seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Joshua 10:16 Now the five kings had fled and hidden in the cave at Makkedah. 17 When Joshua was told that the five kings had been found hiding in the cave at Makkedah, 18 he said, “Roll large rocks up to the mouth of the cave, and post some men there to guard it. 19 But don’t stop; pursue your enemies! Attack them from the rear and don’t let them reach their cities, for the Lord your God has given them into your hand.”
20 So Joshua and the Israelites defeated them completely, but a few survivors managed to reach their fortified cities. 21 The whole army then returned safely to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah, and no one uttered a word against the Israelites.
22 Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me.” 23 So they brought the five kings out of the cave—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon. 24 When they had brought these kings to Joshua, he summoned all the men of Israel and said to the army commanders who had come with him, “Come here and put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So they came forward and placed their feet on their necks.
25 Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the Lord will do to all the enemies you are going to fight.” 26 Then Joshua put the kings to death and exposed their bodies on five poles, and they were left hanging on the poles until evening.
27 At sunset Joshua gave the order and they took them down from the poles and threw them into the cave where they had been hiding. At the mouth of the cave they placed large rocks, which are there to this day.
20 So Joshua and the Israelites defeated them completely, but a few survivors managed to reach their fortified cities. 21 The whole army then returned safely to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah, and no one uttered a word against the Israelites.
22 Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me.” 23 So they brought the five kings out of the cave—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon. 24 When they had brought these kings to Joshua, he summoned all the men of Israel and said to the army commanders who had come with him, “Come here and put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So they came forward and placed their feet on their necks.
25 Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the Lord will do to all the enemies you are going to fight.” 26 Then Joshua put the kings to death and exposed their bodies on five poles, and they were left hanging on the poles until evening.
27 At sunset Joshua gave the order and they took them down from the poles and threw them into the cave where they had been hiding. At the mouth of the cave they placed large rocks, which are there to this day.
These verses should stand on their own. This was the day that God held the earth still, made the day longer, and sent down a violent hail storm, while Joshua and his men battled with the armies of five kings. During the battle, someone found the five kings in a cave. I figure since it was a cave, it would be elevated and since all five were there.... this was probably their makeshift headquarters. Joshua jailed them [sealed them in the cave and put guards at the entrance] and continued with the battle. After God, Joshua and the soldiers secured a total victory on the field, they came back to deal with the kings held securely in the cave. Joshua had them executed and stuck on a pole to show them off. Then at nightfall [when God let the sun set] they took them down and sealed the dead bodies in that same cave.
I figure when Joshua said “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the Lord will do to all the enemies you are going to fight.” in verse 25..... It was a victorious battle cry after a very long day.
Now there were a couple of off the wall commentaries that discuss the five kings as five demonic spirits. I ignored the first commentary that discussed the five demonic spirits.... but then when I saw it again in a totally different script... I went back and read it again. I guess others might appreciate this interpretation.... like I said... I believe the verses stand on their own and linking the five kings to demons.... is just fluff but here it is....
I found this at healedpeople.com.
1st demonic spirit
Adoni-Zedek, king of Jerusalem [this is before the Israelites took possession], represents a demonic spirit of oppression that leads to injustice, fear, poverty confusion and defeat. This demonic spirit is after your peace and tries to instill worry and fear. The oppression can cause head pain and constriction in the chest.
2nd demonic spirit
Hoham, king of Hebron, represents the demonic spirit of religion that drives people into religious performance to try to perfect themselves through legalism rather than the leading of the Holy Spirit. This can lead to passivity, retreat, moral corruption, exhaustion, weariness and broken relationships. This demonic spirit Hoham causes an inability to move forward in the things of God and will always resist spiritual warfare.
3rd demonic spirit
Piram, king of Jarmuth, represents a demonic spirit of besiegement that can lead to barrenness, poverty, isolation and death. It wants to keep you wild, unbridled and too proud to submit to true spiritual authority so that you will be isolated.
4th demonic spirit
Japhia, king of Lachish, represents a demonic spirit of blindness. This demonic spirit will try to get you to shine the light on yourself and demand your rights, so that you take God’s glory for yourself and lose the ability to receive revelation from God. It can darken your spiritual understanding, bringing a lack of joy and a feeling of bondage.
5th demonic spirit
Debir, king of Eglon, represents a demonic spirit of accusation. It seeks to get you to attack others’ reputations, to bring discredit to leaders, and to stop true prophetic revelation from going forth or to release false prophets. This demonic spirit's goal is to cut off the voice of the Lord, stop the war cry of the saints and remove the presence of God from your midst.
Adoni-Zedek, king of Jerusalem [this is before the Israelites took possession], represents a demonic spirit of oppression that leads to injustice, fear, poverty confusion and defeat. This demonic spirit is after your peace and tries to instill worry and fear. The oppression can cause head pain and constriction in the chest.
2nd demonic spirit
Hoham, king of Hebron, represents the demonic spirit of religion that drives people into religious performance to try to perfect themselves through legalism rather than the leading of the Holy Spirit. This can lead to passivity, retreat, moral corruption, exhaustion, weariness and broken relationships. This demonic spirit Hoham causes an inability to move forward in the things of God and will always resist spiritual warfare.
3rd demonic spirit
Piram, king of Jarmuth, represents a demonic spirit of besiegement that can lead to barrenness, poverty, isolation and death. It wants to keep you wild, unbridled and too proud to submit to true spiritual authority so that you will be isolated.
4th demonic spirit
Japhia, king of Lachish, represents a demonic spirit of blindness. This demonic spirit will try to get you to shine the light on yourself and demand your rights, so that you take God’s glory for yourself and lose the ability to receive revelation from God. It can darken your spiritual understanding, bringing a lack of joy and a feeling of bondage.
5th demonic spirit
Debir, king of Eglon, represents a demonic spirit of accusation. It seeks to get you to attack others’ reputations, to bring discredit to leaders, and to stop true prophetic revelation from going forth or to release false prophets. This demonic spirit's goal is to cut off the voice of the Lord, stop the war cry of the saints and remove the presence of God from your midst.
The reason I think think the demonic spirit argument doesn't stand.... is these demons are still attacking human hearts today. Humans still fight these demons.... Since Joshua reportedly sealed the demons in a cave on the day God made the sun stand still... those kings are dead and any demons they might have harbored are sealed in that cave. So... either I'll read later that someone opened the cave or this demonic spirit thing is just a preaching tool.
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