joshua-9:15-27

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 9:15-21

Here is, I. The treaty soon concluded with the Gibeonites, Josh. 9:15. The thing was not done with much formality, but in short, 1. They agreed to let them live, and more the Gibeonites did not ask. In a common war this would have been but a small matter to be granted; but in the wars of Canaan, which were to make a general destruction, it was a great favour to a Canaanite to have his life given him for a prey, Jer. 45:5. 2. This agreement was made not by Joshua only, but by the princes of the... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 9:22-27

The matter is here settled between Joshua and the Gibeonites, and an explanation of the league agreed upon. We may suppose that now, not the messengers who were first sent, but the elders of Gibeon, and of the cities that were dependent upon it, were themselves present and treated with, that the matter might be fully compromised. I. Joshua reproves them for their fraud, Josh. 9:22. And they excuse it as well as they can, Josh. 9:24. 1. Joshua gives the reproof very mildly: Wherefore have you... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 9:15

And Joshua made peace with them ,.... Upon the report the princes made of having examined what they had said, and which they found to be true, particularly concerning their victuals: and made a league with them, to let them live ; and not destroy them as he did the Canaanites, and was ordered to do; they being supposed not to belong to them by the representation of things they had made: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them ; that they would keep the league and covenant... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 9:16

And it came to pass at the end of three days, after they had made a league with them ,.... The league seems to have been made the same day they came; the Gibeonites were no doubt in haste to have it concluded, lest they should be discovered; and Joshua, and the princes of Israel, took no pains, and gave themselves no great trouble to inquire about them, but made peace with them at once; and it was but three days after, or within three days of its being made: that they heard that they ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 9:17

And the children of Israel journeyed ,.... Not the whole camp, for that still remained at Gilgal, and continued there until the Gibeonites in distress sent to them for assistance in virtue of the league, as appears from the following chapter; but a party of them, who were sent along with some of the princes, to know the truth whether the Gibeonites were their neighbours or not, as had been reported to them: and came unto their cities on the third day ; not on the third day from their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 9:18

And the children of Israel smote them not ,.... The inhabitants of the four cities, when they came to them, though they found it to be a true report that was brought them of their being neighbours, and that they were imposed upon by them: because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the Lord God of Israel ; by the Word of the Lord God of Israel, as the Targum, and therefore they restrained the people from smiting and plundering them; for it was not the oath of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible 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. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 9:20

This we will do to them ,.... Either this favour we will show them, preserving their lives, next mentioned, or this punishment we will inflict on them, making them hewers of wood, and drawers of water; which though not mentioned directly, was what was upon their minds, and in their design to propose, only they were extremely desirous of sparing their lives, which they repeat: we will even let them live ; this by all means must be done, their lives must not be taken away as the rest of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 9:21

And the princes said to them, let them live ,.... They were very pressing upon them, and importunate with them, to save their lives, because of the oath they had taken: (but let them be hewers of wood, and drawers of water, unto all the congregation) : which was a very low and mean employment, Deuteronomy 29:11 ; as well as wearisome; and this being a yoke of servitude on the Gibeonites, and a punishment of them for their fraud, and of service, profit, and advantage to the people of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 9:22

And Joshua called for them ,.... The Gibeonites, who came as ambassadors for their people, who were detained at Gilgal until the children of Israel returned from Gibeon; and upon their return, and having made their report to Joshua that they found it to be true that they were near neighbours, Joshua ordered them to be brought before him: and he spake unto them, saying, wherefore have ye beguiled us ? what is your reason and motive for so doing? what has induced you to act such a... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 9:15-21

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 9:22-27

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 9:15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 9:16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 9:17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 9:18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 9:19

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 9:20

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 9:21

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 9:22

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