Joshua-Chap-9

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Throughout this site I may use any of the following three versions of the Tanakh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2. “Mechon-Mamre.org” (MEC), and 3. “Sefaria.org” (SEF), three brilliant versions, although JPS-1917 is my preferred version!

Colour coded details of our beloved TaNaKh:

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Please Note: Some alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.

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Remember the following truth from our beloved Torah!

“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).

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“Joshua Chapter 9”

With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

Introduction:

Joshua chapter 9 presents one of the most intriguing episodes in the early Israelite settlement of the land: the deception of the Gibeonites. After the dramatic victories at Jericho and Ai, the surrounding Canaanite kings unite in fear, preparing for war. Yet one group, the Gibeonites chooses a radically different strategy. Instead of confrontation, they resort to cunning diplomacy, disguising themselves as distant travellers to secure a treaty with Israel, may אֱלֹהִים - Elohim (God) be blessed!

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Let us read Joshua Chapter 9:1-27: (JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh).

1. And it came to pass, when all the kings that were beyond the Jordan, in the hill-country, and in the Lowland, and on all the shore of the Great Sea in front of Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard thereof, 2. that they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord. 3. But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai, 4. they also did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine skins, worn and rent and patched up; 5. and worn shoes and clouted upon their feet, and worn garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and was become crumbs. 6. And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel: ‘We are come from a far country; now therefore make ye a covenant with us’. 7. And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites: ‘Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a covenant with you?’ 8. And they said unto Joshua: ‘We are thy servants’. And Joshua said unto them: ‘Who are ye? and from whence come ye?’ 9. And they said unto him: ‘From a very far country thy servants are come because of the Name of יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ - The LORD thy Eloheucha; for we have heard the fame of Him, and all that He did in Egypt, 10. and all that He did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth. 11. And our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying: Take provision in your hand for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them: We are your servants; and now make ye a covenant with us. 12. This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and is become crumbs. 13. And these wine-skins, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they are rent. And these our garments and our shoes are worn by reason of the very long journey’. 14. And the men took of their provision, and asked not counsel at the mouth of יְהוָה - the LORD. 15. And Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them, to let them live; and the princes of the congregation swore unto them. 16. And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt among them. 17. And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim. 18. And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by יְהוָה - the LORD, the אֱלֹהִים - Elohim of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes. 19. But all the princes said unto all the congregation: ‘We have sworn unto them by יְהוָה - the LORD, the אֱלֹהִים - Elohim of Israel; now therefore we may not touch them. 20. This we will do to them, and let them live; lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we swore unto them.' 21. And the princes said concerning them: ‘Let them live’; so they became hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation, as the princes had spoken concerning them. 22. And Joshua called for them, and he spoke unto them, saying: ‘Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying: We are very far from you, when ye dwell among us? 23. Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall never fail to be of you bondmen, both hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’. 24. And they answered Joshua, and said: ‘Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ - The LORD thy Eloheucha commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you; therefore we were sore afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this thing. 25. And now, behold, we are in thy hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do’. 26. And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not. 27. And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of יְהוָה - the LORD, unto this day, in the place which He should choose”.

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An Explanation of the 27 Verses:

Verses 1-2: The Canaanite Coalition.

The kings west of the Jordan, Hittite, Amorite, Canaanite, Perizzite, Hivite, and Jebusite, hear of Israel’s victories and form a military alliance. Their unity is driven by fear, but also by a shared desire to resist Israel’s advance. This sets the stage for the contrast with the Gibeonites, who choose a different path.

Verses 3-6: The Gibeonite Ruse.

The inhabitants of Gibeon, aware of Israel’s Divine mandate and military success, devise a plan. They disguise themselves with worn-out clothing, moldy bread, and old wineskins, presenting themselves as emissaries from a distant land. Their goal is to secure a treaty before Israel realizes they are local inhabitants.

Their deception is clever, but it also reflects a certain theological insight: they recognize the power of Israel’s אֱלֹהִים - Elohim (God) and seek survival through alliance rather than resistance.

Verses 7-13: Negotiation and Persuasion.

Israel is initially suspicious “Peradventure ye dwell among us” but the Gibeonites persist. They emphasize their supposed long journey and the fame of Israel’s אֱלֹהִים - Elohim. Their props, the dry bread, patched garments serve as visual proof of their fabricated story.

The narrative subtly critiques Israel’s leadership here: they rely on appearances rather than seeking Divine guidance.

Verse 14: The Critical Mistake.

This is the turning point: “And the men took of their provision, and asked not counsel at the mouth of יְהוָה - the LORD.”

The text highlights a failure of spiritual discipline. Israel evaluates the situation materially but neglects the essential step of consulting אֱלֹהִים - Elohim. This omission leads to a binding covenant made under false pretenses.

Verses 15-18: The Treaty and Its Discovery.

Joshua and the leaders swear an oath of peace with the Gibeonites. Three days later, the truth emerges: the supposed distant travellers are neighbours living within the land Israel was commanded to possess.

Despite the deception, the leaders refuse to break the oath. Their commitment to the sanctity of a sworn covenant, even one obtained dishonestly reflects a deep reverence for the Divine Name invoked in the oath.

Verses 19-21: The Leaders’ Decision.

The leaders declare: “We have sworn unto them by יְהוָה - the LORD … therefore we may not touch them”. The people murmur, but the leaders stand firm. The Gibeonites are spared but assigned a servile role: woodcutters and water-drawers for the community and for the altar of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim. This compromise preserves the oath while addressing the deception.

Verses 22-27: Joshua’s Rebuke and Resolution.

Joshua confronts the Gibeonites, who admit their fear and their knowledge of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s promise to Israel. Joshua imposes their perpetual role as laborers for the sanctuary. The chapter ends by noting that this status continues “unto this day”, emphasizing the long-term consequences of both the Gibeonites’ deception and Israel’s hasty decision.

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My Closing Message:

Joshua 9 is a powerful reminder that leadership requires discernment, humility, and fidelity. The Israelites’ failure to seek Divine counsel teaches the importance of pausing before acting, especially when decisions carry moral or communal weight. Yet the chapter also highlights the sanctity of promises: even when made under false pretences, a covenant sworn in אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s Name must be honored. The Gibeonites, for their part, demonstrate a survival instinct rooted in recognition of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s sovereignty. Their deception is not celebrated, but their desire to align themselves with Israel’s אֱלֹהִים - Elohim is acknowledged.

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Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said the following via several of our prophets...

“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts” Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).

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שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!

Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

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