joshua-9:15-27

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 9:21

Hewers of wood and drawers of water - Perhaps this is a sort of proverbial expression, signifying the lowest state of servitude, though it may also be understood literally. See below. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 9:23

Now therefore ye are cursed - Does not this refer to what was pronounced by Noah, Genesis 9:26 , against Ham and his posterity? Did not the curse of Ham imply slavery, and nothing else? Cursed be Canaan, a servant of servants shall he be; and does it not sufficiently appear that nothing else than perpetual slavery is implied in the curse of the Gibeonites? They were brought, no doubt, under tribute; performed the meanest offices for the Israelites, being in the same circumstances... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 9:24

We were sore afraid of our lives - Self-preservation, which is the most powerful law of nature, dictated to them those measures which they adopted; and they plead this as the motive of their conduct. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 9:25

We are in thine hand - Entirely in thy power. As it seemeth good and right unto thee - do - Whatever justice and mercy dictate to thee to do to us, that perform. They expect justice, because they deceived the Israelites; but they expect mercy also, because they were driven to use this expedient for fear of losing their lives. The appeal to Joshua is full of delicacy and cogent argument. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 9:26

And so did he unto them - That is, he acted according to justice and mercy: he delivered them out of the hands of the people, so that they slew them not - here was mercy; and he made them hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and to the altar of God - here was justice. Thus Joshua did nothing but what was good and right, not only in his own eyes, but also in the eyes of the Lord. How long the Gibeonites were preserved as a distinct people after this, we know... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 9:16

Verse 16 16.And it came to pass, etc. The chastisement of their levity by the discovery of the fraud, three days after, must, by the swiftness of the punishment, have made them more sensible of the shame and disgrace. For it was thus known, that through sloth and lethargy, they had very stupidly fallen into error from not having taken the trouble to inquire into a matter almost placed before their eyes. Their marching quietly through that region, entering cities without trouble, and finding... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 9:20

Verse 20 20.This we will do to them, etc. Although, according to agreement, they give the Gibeonites their lives, they ratify the whole covenant only in part. For while the Gibeonites were entitled to be made perfectly secure, they are deprived of liberty, which is dearer than life. From this we infer that Joshua and the others had, as in a case of doubt and perplexity, devised a kind of middle course, so as not to make the oath altogether void. The principal object of this device was to... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 9:22

Verse 22 22.And Joshua called for them, etc. As he was to deliver a sad and severe sentence, he premises that the resolution involves no injustice, because nothing would be more unbecoming than to allow tricks and wiles to be profitable to those who employ them. He therefore first expostulates with them for having warded off danger by falsehood, and then immediately pronounces them cursed. By this I understand that he throws the blame of their servitude upon themselves, because they bear... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 9:1-27

God's people off their guard. This chapter contains the record of a venial sin; an act, that is, which was rather one of thoughtlessness than of deliberate intention to offend. It is one thing to forget for a moment God's superintending providence, and to act without consulting Him. It is quite another to act systematically as if there were no God. Thus we read of no very serious results flowing from this inadvertence. God is "not extreme to mark what is done amiss," and distinguishes... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 9:3-27

The submission of the Gibeonites. According to the explicit law of Moses (in Deuteronomy 20:10-18 ), there were three courses which Israel might pursue towards the cities they besieged: 1 . In the event of a city refusing to capitulate, they were, after taking it, to destroy all the males who survived, but take the women and the little ones and the spoil, and divide the same. This first course, however, was only to be pursued to such cities as were outside the boundaries of the... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 9:21

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 9:23

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 9:24

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 9:25

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 9:26

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 9:16

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 9:20

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 9:22

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 9:1-27

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 9:3-27

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