What is the meaning of Joshua 10:17? And Joshua was informed • Joshua had already chased the enemy armies toward Beth-horon when a messenger arrived, underscoring how God often supplies timely intelligence right when His leaders need it (Joshua 8:1; 1 Samuel 23:9–12). • God had promised in Joshua 10:8, “Do not be afraid of them, for I have delivered them into your hand,” and this report confirms that promise in real time—every detail of the battle is unfolding exactly as the Lord said. • Receiving news instead of discovering the kings himself prevents Joshua from being distracted; he can keep pressing the rout, trusting subordinates to handle what God reveals, much like Moses delegated in Exodus 18:24-26. “The five kings have been found; • These rulers—of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon (Joshua 10:3)—had united against Gibeon and by extension against Israel. Their alliance looked formidable, yet they are now “found,” exposed, powerless. Psalm 2:2-4 reminds us that when “the kings of the earth take their stand,” the Lord still “sits in the heavens and laughs.” • Their discovery fulfills the pattern seen in Numbers 32:23, “your sin will find you out.” What they plotted in boldness ends in humiliation—an enduring lesson for every generation (Proverbs 26:27). they are hiding in the cave at Makkedah. • Instead of leading their troops, the five kings cower underground. This reversal matches Revelation 6:15 where earth’s kings “hid in the caves” from God’s judgment. • Caves in Scripture can be places of refuge for God’s people (1 Samuel 22:1), yet for the rebellious they become prisons—foreshadowed here, then literally sealed by stones in Joshua 10:18. • The specific location, Makkedah, matters: God’s victories are anchored in geography and history, reminding us our faith is rooted in real space-time events (Joshua 10:28). summary Joshua 10:17 shows the Lord turning the tables on earthly power. The kings who marched out in pride are unmasked in panic; Joshua remains informed and steady because God is directing every step. The verse assures believers that no scheme escapes divine notice, every promise of victory is kept, and leaders who trust God can act confidently, knowing He exposes and overturns all opposition in His perfect timing. |
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