Joshua 9:16

16 And it came to pass three days after they had made a covenant with them, they heard that they were near neighbours, and that they dwelt among 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.


FOOTNOTES:

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

Joshua 9:16 In-Context

14 And the chiefs took of their provision, and asked not the Lord.
15 And Joshua made peace with them, and they made a covenant with them to preserve them; and the princes of the congregation sware to them.
16 And it came to pass three days after they had made a covenant with them, they heard that they were near neighbours, and that they dwelt among them.
17 And the children of Israel departed and came to their cities; and their cities Gabaon, and Kephira, and Berot, and the cities of Jarin.
18 Land the children of Israel fought not with them, because all the princes sware to them by the Lord God of Israel; and all the congregation murmured at the princes.

Footnotes 2

The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.