Joshua 9:15 - Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown

Joshua 9:15

13 And these wineskins which we filled were new, and see, they are torn; and these our garments and our sandals have become old because of the very long journey.”

14 Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions; ^abut they did not ask counsel of the Lord.

15 So Joshua ^amade peace with them, and made a covenant with them to let them live; and the rulers of the congregation swore to them.

16 And it happened at the end of three days, after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors who dwelt near them.

17 Then the children of Israel journeyed and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were ^aGibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kirjath Jearim.

18 But the children of Israel did not¹ attack them, ^abecause the rulers of the congregation had sworn to them by the Lord God of Israel. And all the congregation complained against the rulers.

19 Then all the rulers said to all the congregation, “We have sworn to them by the Lord God of Israel; now therefore, we may not touch them.

20 This we will do to them: We will let them live, lest ^awrath be upon us because of the oath which we swore to them.”

21 And the rulers said to them, “Let them live, but let them be ^awoodcutters and water carriers for all the congregation, as the rulers had ^bpromised them.”

22 Then Joshua called for them, and he spoke to them, saying, “Why have you deceived us, saying, ^a‘We are very far from you,’ when ^byou dwell near us?

23 Now therefore, you are ^acursed, and none of you shall be freed from being slaves—woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”

24 So they answered Joshua and said, “Because your servants were clearly told that the Lord your God ^acommanded His servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you; therefore ^bwe were very much afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this thing.

25 And now, here we are, ^ain your hands; do with us as it seems good and right to do to us.”

26 So he did to them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, so that they did not kill them.

27 And that day Joshua made them ^awoodcutters and water carriers for the congregation and for the altar of the Lord, ^bin the place which He would choose, even to this day.

Commentaries:

Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown

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Joshua 9:14-15

the men took of their victuals and asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord—The mouldy appearance of their bread was, after examination, accepted as guaranteeing the truth of the story. In this precipitate conclusion the Israelites were guilty of excessive credulity and culpable negligence, in not asking by the high priest's Urim and Thummim the mind of God, before entering into the alliance. It is not clear, however, that had they applied for divine direction they would have been forbidden to spare and connect themselves with any of the Canaanite tribes who renounced idolatry and embraced and worshipped the true God. At least, no fault was found with them for making a covenant with the Gibeonites; while, on the other hand, the violation of it was severely punished (II Samuel 21:1; and Joshua 11:19-20).

Joshua 9:3-15

THE GIBEONITES OBTAIN A LEAGUE BY CRAFT. (Joshua 9:3-15)

when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard—This town, as its name imports, was situated on a rocky eminence, about six miles northwest from Jerusalem, where the modern village of El Jib now stands. It was the capital of the Hivites, and a large important city (Joshua 10:2). It seems to have formed, in union with a few other towns in the neighborhood, a free independent state (Joshua 9:17) and to have enjoyed a republican government (Joshua 9:11).

Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing Joshua 9:15:

Joshua 9:3-15

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