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The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 9:27

And for the altar (see note on Joshua 9:21 ). In the place which he should choose. This phrase, and especially the use of the imperfect tense, implies that Solomon's temple was not yet built. The ark of God, and the tabernacle which contained it, had several resting places before its final deposition in the temple (see note on Joshua 24:1 ). And the grammatical construction just referred to also implies that there was more than one place. It is also clear, from the language of 2... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Joshua 9:17

Chephirah (Kefir) is situated eight or nine miles west of Gibeon, and was an inhabited city in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah Ezra 2:25; Nehemiah 7:29.Beeroth (Birch), about eight miles north of Jerusalem. Kirjath-jearim, i. e. “city of woods,” is identified by Robinson with the modern Kuriet el Enab, nine miles from Jerusalem on the road to Jaffa (and by Conder with Soba). The town was numbered among those belonging to Judah, and was in the northern boundary of that tribe. Beyond this city the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Joshua 9:21

Render “they shall be hewers of wood and drawers of water:” menial duties belonging to the lowest classes only (compare the marginal reference). The curse of Noah Genesis 9:25 on the children of Ham was thus fulfilled to the letter in the case of these Hivites. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Joshua 9:22

Were the Israelites bound to respect an oath thus procured by fraud? Were they right in doing so? Dr. Sanderson (“Works,” vol. iv. 4 pp. 269, 300, Oxford edition), determines these questions in the affirmative; and rightly, since the oath, though unlawfully taken, was not an oath taken to do an unlawful thing, i. e. a thing in itself unlawful. It was the carelessness of the Israelites themselves which betrayed them into this league. It was therefore their duty when they found themselves... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Joshua 9:24

It was mere fear which drove the Gibeonites to act as they did. They sought for union with God’s people, not for its own sake, but to save their lives. Rahab’s motives were higher (Joshua 2:9 ff). Hence, she was adopted into Israel; the Gibeonites remained forever bondsmen of Israel. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Joshua 9:15

Joshua 9:15. Joshua made a league with them to let them live Not merely, it seems, to spare their lives, which, supposing them to belong to a far country, they had no warrant to take away, but to let them continue in the enjoyment of their effects; the word life in Scripture being frequently of equal signification with prosperity. That this league was lawful and obliging, appears, 1st, Because Joshua and all the princes, upon the review, concluded it so to be, and spared them accordingly.... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Joshua 9:18

Joshua 9:18. All the congregation murmured against the princes Both from that proneness which is in people to censure the actions of their rulers, and from the desire of the spoil of these cities. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Joshua 9:21

Joshua 9:21. Unto all the congregation That is, let them be public servants, and employed in the meanest offices (one kind being put for all the rest) for the use of the congregation; doing these things partly for the sacrifices and services of the house of God, which otherwise the Israelites themselves must have done; partly for the services of the camp or body of people; and sometimes even for particular Israelites. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Joshua 9:22-23

Joshua 9:22-23. Called for them Probably not only the messengers, but the elders of Gibeon were now present. Therefore ye are cursed You shall not escape the curse of God, which, by divine sentence, belongs to all the Canaanites; but only change the quality of it. You shall feel that curse of bondage, which is proper to your race by virtue of that ancient decree, Genesis 9:25. Bondmen The slavery which is upon you shall be entailed on your posterity. The house of my God This only... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Joshua 9:25

Joshua 9:25. We are in thy hand, &c. In thy power to use us as thou wilt. We refer ourselves to thee and thy own piety, probity, and faithfulness, to fulfil thy word and oath; if thou wilt destroy thy humble supplicants, we submit. Let us, in like manner, submit to our Lord Jesus, and refer ourselves to him, saying, We are in thy hand, do unto us as it seemeth right unto thee. Only save our souls: give us our lives for a prey, and let us serve thee just as thou wilt! read more

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