Provided is a cable-shaped alkali metal-sulfur battery comprising: (a) a first electrode comprising an electrically conductive porous rod and a first mixture of a first electrode active material and a first electrolyte residing in pores of the porous rod; (b) a porous separator wrapping around the first electrode; (c) a second electrode comprising an electrically conductive porous layer wrapping around or encasing the separator, wherein the porous layer contains a second mixture of a second electrode active material and a second electrolyte residing in pores of the porous layer; and (d) a protective sheath encasing the second electrode; wherein one electrode is a cathode containing sulfur, a sulfur-carbon compound, sulfur-polymer composite, or metal sulfide.