יהושע, פרק י׳, פסוק י״ח

Joshua's decision to trap the opposing kings inside a cave reflects a clear recognition of God's providence and a masterful use of strategic momentum. He realizes that the sudden downfall of these leaders presents a rare chance to win the entire military campaign immediately. If he acts quickly, he can crush the enemy forces before they have time to appoint replacement kings. This sharp realization causes him to abandon his original plan of returning to the camp at Gilgal, and he instead orders his army to press on and continue the pursuit [מלבי״ם].

To secure the trapped kings while the army chases the remaining forces, Joshua commands that massive stones be rolled against the mouth of the cave [רש״י, מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This physical barricade is set in place to ensure the kings cannot suddenly break out and flee the area [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. However, he does not rely on the stones alone. Adding a second layer of security, Joshua appoints dedicated guards to stand watch over the sealed entrance [מצודת ציון]. Their specific duty is to guarantee that the enemy leaders remain securely locked inside while the Israelites finish the battle [ביאור שטיינזלץ].