Joshua 9:1-15

The Gibeonite Deception

1 Now when all the kings west of the Jordan heard about these things—the kings in the hill country, in the western foothills, and along the entire coast of the Mediterranean Sea as far as Lebanon (the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites)—

2 they came together to wage war against Joshua and Israel.

3 However, when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,

4 they resorted to a ruse: They went as a delegation whose donkeys were loaded^[a] with worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended.

5 They put worn and patched sandals on their feet and wore old clothes. All the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy.

6 Then they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the Israelites, “We have come from a distant country; make a treaty with us.”

7 The Israelites said to the Hivites, “But perhaps you live near us, so how can we make a treaty with you?”

8 “We are your servants,” they said to Joshua. But Joshua asked, “Who are you and where do you come from?”

9 They answered: “Your servants have come from a very distant country because of the fame of the LORD your God. For we have heard reports of him: all that he did in Egypt,

10 and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan—Sihon king of Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth.

11 And our elders and all those living in our country said to us, ‘Take provisions for your journey; go and meet them and say to them, “We are your servants; make a treaty with us.” ’

12 This bread of ours was warm when we packed it at home on the day we left to come to you. But now see how dry and moldy it is.

13 And these wineskins that we filled were new, but see how cracked they are. And our clothes and sandals are worn out by the very long journey.”

14 The Israelites sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the LORD.

15 Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath.

Joshua 9:1-15 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.

Cross References

• 1. S Numbers 13:17
• 2. S Numbers 34:6
• 3. S Deuteronomy 3:25
• 4. Genesis 13:7; S Joshua 3:10
• 5. ver 7; Joshua 11:19
• 6. Exodus 3:17; S Joshua 3:10
• 7. ver 17; Joshua 10:2; Joshua 10:10; Joshua 11:19; Joshua 18:25; Joshua 21:17; 2 Samuel 2:12; 2 Samuel 5:25; 2 Samuel 20:8; 1 Kings 3:4; 1 Kings 9:2; 1 Chronicles 8:29; 1 Chronicles 14:16; 1 Chronicles 16:39; 1 Chronicles 21:29; 2 Chronicles 1:3; Nehemiah 3:7; Isaiah 28:21; Jeremiah 28:1; Jeremiah 41:12
• 8. Genesis 12:8; S Joshua 8:1
• 9. S Deuteronomy 11:30; Joshua 5:10
• 10. ver 22
• 11. S Genesis 26:28
• 12. S ver 1; Joshua 11:19
• 13. S Exodus 23:32; Deuteronomy 7:2; S 1 Kings 5:12
• 14. Deuteronomy 20:11; 2 Kings 10:5
• 15. S Deuteronomy 20:15
• 16. ver 24; Joshua 2:9
• 17. S Numbers 23:22
• 18. S Numbers 21:25
• 19. S Numbers 21:33
• 20. S Numbers 21:24,35; Joshua 2:10
• 21. S Exodus 16:28; S Numbers 27:21
• 22. S ver 3,7; Exodus 23:32; Joshua 10:1,4; Joshua 11:19; 2 Samuel 21:2; 2 Samuel 24:1
• 23. ver 21; Judges 1:21; Psalms 106:34

Footnotes

• [a] Most Hebrew manuscripts; some Hebrew manuscripts, Vulgate and Syriac (see also Septuagint) "They prepared provisions and loaded their donkeys"