Joshua 9:1

CHAPTER IX

All the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites,

Hivites, and Jebusites, unite them forces against Joshua, 1, 2.

The inhabitants of Gibeon, hearing what Joshua had done to Ai,

sent ambassadors to him, feigning themselves to come from a

very distant tribe, requesting a friendly alliance with him,

3-5.

Their address to Joshua, and the means they used to deceive the

Israelites, 6-13.

The Israelitish elders are deceived, and make a league with

them, which they confirm with an oath, 14, 15.

After three day they are informed that the Gibeonites belong to

the seven Canaanitish nations, yet they spare their cities,

16, 17.

The congregation murmuring because of this, the elders excuse

themselves because of their oath, 18, 19.

They purpose to make the Gibeonites slaves to the congregation,

20, 21.

Joshua calls them, and pronounces this sentence against them,

22, 23.

They vindicate themselves, and submit to their lot, 24, 25.

They are spared, and made hewers of wood and drawers of water to

the congregation and to the altar, 26, 27.

NOTES ON CHAP. IX

Verse Joshua 9:1. And it came to pass, when all the kings-heard thereof] From this account it appears that the capture and destruction of Jericho and Ai had been heard of to the remotest parts of the land, that a general fear of the Israelitish arms prevailed, and that the different dynasties or petty governments into which the land was divided, felt all their interests at stake, and determined to make the defence of their country a common cause. This was the most prudent step they could take in their circumstances, and therefore they entered into a confederation in order to arrest the progress of the Israelites. The Great Sea mentioned here is the Mediterranean Sea, the coasts of which were inhabited by the Phoenicians, Syrians, Sidonians, and Philistines. It is very likely that all these united with the Canaanites for their common safety.