1To, jak uslyšeli všichni králové, kteří byli na této straně Jordánu, v horách i v nížině a na celém pobřeží velikého moře naproti Levánónu, Chittí a Emórí a Kenáaní a Perizzí a Chivví a Jevúsí, stalo se, 2že se spolu v jedné mysli shromáždili bojovat s Jóšuou a s Isráélem. 3A co Jóšua učinil Jeríchu a Aji, uslyšeli obyvatelé Giveónu, 4a ti se zase zachovali lstivě; odebrali se totiž a připravili se jakoby na cestu a vzali na své osly opotřebované pytle a měchy na víno, opotřebované a potrhané a svazované, 5a na své nohy opotřebované a záplatované sandály a na sebe opotřebované šatstvo, a všechen chléb jejich stravy byl vyschlý, rozdrobený. 6A přišli k Jóšuovi do tábora v Gilgálu a řekli k němu a k Isráélovým mužům: Přišli jsme z daleké země; nyní tedy vzhledem k nám uzavřete smlouvu. 7A Isráélovi muži k těmto Chivvím řekli: Ty snad bydlíš vprostřed mne, jak bych tedy mohl vzhledem k tobě uzavřít smlouvu? 8I řekli k Jóšuovi: My jsme tvoji nevolníci. A Jóšua k nim řekl: Kdo jste vy a odkud přicházíte? 9I řekli k němu: Tvoji nevolníci přišli z velmi daleké země pro jméno Hospodina, tvého Boha, neboť jsme uslyšeli zvěst o něm a o všem, co učinil v Egyptě, 10a o všem, co učinil dvěma králům Emórího, kteří byli na druhé straně Jordánu, Síchónovi, králi Chešbónu, a Ógovi, králi Bášánu, jenž byl v Aštáróth. 11Naši starší a všichni obyvatelé naší země k nám tedy pronesli výrok: Vezměte ve své ruce stravu na cestu a jděte jim vstříc, a řekněte k nim: My jsme vaši nevolníci; nyní tedy vzhledem k nám uzavřete smlouvu. 12Toto je náš chléb; horký jsme si jej vzali za zásobu potravy ze svých domů v den našeho vyjití k odchodu k vám, a nyní, hle, je vyschlý a rozdrobený; 13a tyto měchy na víno, jež jsme naplnili, byly nové, a hle, jsou potrhané, a toto naše šatstvo a sandály se velmi dlouhou cestou opotřebovaly. 14I vzali ti muži z jejich stravy, ale neotázali se úst Hospodinových; 15a Jóšua s nimi sjednal pokoj a uzavřel vzhledem k nim smlouvu o ponechání jich naživu, již jim náčelníci shromáždění přísahou stvrdili. 16A po uplynutí tří dní potom, co vzhledem k nim uzavřeli smlouvu, se stalo, že uslyšeli, že oni k nim mají blízko a že oni bydlí vprostřed nich. 17A Isráélovi synové se dali na cestu a v třetí den přišli k jejich městům; a jejich města byla: Giveón a Kefírá a Beéróth a Kirjath-jeárím; 18a Isráélovi synové je nevybili, protože jim náčelníci shromáždění přisáhli při Hospodinu, Isráélovu Bohu; a všechno shromáždění se na náčelníky jalo reptat. 19A všichni náčelníci ke všemu shromáždění řekli: My jsme jim přisáhli při Hospodinu, Isráélovu Bohu, a nyní na ně nesmíme sáhnout. 20Toto jim musíme učinit, totiž nechat je naživu, ať na nás není rozhněvání pro přísahu, jíž jsme jim přisáhli. 21Náčelníci k nim tedy řekli: Musejí zůstat naživu; i stali se všemu shromáždění štípači dříví a čerpači vody podle toho, co k nim náčelníci promluvili. 22A Jóšua je povolal a promluvil k nim výrokem: Proč jste nás obelstili výrokem: My jsme z velmi daleka od vás, ač vy bydlíte vprostřed nás? 23Nyní tedy jste vy prokleti a nemůže přestat být nevolníkem nikdo z vás, a budete štípači dříví a čerpači vody pro dům mého Boha. 24I odpověděli Jóšuovi a řekli: Protože tvým nevolníkům bylo s jistotou oznámeno, že Hospodin, tvůj Bůh, rozkázal Mojžíšovi, svému nevolníku, dát vám všechnu tuto zem a před vaší tváří všechny obyvatele té země vymýtit, takže jsme z vás pocítili velikou bázeň o svá žití a učinili jsme tuto věc. 25Nyní tedy, hle, my - jsme v tvé ruce, učiň nám, co je v tvých očích dobré a co správné učinit. 26Tak jim tedy učinil, totiž vyprostil je z ruky Isráélových synů, takže je nepozabíjeli; 27a v onen den je Jóšua ustanovil štípači dříví a čerpači vody pro shromáždění a pro oltář Hospodinův až po tento den na místo, jež on bude chtít vyvolit.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 THE KINGS COMBINE AGAINST ISRAEL. (Jos. 9:1-27)
all the kings which were on this side--that is, the western side of Jordan.
in the hills, and in ther valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea--This threefold distinction marks out very clearly a large portion of Canaan. The first designates the hill country, which belonged afterwards to the tribes of Judah and Ephraim: the second, all the low country from Carmel to Gaza; and the third, the shores of the Mediterranean, from the Isthmus of Tyre to the plain of Joppa. (As for the tribes mentioned, see on
Num 13:29).
heard thereof--that is, of the sacking of Jericho and Ai, as well as the rapid advance of the Israelites into the interior of the country.
2 they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord--Although divided by separate interests and often at war with each other, a sense of common danger prompted them to suspend their mutual animosities, that by their united forces they might prevent the land from falling into the hands of foreign masters.
3 THE GIBEONITES OBTAIN A LEAGUE BY CRAFT. (
Josh 9:3-
Josh 9:15)
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 (
Josh 10:2). It seems to have formed, in union with a few other towns in the neighborhood, a free independent state (
Josh 9:17) and to have enjoyed a republican government (
Josh 9:11).
4 They did work wilily--They acted with dexterous policy, seeking the means of self-preservation, not by force, which they were convinced would be unavailing, but by artful diplomacy.
took old sacks upon their asses--Travellers in the East transport their luggage on beasts of burden; the poorer sort stow all their necessaries, food, clothes, utensils together, in a woollen or hair-cloth sack, laid across the shoulders of the beast they ride upon.
wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up--Goat-skins, which are better adapted for carrying liquor of any kind fresh and good, than either earthenware, which is porous, or metallic vessels, which are soon heated by the sun. These skin bottles are liable to be rent when old and much used; and there are various ways of mending them--by inserting a new piece of leather, or by gathering together the edges of the rent and sewing them in the form of a purse, or by putting a round flat splinter of wood into the hole.
5 old shoes and clouted--Those who have but one ass or mule for themselves and baggage frequently dismount and walk--a circumstance which may account for the worn shoes of the pretended travellers.
bread . . . dry and mouldy--This must have been that commonly used by travellers--a sort of biscuit made in the form of large rings, about an inch thick, and four or five inches in diameter. Not being so well baked as our biscuits, it becomes hard and mouldy from the moisture left in the dough. It is usually soaked in water previous to being used.
6 they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal--Arrived at the Israelitish headquarters, the strangers obtained an interview with Joshua and the elders, to whom they opened their business.
7 the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us--The answer of the Israelites implied that they had no discretion, that their orders were imperative, and that if the strangers belonged to any of the native tribes, the idea of an alliance with them was unlawful since God had forbidden it (
Exod 23:32;
Exod 34:12;
Deut 7:2).
9 From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the Lord thy God--They pretended to be actuated by religious motives in seeking to be allied with His people. But their studied address is worthy of notice in appealing to instances of God's miraculous doings at a distance, while they pass by those done in Canaan, as if the report of these had not yet reached their ears.
14 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 (
2Sam 21:1; and
Josh 11:19-
Josh 11:20).
16 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
Josh 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.
17 Chephirah-- (
Josh 18:26;
Ezra 2:25;
Neh 7:29).
Beeroth-- (
2Sam 4:2), now El Berich, about twenty minutes' distance from El Jib (Gibeon).
Kirjath-jearim--"the city of forests," now Kuryet-el-Enab [ROBINSON].
18 the children of Israel smote them not--The moral character of the Gibeonites' stratagem was bad. The princes of the congregation did not vindicate either the expediency or the lawfulness of the connection they had formed; but they felt the solemn obligations of their oath; and, although the popular clamor was loud against them, caused either by disappointment at losing the spoils of Gibeon, or by displeasure at the apparent breach of the divine commandment, they determined to adhere to their pledge, "because they had sworn by the Lord God of Israel." The Israelitish princes acted conscientiously; they felt themselves bound by their solemn promise; but to prevent the disastrous consequences of their imprudent haste, they resolved to degrade the Gibeonites to a servile condition as a means of preventing their people from being ensnared into idolatry, and thus acted up, as they thought, to the true spirit and end of the law.
27 hewers of wood and drawers of water--The menials who performed the lowest offices and drudgery in the sanctuary; whence they were called Nethinims (
1Chr 9:2;
Ezra 2:43;
Ezra 8:20); that is, given, appropriated. Their chastisement thus brought them into the possession of great religious privileges (
Ps 84:10).
