Joshua 9:16

16 But three days after the treaty was made, the Israelites heard that these people were their neighbors and lived with them.

Joshua 9:16 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 9:16

And it came to pass at the end of three days, after they had
made a league with them
The league seems to have been made the same day they came; the Gibeonites were no doubt in haste to have it concluded, lest they should be discovered; and Joshua, and the princes of Israel, took no pains, and gave themselves no great trouble to inquire about them, but made peace with them at once; and it was but three days after, or within three days of its being made,

that they heard that they [were] their neighbours, and [that] they
dwelt among them;
that is, in their neighbourhood, as the Arabic version; and so Noldius ^F18 renders the words, "and that they dwelt near them"; for the Gibeonites did not dwell among the Israelites, or in the midst of them, but near the place where they were; and this they understood either by some deserters that came to the camp of Israel, or by some of the Israelites who were sent to reconnoitre several parts of the country, especially such as lay nearest, or for the sake of getting provisions for their camp.

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 Concord. Ebr. Part. p. 211. No. 932.

Joshua 9:16 In-Context

14 The men believed the evidence they were shown, but they did not ask the LORD about it.

15 So Joshua made peace with them by making a treaty which allowed them to live. The leaders of the congregation swore to it with an oath.

16 But three days after the treaty was made, the Israelites heard that these people were their neighbors and lived with them.

17 The Israelites broke camp. They came to the cities of Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim two days later.

18 The Israelites didn't destroy these other people, because the leaders of the congregation had sworn an oath about them to the LORD God of Israel. The whole congregation complained about the leaders.