Joshua 9 - Introduction
_A.M. 2553. B.C. 1451._ The confederacy of the kings of Canaan against Israel, Joshua 9:1; Joshua 9:2. The confederacy of the Gibeonites with Israel, Joshua 9:3. Their employment, Joshua 9:19.... [ Continue Reading ]
_A.M. 2553. B.C. 1451._ The confederacy of the kings of Canaan against Israel, Joshua 9:1; Joshua 9:2. The confederacy of the Gibeonites with Israel, Joshua 9:3. Their employment, Joshua 9:19.... [ Continue Reading ]
_In all the coasts of the great sea_, &c. Some versions render this, _And those along all the coasts of the great sea, and those about Lebanon. Heard thereof_ That is, of the taking of Jericho and Ai, for what immediately precedes, namely, about writing the law on stones in mount Ebal, did not conce... [ Continue Reading ]
_And when_ Rather, _but when; the inhabitants of Gibeon_ A great and royal city of the Hivites. _They made as if they had been ambassadors_ Sent from a far country. _Wine-bottles, old and rent, and bound up_ This seems scarce sense to us; but will appear clear enough when we recollect that glass bot... [ Continue Reading ]
_Unto the camp to Gilgal_ Joshua's headquarters. _And said to the men of Israel_ To those that used to meet in council with Joshua, to whom it belonged to make leagues, namely, the princes of the congregation. _Now therefore make a league with us_ Because we are not of this people, whom, as we are i... [ Continue Reading ]
_The men of Israel said to the Hivites_ That is, the Gibeonites, who were Hivites, Joshua 11:19. _Peradventure you dwell among us_ That is, in this land, and so are of that people with whom we are forbidden to make any league or covenant. _They said We are thy servants_ We desire a league with you u... [ Continue Reading ]
_Because of the Lord thy God_ Being moved thereunto by the report of his great and glorious nature and works. Thus 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 th... [ Continue Reading ]
_The men_ That is, the princes. _Their victuals_ That they might examine the truth of what they said. _Asked not at 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... [ Continue Reading ]
_Joshua made a league with them to let them live_ Not merely, it seems, to spare their lives, which, supposing them to belong to a far country, they had no warrant to take away, but to let them continue in the enjoyment of their effects; the word _life_ in Scripture being frequently of equal signifi... [ Continue Reading ]
_All the congregation murmured against the princes_ Both from that proneness which is in people to censure the actions of their rulers, and from the 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; doing these things partly for the sacrifices and services of the house of God, which otherwise the Israelites themselves must h... [ Continue Reading ]
_Called for them_ Probably not only the messengers, but the elders of Gibeon were now present. _Therefore 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... [ Continue Reading ]
_We are in thy hand_, &c. In thy power to use us as thou wilt. We refer ourselves to thee and thy own piety, probity, and faithfulness, to fulfil thy word and oath; if thou wilt destroy thy humble supplicants, we submit. Let us, in like manner, submit to our Lord Jesus, and refer ourselves to him, s... [ Continue Reading ]
_And for the altar of the Lord_ By which it 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 ]