1And when the kings of the Amorites on the [west] side of the Jordan (all those in the mountain country, in the plains, by the [Mediterranean] Sea, and near the borders of Lebanon), and the Hittites, CanaAnites, Pherezites, Evites, Amorites, Gergesites, and the Jebusites heard of it, 2they all got together to war against JoShua and Israel. 3However, when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Jehovah did to Jericho and Gai, 4they craftily decided [on a plan to save themselves]. They put old sacks over their shoulders, carried old torn and patched bottles of wine, 5tore off the upper parts of their old shoes and sandals and put them on their feet, dressed in old clothes, and took along bread that was dry, moldy, and rotting. 6Then they went to JoShua at the camp of Israel at GilGal, and said, ‘We’ve come from a faraway land, [and we want you to] make a treaty with us.’ 7But [JoShua] asked the Gibeonites, ‘How can I sign a treaty with you if you live near us?’ 8And they told JoShua, ‘We’re your servants.’ Then JoShua asked, ‘So, who are you and where have you come from? 9And they replied, ‘Your servants have come from a far away country in the Name of Jehovah your God. For we have heard of His Name and of all that He did in Egypt, 10as well as of what He did to the kings of the Amorites across the Jordan, and of what He did to Seon, the king of the Amorites, and to Og, the king of Bashan, who lived in AstarOth and in EdraIn. 11And when our elders and the people who live in our land heard of this, they spoke to us and said, Take along enough provisions for the trip and travel to meet with them and tell them that we’re their servants; and then make a treaty with them. 12Why, look at our bread! On the day that we started our journey to come here, they were hot. But now they’re dry and moldy. 13And look at these wine skins! When we filled them they were new, but now they’re torn… and our clothes and shoes are worn out because of the long journey!’ 14So the leaders [of Israel] shared their provisions with them, and then they failed to ask Jehovah’s direction. 15As the result, JoShua concluded a peace treaty with them and agreed to allow them to live… which the leaders of the gathering also swore to. 16Well, it was three days after they made the treaty [with the Gibeonites] that [the Israelites] found out they were [actually] close neighbors and that they lived among them. 17So, the children of Israel traveled to the cities of Gibeon, KePhira, Berot, and the cities of JaRim, 18but they didn’t fight against them, because all the leaders had sworn an oath before Jehovah the God of Israel. And this caused the whole gathering to start grumbling against their leaders. 19However, the leaders spoke to the gathering and said, ‘We have sworn [an oath] to them by Jehovah the God of Israel, so now we can’t touch them! 20But we’ll do this: We will let them live and we’ll protect them, so [God] won’t be angry with us for [breaking] the oath that we swore to them. 21Then they must serve as woodcutters and water bearers to the entire gathering, as our leaders told them.’ 22And thereafter, JoShua called the [Gibeonites] together and asked them, ‘Why did you deceive me? Why did you say that you live far away from us, when you are actually the fellow countrymen of the rest of the people who live here? 23Now you are cursed, and you will always serve as slaves, woodcutters, and water drawers for me and for my God!’ 24And they replied to JoShua, ‘We were told that Jehovah your God ordered his servant Moses to [take] this land and to destroy us, and all who live here. And it was because we feared for our lives that we did this thing! 25And now look; We’re in your power! You may do to us whatever pleases you and seems good to you.’ 26And that’s what they did. JoShua saved them from the hands of the children of Israel, for they were not allowed to kill them. 27Then JoShua made them woodcutters and water bearers to the whole gathering and for the Altar of God; so the inhabitants of Gibeon will serve as our woodcutters and water bearers for the Altar of God, even in that [future] place that will be chosen by Jehovah.
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).