Joshua 9:7

7 The men of Israel said to the ¹Hivites, "Perhaps you are living within our land; ²how then shall we make a covenant with you?"

Joshua 9:7 Meaning and 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;
of which they had some suspicion;

and how shall we make a league with you?
which they were forbid to do with any of the seven nations, ( Deuteronomy 7:2 ) .

Joshua 9:7 In-Context

5 and worn-out and patched sandals on their feet, and worn-out clothes on themselves; and all the bread of their provision was dry and had become crumbled.

6 They went to Joshua to the camp at Gilgal and said to him and to the men of Israel, "We have come from a far country; now therefore, make a covenant with us."

7 The men of Israel said to the Hivites, "Perhaps you are living within our land; how then shall we make a covenant with you?"

8 But they said to Joshua, "We are your servants." Then Joshua said to them, "Who are you and where do you come from?"

9 They said to him, "Your servants have come from a very far country because of the fame of the LORD your God; for we have heard the report of Him and all that He did in Egypt,

Cross References

• 1. Joshua 9:1; Joshua 11:19
• 2. Exodus 23:32; Deuteronomy 7:2

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "among us"