Joshua 9:1-8

1 And it came to pass when all the kings who were on this side of the Jordan, in the mountains and in the valleys and in all the coast of the great sea over against Lebanon, heard these things, the Hittites and the Amorites the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites

2 gathered themselves together with one accord to fight with Joshua and with Israel.

3 But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,

4 they worked with prudence and went and made as if they had been ambassadors and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old and rent and bound up,

5 and old patched shoes upon their feet, and old garments upon them, and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy.

6 Thus they came unto Joshua to the camp at Gilgal and said unto him and to the men of Israel, We are come from a far country; now, therefore, make ye a covenant with us.

7 And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us, and how shall we make a covenant with you?

8 And they said unto Joshua, We are thy slaves. And Joshua said unto them, Who are you and where do you come from?

Joshua 9:1-8 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.