Joshua 10:26 Meaning and Explanation
“And afterward Joshua smote them, and slew them, and hanged them on five trees: and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Joshua executes the five kings and hangs their bodies on trees until evening.
What Does Joshua 10:26 Mean?
After the symbolic act, Joshua carries out the sentence: he strikes the kings, kills them, and hangs their bodies on five trees until evening. The public display marked them as accursed and the war as decisively won. The judgment that had been deferred is now complete.
The law required that a body hung on a tree not remain through the night, and the next verse shows Joshua keeping that command. Even in the severity of judgment, the bounds set by God are honored. For the Christian reader, the image of one hung upon a tree cannot help but turn the mind toward the cross, where the curse that fell on the guilty was borne by the innocent, that we might be set free.
Frequently Asked Questions About Joshua 10:26
What does Joshua 10:26 mean?
Joshua executes the five kings and hangs their bodies on trees until evening.