But these five kings fled, and hid themselves in a cave at Makkedah.
Parallel translations
- WEB These five kings fled, and hid themselves in the cave at Makkedah.
- BSB Now the five kings had fled and hidden in the cave at Makkedah.
- NKJV But these five kings had fled and hidden themselves in a cave at Makkedah.
- NASB Now these five kings had fled and hidden themselves in the cave at Makkedah.
- NLT During the battle the five kings escaped and hid in a cave at Makkedah.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The five defeated kings flee and hide in a cave at Makkedah. Their attempt to escape only delays their judgment.
Overview
The leaders of the coalition seek refuge in a cave, but no hiding place shields them from the judgment they provoked. Their flight underscores the futility of resisting the God who has determined to give Canaan to Israel. The scene anticipates the day when no one can hide from the King to whom every knee will bow.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- 1 Sam 13:6When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits.
- Mic 7:17They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the LORD our God, and shall fear because of thee.
- Judg 6:2And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds.
- Ps 139:7–10Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
- Isa 2:10–12Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty.
- Isa 24:21–22And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.
- Amos 9:2Though they dig into hell, thence shall mine hand take them; though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down:
- Isa 2:19–22And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.
- Rev 6:15And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
- Ps 48:4–6For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together.
- 1 Sam 24:8David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.
- 1 Sam 24:3And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.
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Christ at the center
Joshua — the same name as Jesus, 'the LORD saves' — leads God's people into their inheritance, a shadow of the greater Joshua who brings us into the true rest and the promised land that remains.
How Joshua 10:16 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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