Together — They entered into a league to do this. Tho' they were many kings of different nations, and doubtless of different interests, often at variance with each other, yet they are all determined to unite against Israel. O that Israel would learn this of Canaanites, to sacrifice private interests... [ Continue Reading ]
Gibeon — A great and royal city of the Hivites.... [ Continue Reading ]
Been ambassadors — Sent from a far country.... [ Continue Reading ]
The camp at Gilgal — The place of their head — quarters. Men of Israel — To those who used to meet in council with Joshua, to whom it belonged to make leagues, even the princes of the congregation. Now therefore — Because we are not of this people, whom, as we are informed, you are obliged utterly t... [ Continue Reading ]
The Hivites — That is, the Gibeonites who were Hivites, Joshua 11:19. Among us — That is, in this land, and so are of that people with whom we are forbidden to make any league or covenant.... [ Continue Reading ]
Thy servants — We desire a league with you upon your own terms; we are ready to accept of any conditions. From whence came ye — For this free and general concession gave Joshua cause to suspect that they were Canaanites.... [ Continue Reading ]
Name of the Lord — Being moved thereunto by the report of his great and glorious nature and works; so they gave them hopes that they would embrace their religion. In Egypt — They cunningly mention those things only which were done some time ago, and say nothing of dividing Jordan, or the destruction... [ Continue Reading ]
The bottles — Leathern bottles.... [ Continue Reading ]
The men — That is, the princes. Their victuals — That they might examine the truth of what they said. The mouth of the Lord — As they ought to have done upon all such weighty occasions. So they are accused of rashness and neglect of their duty. For though it is probable, if God had been consulted, h... [ Continue Reading ]
To let them live — That is, they should not destroy them. That this league was lawful and obliging, appears, Because Joshua and all the princes, upon the review concluded it so to be, and spared them accordingly. Because God punished the violation of it long after, 2 Samuel 21:1. Because God is said... [ Continue Reading ]
Three days — That is, at the last of them, or upon the third day, as it is said, Joshua 9:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Kirjath — jearim — Which cities were subject to Gibeon, the royal city,Joshua 10:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
Against the princes — Both from that proneness which is in people to censure the actions of their rulers; and from their desire of the spoil of these cities.... [ Continue Reading ]
Unto all the congregation — That is, Let them be public servants, and employed in the meanest offices, (one kind being put for all the rest) for the use of the congregation; to do this partly for the sacrifices and services of the house of God, which otherwise the Israelites themselves must have don... [ Continue Reading ]
Called for them — Probably not only the messengers, but the elders of Gibeon were now present.... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye are cursed — You shall not escape the curse of God which by divine sentence belongs to all the Canaanites; but only change the quality of it, you shall feel that curse of bondage, which is proper to your race by virtue of that ancient decree, Genesis 9:25. Bond — men — The slavery, which is upon... [ Continue Reading ]
In thine hand — That is, in thy power to use us as thou wilt. Unto thee — We refer ourselves to thee and thy own piety, and probity, and faithfulness to thy word and oath; if thou wilt destroy thy humble suppliants, we submit. Let us in like manner submit to our Lord Jesus, and refer ourselves to hi... [ Continue Reading ]
The altar of the Lord — By which appears, that they were not only to do this service in God's house, but upon all other occasions, as the congregation needed their help.... [ Continue Reading ]