Joshua 9:18-27

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 9:15-21

Here is, I. The treaty soon concluded with the Gibeonites, Josh. 9:15. The thing was not done with much formality, but in short, 1. They agreed to let them live, and more the Gibeonites did not ask. In a common war this would have been but a small matter to be granted; but in the wars of Canaan, which were to make a general destruction, it was a great favour to a Canaanite to have his life given him for a prey, Jer. 45:5. 2. This agreement was made not by Joshua only, but by the princes of the... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 9:22-27

The matter is here settled between Joshua and the Gibeonites, and an explanation of the league agreed upon. We may suppose that now, not the messengers who were first sent, but the elders of Gibeon, and of the cities that were dependent upon it, were themselves present and treated with, that the matter might be fully compromised. I. Joshua reproves them for their fraud, Josh. 9:22. And they excuse it as well as they can, Josh. 9:24. 1. Joshua gives the reproof very mildly: Wherefore have you... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 9:18

And the children of Israel smote them not ,.... The inhabitants of the four cities, when they came to them, though they found it to be a true report that was brought them of their being neighbours, and that they were imposed upon by them: because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the Lord God of Israel ; by the Word of the Lord God of Israel, as the Targum, and therefore they restrained the people from smiting and plundering them; for it was not the oath of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 9:19

But all the princes said to all the congregation ,.... That is, all the princes that went to Gibeon addressed all the Israelites that were there: we have sworn unto them by the Lord God of Israel ; by the Word of the Lord God, as the Targum; an oath is a solemn sacred thing, and not to be broken, and a good man will make conscience of it, and keep it, though he has sworn to his own hurt: and now therefore we may not touch them ; neither take away their lives nor their substance. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 9:20

This we will do to them ,.... Either this favour we will show them, preserving their lives, next mentioned, or this punishment we will inflict on them, making them hewers of wood, and drawers of water; which though not mentioned directly, was what was upon their minds, and in their design to propose, only they were extremely desirous of sparing their lives, which they repeat: we will even let them live ; this by all means must be done, their lives must not be taken away as the rest of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 9:21

And the princes said to them, let them live ,.... They were very pressing upon them, and importunate with them, to save their lives, because of the oath they had taken: (but let them be hewers of wood, and drawers of water, unto all the congregation) : which was a very low and mean employment, Deuteronomy 29:11 ; as well as wearisome; and this being a yoke of servitude on the Gibeonites, and a punishment of them for their fraud, and of service, profit, and advantage to the people of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 9:22

And Joshua called for them ,.... The Gibeonites, who came as ambassadors for their people, who were detained at Gilgal until the children of Israel returned from Gibeon; and upon their return, and having made their report to Joshua that they found it to be true that they were near neighbours, Joshua ordered them to be brought before him: and he spake unto them, saying, wherefore have ye beguiled us ? what is your reason and motive for so doing? what has induced you to act such a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 9:23

Now therefore ye are cursed ,.... Appear to be the posterity of cursed Canaan, and, notwithstanding the artifice used, should not be exempted from the curse denounced on Canaan: "a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren", Genesis 9:25 ; as these Gibeonites were; they became the servants of the Levites, who were servants to the priests; and they seemed to be spared in Providence, that that part of the curse on Canaan might be fulfilled: "and Canaan shall be his servant"; the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 9:24

And they answered Joshua, and said, because it was certainly told thy servants ,.... Or "it was told", told F20 הגד הגד "indicando indicatum est", Pagninus, Montanus. ; not only certainly, told, but frequently told them, they had often heard of it by one means or another: how that the Lord thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land ; all the land of Canaan, no part excepted; they had heard much of the Lord God of Israel, and of Moses, what character he bore,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 9:25

And now, behold, we are in thine hand ,.... In thy power, and at thy disposal, and are ready to submit to whatsoever may be enjoined us: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do ; do what is consistent with the laws of kindness, and with the rules of justice, and particularly with the league made, and oath taken; all which they left with him to consider of, and to do as in his wisdom and goodness he should see fit. read more

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