Joshua 9

Jos 9:1-27.

THE

KINGS

COMBINE AGAINST

ISRAEL.

1. 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

Nu 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.

Jos 9:3-15.

THE

GIBEONITES

OBTAIN A

LEAGUE BY

CRAFT.

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

(Jos 10:2).

It seems to have formed, in union with a few other towns in the

neighborhood, a free independent state

(Jos 9:17)

and to have enjoyed a republican government

(Jos 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

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.

6-14. 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

(Ex 23:32; 34:12;

De 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, 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

(2Sa 21:1;

and Jos 11:19, 20).

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.

17. Chephirah--

(Jos 18:26;

Ezr 2:25;

Ne 7:29).

Beeroth--

(2Sa 4:2),

now El Berich, about twenty minutes' distance from El Jib

(Gibeon).

Kirjath-jearim--"the city of forests," now Kuryet-el-Enab

[ROBINSON].

18-27. 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

(1Ch 9:2;

Ezr 2:43; 8:20);

that is, given, appropriated. Their chastisement thus brought them into

the possession of great religious privileges

(Ps 84:10).