Joshua 9:16

So punctually, precisely, and exactly did he observe the instructions and commands that were given him by Moses; and this he did in the most public manner: before all the congregation of Israel; who were on this occasion called together, and not before the men only, but with the women, and little ones: who all had a concern in the things that were read to them: yea, even and the strangers that were conversant among them; not the proselytes of righteousness only, but the proselytes of the gate, that dwelt, walked, and conversed with them. John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible. Joshua 9:1 INTRODUCTION TO JOSHUA 9 This chapter gives an account of the combination of the several kings of Canaan against Israel, Joshua 9:1; 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, Joshua 9:3; but when it was discovered who they were, it occasioned a murmuring among the people, Joshua 9:16; which the princes quelled by proposing to make them hewers of wood, and drawers of water, Joshua 9:19; 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, Joshua 9:21. Ver. 1. And it came to pass, when all the kings which [were] on this side Jordan,....

9:14-21 The Israelites, having examined the provisions of the Gibeonites, hastily concluded that they confirmed their account. We make more haste than good speed, when we stay not to take God with us, and do not consult him by the word and prayer. The fraud was soon found out. A lying tongue is but for a moment. Had the oath been in itself unlawful, it would not have been binding; for no obligation can render it our duty to commit a sin. But it was not unlawful to spare the Canaanites who submitted, and left idolatry, desiring only that their lives might be spared. A citizen of Zion swears to his own hurt, and changes not, Ps 15:4. Joshua and the princes, when they found that they had been deceived, did not apply to Eleazar the high priest to be freed from their engagement, much less did they pretend that no faith is to be kept with those to whom they had sworn. Let this convince us how we ought to keep our promises, and make good our bargains; and what conscience we ought to make of our words.

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 were their neighbours, and that they dwelt among them; that is, in their neighbourhood, as the Arabic version; and so Noldius (r) renders the words, "and that they dwelt near them"; for the Gibeonites did not dwell among the Israelites, or in the midst of them, but near the place where they were; and this they understood either by some deserters that came to the camp of Israel, or by some of the Israelites who were sent to reconnoitre several parts of the country, especially such as lay nearest, or for the sake of getting provisions for their camp. (r) Concord. Ebr. Part. p. 211. No. 932.

At the end of three days, i.e. at the last of them, or upon the third day, as it is said Joshua 9:17 ; so this phrase is elsewhere used, as Deu 14:28 31:10 . Or it may be properly understood, that after three days they heard this; and on the day after they heard this, they came to their cities, as is said, Joshua 9:17 .

16, 17. at the end of three days … they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt among them—This information was obtained in their further progress through the country; for as Jos 9:17 should be rendered, "when the children of Israel journeyed, they came to their cities." Gibeon was about eighteen or twenty miles from Gilgal.

The elders of Israel Joshua 9:18 , tasting what was offered them by the Gibeonites, pledged themselves according to the usage of Eastern nations to peace and friendship with them. They credited the story at once, instead of seeking the direction of God in the matter. The rendering of the margin is not to be preferred to that of the text. At the mouth of the Lord - i. e. by the Urim and Thummim Exodus 28:30.

Three days after the treaty had been concluded, the Israelites discovered that they had been deceived, and that their allies dwelt among them (see Joshua 9:7 ). They set out therefore to deal with the deceivers, and reached their towns Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kirjath-jearim on the third day. "Chephirah, which was afterwards allotted to the tribe of Benjamin along with Gibeon and Beeroth, and was still inhabited after the captivity ( Joshua 18:25-26 ; Ezra 2:25 ; Nehemiah 7:29 ), is to be seen in the ruins of Kefir, an hour's journey to the east of Yalo, in the mountains, and three hours to the west of Gibeon (see Rob. Bibl. Res. p. 146, and Van de Velde, Memoir, pp. 303-4). Beeroth, Βηρώθ, according to Eusebius (Onom. s. v.) a hamlet near Jerusalem, and seven miles on the road to Nicopolis (it should read Neapolis), was in the tribe of Benjamin ( 2 Samuel 4:2 ), and still exists in the large village of Bireh, which is situated upon a mountain nine Roman miles to the north of Jerusalem in a stony and barren district, and has still several springs and a good well, besides the remains of a fine old church of the time of the Crusades (see Rob. Pal. ii. pp. 130ff.; Seetzen, R. ii. pp. 195-6). Kirjath-jearim, also called Kirjath-baal ( Joshua 15:60 ), Baalah ( Joshua 15:9 ), and Baal-Jehuda ( 2 Samuel 6:2 ), was allotted to the tribe of Judah.

It stood upon the boundary between Judah and Benjamin ( Joshua 15:60 ; Joshua 18:15 ); and the ark remained there, after it had been sent back by the Philistines, until the time of David ( 1 Samuel 7:2 ; 2 Samuel 6:2 ; 1 Chronicles 13:5-6 ). According to the Onom., s. v. Καριαθιαρείμ and Βαάλ, it was nine or ten Roman miles from Jerusalem, on the road to Diospolis (Lydda), and is probably to be seen in the present Kuryet el Enab, a considerable village with a large number of olive trees, figs, pomegranates, and vineyards, from the last of which the old "town of the forests" has received the more modern name of "town of the vine" (see Rob. Pal. ii. p. 335, and Bibl. Res. pp. 156-7; and Seetzen, ii. p. 65). These towns, which formed one republic with Gibeon, and were governed by elders, were at so short a distance from Gilgal (Jiljilia), that the Israelites could reach it in one or two days. The expression "on the third day" is not at variance with this; for it is not stated that Israel took three days to march there, but simply that they arrived there on the third day after receiving the intelligence of the arrival of the ambassadors.

[Reformed Biblical] who were proselytes, for no others can be supposed to be with them at this time. ## JOSHUA CHAPTER 9 The kings of Canaan hear of Joshua’s exploits; consult together, and conclude to fight against Israel, #Joshua 9:1,2 . The Gibeonites, feigning themselves to be of a far country, obtain a league, #Joshua 9:3-15 . The craft is discovered; the promise which was confirmed with an oath remains firm, #Joshua 9:16-20 . But for a punishment they are condemned to perpetual slavery, #Joshua 9:21-27 . Ver. 1. No text from Poole on this verse. ## Ver. 2. They gathered themselves together; not actually, as the following history shows; but they entered into a league or confederation to do this. Ver. 3. Or, but when the inhabitants; for he shows that these took another and a wiser course. ## Gibeon; a great and royal city of the Hivites, #Joshua 10:2 11:19 . ## Ver. 4. Ambassadors, sent from a far country, as they say, #Joshua 9:6 . Ver. 5. No text from Poole on this verse. ## Ver. 6. Gilgal; the place of their head-quarters. To the men of Israel, to wit, those who used to meet in council with Joshua, to whom it belonged to make leagues, as it here follows, even the princes of the congregation; not the common people, as appears both from #Joshua 9:15,18,19,21 , and from common usage of all ambassadors, who generally deliver their message to and treat with princes, not people. And the Hebrew word iseh , here used, sometimes notes men of eminency and dignity.

And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said to them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye? And they said to him, From a very far country are thy servants come, because of the name of Jehovah thy God; for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt, and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon the king of Heshbon, and to Og the king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth. And our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, Take victuals in your hand for the way, and go to meet them, and say to them, We are your servants, and now make a covenant with us. This our bread we took warm for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; and now, behold, it is dry, and is become mouldy. And these flasks of wine which we filled new, behold, they are rent; and these our garments and our sandals are become old by reason of the very long journey. And the men took of their victuals, but they did not inquire at the mouth of Jehovah. And Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them, to let them live; and the princes of the assembly swore unto them. And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt in their midst.