Makkedah

Makkedah is a town in the Shephelah of Judah, the site of one of the central episodes in Joshua's southern campaign. Five Amorite kings flee there after the rout at Gibeon and hide in a cave; Joshua seals the cave, finishes the pursuit, then returns to put the kings to death. The town itself is taken, struck under the ban, and afterward listed among Judah's inheritance.

The Pursuit to Makkedah

After the long-day battle at Gibeon, the Israelite chase reaches as far as the town: "And Yahweh discomfited them before Israel, and he slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon, and struck them to Azekah, and to Makkedah" (Jos 10:10). The five kings of the Amorite coalition who had marshalled the attack — "the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon" — had earlier "gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped against Gibeon, and made war against it" (Josh 10:5).

The Five Kings in the Cave

The five kings flee the rout and hide at Makkedah: "And these five kings fled, and hid themselves in the cave at Makkedah. And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings have been found, hidden in the cave at Makkedah. And Joshua said, Roll great stones to the mouth of the cave, and set men by it to keep them: but don't you⁺ stop; pursue after your⁺ enemies, and strike the hindmost of them; don't allow them to enter into their cities: for Yahweh your⁺ God has delivered them into your⁺ hand" (Josh 10:16-19). The pursuit continues to its end, and "all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace: none moved his tongue against any of the sons of Israel" (Josh 10:21).

The Kings Brought Out and Executed

Joshua then orders the cave opened and the kings brought out: "Then Joshua said, Open the mouth of the cave, and bring forth those five kings to me out of the cave. And they did so, and brought forth those five kings to him out of the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon. And it came to pass, when they brought forth those kings to Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said to the chiefs of the men of war that went with him, Come near, put your⁺ feet on the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet on the necks of them. And Joshua said to them, Don't be afraid, nor be dismayed; be strong and of good courage: for thus will Yahweh do to all your⁺ enemies against whom you⁺ fight. And afterward Joshua struck them, and put them to death, and hanged them on five trees: and they were hanging on 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 in which they had hidden themselves, and laid great stones on the mouth of the cave, to this very day" (Josh 10:22-27).

The Capture of Makkedah

The town itself is taken next, and its king is killed in the same pattern as Jericho's: "And Joshua took Makkedah on that day, and struck it with the edge of the sword, and its king: he completely destroyed them and all the souls who were in it; he left none remaining; and he did to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho" (Jos 10:28). The conquered-kings list later records the king as one defeated: "the king of Makkedah, one; the king of Bethel, one" (Jos 12:16).

Within the Inheritance of Judah

When Judah's tribal allotment is detailed, Makkedah is named in the lowland cluster: "and Gederoth, Beth-dagon, and Naamah, and Makkedah; sixteen cities with their villages" (Jos 15:41). The town that hosted the Amorite kings' last stand becomes a Judahite settlement.