(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
Joshua 10:15–27, “And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal. But these five kings fled, and hid themselves in a cave at Makkedah. And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings are found hid in a cave at Makkedah. And Joshua said, Roll great stones upon the mouth of the cave, and set men by it for to keep them: And stay ye not, but pursue after your enemies, and smite the hindmost of them; suffer them not to enter into their cities: for the LORD your God hath delivered them into your hand. And it came to pass, when Joshua and the children of Israel had made an end of slaying them with a very great slaughter, till they were consumed, that the rest which remained of them entered into fenced cities. And all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace: none moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel. Then said Joshua, Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out those five kings unto me out of the cave. 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. 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. 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. And afterward Joshua smote them, and slew them, and hanged them on five trees: and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening. 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.”
These kings were wise and careful generals so they remained in a position where they could observe the progress of the battle and change their plans as required. In every battle it is important that the leaders with the overall responsibility for the conduct of the battle be protected from immediate danger for if they are killed who will know how to continue with their battle strategy. The five kings of the city states were overlooking the battle and when they realised that the battle was lost they went to hide n a cave to save themselves from the slaughter. When Joshua heard that they were in the cave he told some of his soldiers to seal the cave with large rocks so that the kings could be dealt with later. They were fighting against the Lord Who was punishing them for their own refusal to believe in the true God of Heaven. After the battle was over, Joshua had these men brought out and tried for their rebellion against the Lord. They were found guilty and treated in the appropriate way.
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