5. The treaty with the Gibeonites ch. 9The residents of the town of Gibeon decided that if they could not defeat the Israelites they would join them. This has been a strategy that enemies of believers have employed for centuries (cf. Numbers 25:1-2). read more
The leaders of Gibeon controlled four towns (Joshua 9:17). These towns acted together in many of their dealings, including making the treaty with Israel. The possession of these cities by the Israelites gave God’s people a more secure foothold in central Canaan."Here the wilderness motif had been turned upside down, for in the wilderness the leaders were justified, while the congregation was guilty. Here the congregation is justified, while the leaders are at fault." [Note: Butler, p. 104.] The... read more
In Joshua 9-11 inclusive we have the account of two great campaigns, in which Joshua successively defeats a confederacy of the petty kings of southern Palestine under the king of Jerusalem, and a combination of the northern chiefs under Jabin, king of Hazor. Joshua 12 concludes the narrative of the conquest, with a summary of the successes of Moses on the E. and of Joshua on the W. of Jordan. Critics have been much exercised by the apparent contrast of this narrative of the invasion with that... read more
The League with the GibeonitesJoshua 9 forms an introduction to the narrative of the Southern campaign (Joshua 10). The Gibeonite cities were important enough both politically and geographically (see on Joshua 9:17 and Joshua 10:2) for their defection to frighten the surrounding kinglets into concerted action against Israel.1, 2. The petty kings combine against Israel.3. Gibeon] 2 m. N. of Jerusalem. For its importance see on Joshua 10:2, Joshua 10:10. 14. Took of their victuals] thus accepting... read more
CHAPTER XVIII.THE STRATAGEM OF THE GIBEONITES.Joshua 9:1-27.WE now resume the thread of the story interrupted by the narrative of the transaction at Ebal and Gerizim. We learn from the testimony of Rahab of Jericho, as uttered to the spies (Joshua 2:9), that the terror of Israel had caused the hearts of the inhabitants of the country to faint, and that the fame of all that had been done for them by Jehovah had quite paralysed them. But when the host of Israel actually entered Western Palestine,... read more
9. The Gibeonites CHAPTER 9 1. The confederacy of the enemies (Joshua 9:1-2 ) 2. The deception of the Gibeonites (Joshua 9:3-13 ) 3. The failure (Joshua 9:14-15 ) 4. The deception discovered (Joshua 9:16-27 ) Israel now comes face to face with the other inhabitants of the land. These enemies, which Israel encountered, are the types of our enemies, and the conflict of God’s earthly people is typical of our conflict. There is, however, a difference. Israel’s enemies were flesh and... read more
ABIMELECH'SCONSPIRACY (vv. 1-6). Abimelech did not only forget his father's example, but deliberately chose a contrary path of proud self-pleasing. He wanted to rule over Israel and recognized that in order to do so he must find a following that would reject all 70 of Gideon's sons who were born to him by his wives. He therefore persuaded his mother's relatives to speak to the men of Shechem, asking them if is better that 70 of Gideon's sons should rule over them or just one (vv. 1-2). He... read more
CONQUEST OF THE SOUTH THE COMPACT WITH THE GIBEONITES (Joshua 9:0 ) Joshua 9:1-2 are a general statement telling how the kings of the surrounding nations felt in view of Israel’s victories, and what they planned to do about it. The narrative then ends in order to describe the method of the Gibeonites, which differed from the others. We must again refer the student to the map in the back of his Bible for details as to the location of these nations. Gibeon will be discovered a little to the... read more
The Gibeonites Jos 9:2-27 IT would seem on reading this narrative that it can have no possible relation to our time and our circumstances. But God would never write a Bible which was to obliterate itself as the ages come and go. If he could have written such a Bible, surely some instruction might have been given as to the excision of the parts whose meaning has been exhausted. But the book remains in its entirety. It must therefore contain meanings which were not merely local. All that can be... read more
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E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Joshua 9:21
be = become. promised. Compare Joshua 9:15 . read more