THE BOOK OF
JOSHUA.

Joshua 9

1The kings of Canaan combine against Israel. 3The Gibeonites by craft obtain a league: 16the fraud is discovered, but they are saved on account of the oath of the princes. 22Joshua condemneth them to perpetual bondage.


1AND it came to pass, when all the kings 1which were on this side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the 2coasts of the 3great sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite,4 heard thereof;

1 Namely, in the land of Canaan, where into were come the Israelites at that time, as also the writer of this book.

2 Other, shores, anchorages.

3 That is, the Mediterranean Sea.

4 The Girgashites are not here added, probably because they were of little account.

2That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, 5with one accord.

5 Hebr. with one mouth; that is, combining with one accord together.

3¶And when the inhabitants of 6Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,

6 This was a great city; Joshua 10:2, situated in the inheritance of the tribe of Benjamin, and it was at this time the metropolis or chief city of the Hivites, Joshua 11:19, in which respect the Gibeonites did likewise appertain to those seven nations which the Lord had commanded to destroy, and with whom they were in no wise to make a covenant without God’s special approbation, Exod. 23:32; Deut. 7:2. It was afterwards given to the priests for a place of habitation, Joshua 21:17.

4They did work 7wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and 8bound up;

7 Or, craftily, namely, as Balak and others had done before; or, as the other kings of Canaan sought to defend themselves by force of arms, so these endeavored to save themselves by craft.

8 Namely, where they were rent.

5And old shoes and 9clouteda upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and 10all the bread of their provision was dry and 11mouldy.

9 Other, mended.

a patched

10 Hebr. all the bread of their journey-provision.

11 Hebr. properly speckled, spotted.

6And they went to Joshua unto the camp at 12Gilgal, and said unto him, 13and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us.

12 See Joshua 5:9.

13 Hebr. to the man of Israel; that is, to every man among the Israelites. Other, to the princes, or the most important men of Israel; so also verses 7, 14.

7And the men of Israel said unto the 14Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell 15among us; and 16how shall we make a league with you?

14 That is, Gibeonites. See Joshua 11:19.

15 That is, in this land, which is given us of God.

16 This was expressly forbidden to the Israelites, Exod. 23:32; Deut. 7:2.

8And they said unto Joshua, 17We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye?

17 That is, we subject ourselves unto your dominion and command, and are willing to receive such terms and conditions as you shall please to afford us, yea, though it were to make us your slaves and bondmen.

9And they said unto him, From a very far country 18thy servants are come 19because of the name of the LORD thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt,

18 That is, we.

19 That is, having heard of the glory of the God of Israel, and of the great and mighty works which He has done.

10And allb that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which was at Ashtaroth.

b Num. 21:24, 33; Deut. 1:4.

11Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants: therefore now make ye a league with us.

12This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is 20mouldy:

20 As verse 5.

13And these bottles of wine, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey.

14And 21the men took of their victuals, and 22asked not counsel at 23the mouth of the LORD.

21 That is, the princes of the Israelites, as verse 15. Other, they accepted the men, because of their victuals, judging by their moldy victuals that they were come from a far country.

22 Namely, by the high priest wearing the ephod. See Num. 27:21. See also 1 Sam. 23:9.

23 That is, of the Lord, Who had promised to answer from the mercy seat, Exod. 25:22.

15And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation 24sware unto them.

24 That is, they ratified by oath what Joshua had promised them, namely, that they would remain alive.

16¶And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, that they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt among them.

17And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and 25Chephirah, and 26Beeroth, and Kirjath-jearim.

25 Chephirah was a city in the inheritance of the tribe of Benjamin. See Joshua 18:26.

26 This city was also situated in the tribe of Benjamin, Joshua 18:25.

18And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation 27murmured against the princes.

27 Namely, because they were not to destroy the Gibeonites, as well as the other nations of the Canaanites.

19But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel: now therefore we may not 28touch them.

28 Namely, in hostile manner, that is, we may not kill them, nor suppress them.

2029This we will do to them; we will even let them live, 30lest wrath be upon us, because of the 31oath which we sware unto them.

29 Namely, which is mentioned in verse 21.

30 That is, that the LORD be not incensed against us for such perjury as this, and bring a plague upon us afterwards; as came upon Saul, 2 Sam. 21:1.

31 Namely, if we would break the same.

21And the princes said unto 32them, Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and 33drawers of water unto all the congregation; 34as the princes had promised 35them.

32 Namely, unto the children of Israel.

33 These were the most inconsiderable and contemptible among the people, Deut. 29:11.

34 That is, as we had said to them.

35 Namely, to the Gibeonites.

22¶And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, We are very far from you; when ye dwell among us?

23Now therefore ye are 36cursed, and there shall none of you be 37freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the 38house of my God.

36 Understand by this curse, a temporal poor and miserable condition, as is declared in the sequel.

37 That is, shall not cease, but there shall always remain slaves in your generation and among your posterity.

38 That is, in the tabernacle, and afterward in the temple, yea, for the service of the entire congregation, verse 21.

24And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was 39certainly told thy servants, how that the LORD thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy allc the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore afraid of 40our lives because of you, and have done this thing.

39 Hebr. relating it was related.

c Deut. 7:1, 2.

40 Hebr. of our souls, that is, lives, persons. See Gen. 12:5.

25And now, behold, we are 41in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do.

41 That is, in your power and might; you may impose upon us, and ours, such a service and burden as you please.

26And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not.

27And Joshua 42made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose.

42 Hence it is thought that they were called Nethinims; that is, the given, delivered over.