Joshua 9:19

19 qui responderunt eis iuravimus illis in nomine Domini Dei Israhel et idcirco non possumus eos contingere

Joshua 9:19 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 9:19

But all the princes said to all the congregation
That is, all the princes that went to Gibeon addressed all the Israelites that were there:

we have sworn unto them by the Lord God of Israel;
by the Word of the Lord God, as the Targum; an oath is a solemn sacred thing, and not to be broken, and a good man will make conscience of it, and keep it, though he has sworn to his own hurt: and

now therefore we may not touch them;
neither take away their lives nor their substance.

Joshua 9:19 In-Context

17 moveruntque castra filii Israhel et venerunt in civitates eorum die tertio quarum haec vocabula sunt Gabaon et Caphira et Beroth et Cariathiarim

18 et non percusserunt eos eo quod iurassent eis principes multitudinis in nomine Domini Dei Israhel murmuravit itaque omne vulgus contra principes

19 qui responderunt eis iuravimus illis in nomine Domini Dei Israhel et idcirco non possumus eos contingere

20 sed hoc faciemus eis reserventur quidem ut vivant ne contra nos ira Domini concitetur si peieraverimus

21 sed sic vivant ut in usus universae multitudinis ligna caedant aquasque conportent quibus haec loquentibus