Makkedah, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof he utterly destroyed, them, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain: and he did to the king of Makkedah as he did unto the king of Jericho.

29

Then Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, unto Libnah, and fought against Libnah:

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And it came to pass at the time of the going down of the sun, that Joshua commanded, and they took them down off the trees, and cast them into the cave wherein they had been hid, and laid great stones in the cave's mouth, which remain until this very day.

The phrase "at the time of the going down of the sun" (לְעֵת בּוֹא הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ, le'et bo hashemesh) emphasizes punctilious obedience to Deuteronomy 21:23. Joshua didn't leave the bodies exposed past sunset, demonstrating that even in executing divine judgment, God's people must observe covenant law. The verb "commanded" (צִוָּה, tsivvah) shows Joshua's authority continuing through execution to burial—leadership responsibility extends to completing tasks properly, not merely initiating them.

The burial location is profoundly symbolic: "cast them into the cave wherein they had been hid" (וַיַּשְׁלִכֻם אֶל־הַמְּעָרָה אֲשֶׁר נֶחְבְּאוּ־שָׁם, vayashlichum el-hame'arah asher nechbe'u-sham). The cave that seemed a refuge became a tomb. Where they fled from battle, they received burial. This poetic justice illustrates how human attempts to escape God's judgment only lead deeper into it (Amos 5:19). The verb "cast" (שָׁלַךְ, shalach) suggests unceremonious disposal rather than honorable burial—appropriate for those who died under divine curse.

The sealing with "great stones" (אֲבָנִים גְּדֹלוֹת, avanim gedolot) paralleled the earlier temporary sealing (v. 18) but now permanently. The concluding phrase "which remain until this very day" (עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה, ad hayom hazeh) indicates the author wrote while evidence remained visible, providing eyewitness verification. This formula appears throughout Joshua (4:9; 5:9; 7:26; 8:28-29), grounding theological narrative in verifiable historical reality. These weren't myths but events that left physical traces.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The formula "until this very day" appears frequently in Joshua and Judges as authentication of historical claims. Ancient readers could verify accounts by visiting sites and seeing evidence—the stones at the cave mouth, the ruins of Ai (8:28), Achan's cairn (7:26). This grounding in physical, verifiable reality distinguishes biblical narrative from ancient mythology. The Bible presents real history involving real places that left real archaeological footprints.

The cave tomb at Makkedah became a permanent monument to God's judgment and Israel's victory. Ancient Near Eastern cultures commonly used caves as tombs (Abraham purchased Machpelah cave for Sarah's burial, Genesis 23). The sealed cave served multiple functions: proper burial preventing land defilement, perpetual memorial to the victory, and warning to future Canaanite resistance. Archaeology has uncovered numerous burial caves from this period throughout the Shephelah region.

The irony of the five kings' fate wasn't lost on ancient audiences. They formed a coalition to destroy Gibeon and eliminate Israel; instead, they died ingloriously, buried in a cave where they had cowered in fear. Their attempt to prevent Israel's expansion enabled it—the southern campaign's success (vv. 28-43) directly resulted from defeating this coalition. God's sovereignty ensures that opposition to His purposes accomplishes those very purposes (Acts 4:27-28; Romans 8:28).

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the cave serving as both hiding place and tomb illustrate the principle that attempts to escape God's judgment only lead to greater condemnation?
  2. What does the phrase 'until this very day' teach about the importance of grounding faith in verifiable historical events rather than abstract spiritual ideas?
  3. How should believers respond when God's justice seems harsh—recognizing both His holiness that cannot tolerate sin and His mercy in sending Christ to bear the judgment we deserve?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 25 words
וַיְהִ֞י1 of 25
H1961

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

לְעֵ֣ת׀2 of 25

“And it came to pass at the time”

H6256

time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc

בּ֣וֹא3 of 25

“of the going down”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

הַשֶּׁ֗מֶשׁ4 of 25

“of the sun”

H8121

the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e., (architectural) a notched battlement

צִוָּ֤ה5 of 25

“commanded”

H6680

(intensively) to constitute, enjoin

יְהוֹשֻׁ֙עַ֙6 of 25

“that Joshua”

H3091

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

וַיֹּֽרִידוּם֙7 of 25

“and they took them down”

H3381

to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau

מֵעַ֣ל8 of 25
H5921

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

הָֽעֵצִ֔ים9 of 25

“off the trees”

H6086

a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks)

וַיַּ֨שְׁלִכֻ֔ם10 of 25

“and cast”

H7993

to throw out, down or away (literally or figuratively)

אֶל11 of 25
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

הַמְּעָרָ֔ה12 of 25

“in the cave's”

H4631

a cavern (as dark)

אֲשֶׁ֣ר13 of 25
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

נֶחְבְּאוּ14 of 25

“wherein they had been hid”

H2244

to secrete

שָׁ֑ם15 of 25
H8033

there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence

וַיָּשִׂ֜מוּ16 of 25

“and laid”

H7760

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

אֲבָנִ֤ים17 of 25

“stones”

H68

a stone

גְּדֹלוֹת֙18 of 25

“great”

H1419

great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent

עַל19 of 25
H5921

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

פִּ֣י20 of 25

“mouth”

H6310

the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with prepos

הַמְּעָרָ֔ה21 of 25

“in the cave's”

H4631

a cavern (as dark)

עַד22 of 25
H5704

as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)

עֶ֖צֶם23 of 25

“which remain until this very”

H6106

a bone (as strong); by extension, the body; figuratively, the substance, i.e., (as pron.) selfsame

הַיּ֥וֹם24 of 25

“day”

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

הַזֶּֽה׃25 of 25
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

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 10:27 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 10:27 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Joshua 8:29Joshua 7:26Deuteronomy 21:22-232 Samuel 18:17Joshua 4:9

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