Joshua 9:7-18

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 9:3-14

Here, I. The Gibeonites desire to make peace with Israel, being alarmed by the tidings they heard of the destruction of Jericho, Josh. 9:3. Other people heard those tidings, and were irritated thereby to make war upon Israel; but the Gibeonites heard them and were induced to make peace with them. Thus the discovery of the glory and grace of God in the gospel is to some a savour of life unto life, but to others a savour of death unto death, 2 Cor. 2:16. The same sun softens wax and hardens... read more

Matthew Henry

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 9:7

And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites ,.... Though they did not know them to be such, but as they afterwards appeared to be the Hivites, as the Gibeonites were, they are here so called, see Joshua 11:19 . The name signifies "serpents"; according to a Derash, or mystical exposition, mentioned by Kimchi, the Gibeonites are so called, because they did the work of the serpent; that is to say, they deceived the Israelites, as the serpent deceived Eve: peradventure ye dwell among us ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 9:8

And they said unto Joshua, we are thy servants ,.... Not that they meant to be subjects of his, and tributaries to him; but this they said in great humility and lowliness of mind, being willing to be or do anything he should enjoin them. Abarbinel observes, that this they proposed to Joshua singly, not to be servants to all the people, but to him only, and to have him for their head and governor: and Joshua, said, who are ye? and from whence come ye ? by what name are ye called? and... read more

John Gill

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

And they said unto him, from a very far country thy servants are come ,.... Which they magnified and expressed in stronger terms than before, but were careful not to mention any country, lest such questions should be asked about it, their answers to which would betray them, but put it off by saying they were come: because of the name of the Lord thy God ; because of what they had heard of his name, his power and goodness; or "unto the name of the Lord thy God" F15 לשם יהוה "ad... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 9:10

And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan ,.... On the other side of Jordan from Gilgal: to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan in Ashtaroth ; the history of which see in Numbers 21:21 ; they wisely took no notice of the miracle of dividing the waters of Jordan, to make a passage for the Israelites; nor of the destruction of Jericho and Ai, which were recent things, and could not be thought as yet to have reached a far country they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 9:11

Wherefore our elders, and all the inhabitants of our country , spake unto us ,.... They suggest, that their senate, or the states of their country, their principal men were convened, and that it was the unanimous voice of them, and of the people, that they should go on this embassy: saying, take victuals with you for the journey ; sufficient for so long a journey; for, in those times and countries, inns on the road were not frequent as now: and go to meet them ; to prevent their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 9:12

This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses ,.... These are not the words of the elders to the messengers they sent, continued, but of the ambassadors to the Israelites, pointing to the bread they brought with them, which they pretended was newly baked and took hot out of the oven: on the day we came forth to go unto you, but now, behold, it is dry , and it is mouldy : See Gill on Joshua 9:5 ; which they gave as a demonstration and proof that they were come... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 9:13

And these bottles of wine, which we filled, were new ,.... That is, on the day they came out on their journey: and, behold, they be rent ; which were owing to the long use that had been made of them, as they pretended: and these our garments, and our shoes, are become old by reason of the very long journey : quite worn out through length of time and tedious travels. Isidore of Pelusium F17 L. 1. Ep. 281. thinks these Gibeonites were Cappadocians, of whom he gives a shocking... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 9:14

And the men took of their victuals ,.... That is, the princes of Israel took thereof; not to eat of them, for it cannot be thought that such personages would eat of such dry and mouldy bread, and especially as they were now in a plentiful country, and possessed of the fruits of it; but to see whether it was in such a plight and condition as they said, whereby they might judge of the truth of what they said; and they learned and knew, as R. Jonah observes, from the dryness of their food, that... read more

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