Joshua 9:18 - Forerunner Commentary

Joshua 9:18

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.

Verse Comparison: Joshua 9:18

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Joshua 9:19 >>

American Standard Version
And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by Jehovah, the God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes.

Amplified® Bible
But the Israelites did not slay them, because the leaders of the assembly had sworn to them by the Lord, the God of Israel, [to spare them]. And all the assembly murmured against the leaders.

Contemporary English Version
But they did not attack the towns, because the Israelite leaders had sworn in the name of the LORD that they would let these people live. The Israelites complained about their leaders' decision not to attack,

Darby English Version
And the children of Israel did not smite them, because the princes of the assembly had sworn unto them by Jehovah the God of Israel. Then all the assembly murmured against the princes.

Good News Bible
But the Israelites could not kill them, because their leaders had made a solemn promise to them in the name of the LORD, Israel's God. All the people complained to the leaders about this,

King James Version
And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes.

New American Standard Bible
The sons of Israel did not strike them because the leaders of the congregation had sworn to them by the LORD the God of Israel. And the whole congregation grumbled against the leaders.

New International Version
But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath to them by the LORD, the God of Israel.
The whole assembly grumbled against the leaders,

New King James Version
But the children of Israel did not attack them, because the rulers of the congregation had sworn to them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation complained against the rulers.

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
The sons of Israel did not strike them because the leaders of the congregation had sworn to them by the LORD the God of Israel. And the whole congregation grumbled against the leaders.

Revised Standard Version
But the people of Israel did not kill them, because the leaders of the congregation had sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. Then all the congregation murmured against the leaders.

Young's Literal Translation
and the sons of Israel have not smitten them, for sworn to them have the princes of the company by Jehovah God of Israel, and all the company murmur against the princes.

New English Translation
The Israelites did not attack them because the leaders of the community had sworn an oath to them in the name of the Lord God of Israel.¹ The whole community criticized² the leaders,

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