Piram

Piram is named only once, as king of Jarmuth, one of five kings who joined together under Adonizedek of Jerusalem (Joshua 10:3). The rest of the chapter shows how they ended. The five hid in a cave at Makkedah, and Joshua had great stones rolled against its mouth. He then told his captains, “Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage,” and had the kings put to death and hung on trees until evening. At sunset they were taken down and laid in the cave. It is a stark scene, and readers have long wrestled with the conquest stories around it.

8 verses

Joshua

Joshua 10:3

Wherefore Adonizedek king of Jerusalem sent unto Hoham king of Hebron, and unto Piram king of Jarmuth, and unto Japhia king of Lachish, and unto Debir king of Eglon, saying,

Joshua 10:16

But these five kings fled, and hid themselves in a cave at Makkedah.

Joshua 10:17

And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings are found hid in a cave at Makkedah.

Joshua 10:18

And Joshua said, Roll great stones upon the mouth of the cave, and set men by it for to keep them:

Joshua 10:24

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.

Joshua 10:25

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.

Joshua 10:26

And afterward Joshua smote them, and slew them, and hanged them on five trees: and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening.

Joshua 10:27

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.

From Easton's Bible Dictionary

Matthew George Easton, 1897

Like a wild ass, a king of Jarmuth, a royal city of the Canaanites, who was conquered and put to death by Joshua (10:3, 23, 26).

From Smith's Bible Dictionary

William Smith, 1884

(like a wild ass; fleet) the Amorite king of Jarmuth at the time of Joshua’s conquest of Canaan. (Joshua 10:3) (B.C. 1450.)

Based on Nave's Topical Bible by Orville J. Nave (1896). Dictionary entries from Easton's Bible Dictionary and Smith's Bible Dictionary. Public domain. KJV scripture text, public domain.