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Joshua 9:20-27

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20 "This we will do to them, even let them live, so that wrath will not be upon us for the oath which we swore to them."
21 The leaders said to them, "Let them live." So they became 1hewers of wood and drawers of water for the whole congregation, just as the leaders had spoken to them.
22 Then Joshua called for them and spoke to them, saying, "Why have you deceived us, saying, 'We are very far from you,' 2when you are living within our land?
23 "Now therefore, you are 3cursed, and you shall never cease being slaves, both hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God."
24 So they answered Joshua and said, "4Because it was certainly told your servants that the LORD your God had commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land before * you; therefore we feared greatly for our lives because * of you, and have done this thing.
25 "Now behold, 5we are in your hands; do as it seems good and right in your sight to do to us."
26 Thus he did to them, and delivered them from the hands of the sons of Israel, and they did not kill them.
27 But Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD, to this day, 6in the place which He would choose.
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Joshua 9:20-27 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOSHUA 9

This chapter gives an account of the combination of the several kings of Canaan against Israel, Jos 9:1,2; and of the craftiness of the Gibeonites, pretending they were ambassadors from a far country, and desired to enter into a league with Israel, which they obtained, Jos 9:3-15; but when it was discovered who they were, it occasioned a murmuring among the people, Jos 9:16-18; which the princes quelled by proposing to make them hewers of wood, and drawers of water, Jos 9:19-21; in order to which Joshua summoned them before him, and chided them for beguiling them; and after they had made their excuse, he ordered them to the service the princes proposed, and so peace in the congregation of Israel was preserved, Jos 9:21-27.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 6

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Lit "among us"
  • [b]. Lit "a servant shall not be cut off from you"
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