John Calvin Commentary Joshua 10:25

"And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed; be strong and of good courage: for thus shall Jehovah do to all your enemies against whom ye fight." — Joshua 10:25 (ASV)

And Joshua said to them, Fear not, etc. Joshua now triumphs, in the fate of the five kings, over all the others who remained. For he exhorts his own people to confidence, just as if those who still stood unsubdued were actually prostrate under their feet. From this we gather that by the trampling down of a few, the whole people were so elated that they looked down with contempt on all the others, as if they were already overthrown. And, certainly, we have here a brighter display of the divine power, which could thus inspire confidence for the future.

It should be observed, however, that the kings were hung up, not for the purpose of inflicting greater severity on them, but merely as a mark of ignominy, as they were already slain. It was fitting that this memorable act of divine vengeance should be openly displayed for all to see.

Perhaps, also, it was the divine purpose to infuriate the other nations by despair, and drive them to madness, so that they might bring swifter destruction on themselves, inciting the wrath of the Israelites by their obstinacy. The same ignominy is inflicted on the king of Makkedah, though he had not led out his forces, and a similar destruction is executed on the whole people, who had kept quiet within their walls.

It is probable, indeed, that they had made some hostile attempt, but the special reason was that God had passed the same sentence on all. Why the dead bodies were thrown into the cave at evening, I have explained elsewhere. Moreover, this whole history shows us, as in a mirror, how, when the Lord is seated on his tribunal, all worldly splendor vanishes before him, and the glory of those who seemed to excel is turned by his judgment into the greatest disgrace.