1 And it came to pass, when all the kings which were on this side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against 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 And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,
4 They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up;
5 And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy.
6 And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us.
7 And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league 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 the LORD thy God: 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 Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which was at Ashtaroth.
11 Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants: therefore now make ye a league 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 it is mouldy:
13 And these bottles of wine, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey.
14 And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.
15 And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.
16 And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors, 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 Kirjathjearim.
18 And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God 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 the LORD God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them.
20 This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them.
21 And the princes said unto them, Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had promised them.
22 And Joshua called for them, and he spake 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 none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.
24 And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the LORD thy God 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 of our lives because of you, and have done this thing.
25 And now, behold, we are in thine 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 the LORD, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose.
The ninth chapter of the Book of Joshua in the King James Version (KJV) of the Holy Bible continues the narrative of the Israelites' conquest of the Promised Land. In this chapter, the focus shifts from battles and victories to the interactions between the Israelites and the people of the land. The main themes of this chapter include deception, obedience to God's commands, and the importance of seeking God's guidance. The events in this chapter serve as a cautionary tale about the consequences of acting without seeking God's will.
The chapter begins with the news of the Israelites' victories spreading throughout the land. This news reaches the inhabitants of Gibeon, a city-state in the land of Canaan. Fearing for their lives, the Gibeonites come up with a plan to deceive the Israelites and make a peace treaty with them. They dress in worn-out clothes and old sandals, carry moldy bread, and present themselves to the Israelites as travelers from a distant land. They claim to have heard of the Israelites' God and their victories and seek to make a treaty with them.
The leaders of Israel, Joshua and the elders, are initially suspicious of the Gibeonites' story but do not seek God's guidance before making a decision. They rely on their own understanding and make a treaty with the Gibeonites, promising to spare their lives. The Gibeonites, in turn, swear allegiance to the Israelites and become their servants.
After three days, the Israelites discover that the Gibeonites are actually their neighbors and that they have been deceived. However, they honor their oath and do not attack the Gibeonites. This decision is significant as it shows the Israelites' obedience to their leaders and their commitment to keeping their word, even if it was made under false pretenses.
Furthermore, the Israelites' obedience to their leaders is a reflection of their obedience to God. The Israelites had been commanded by God to completely destroy the inhabitants of the land, but in this instance, they choose to honor their promise and spare the Gibeonites. This act of obedience to God's commandments, even in difficult situations, is a recurring theme in the book of Joshua.
As the chapter continues, we see the consequences of the Israelites' failure to seek God's guidance before making a decision. The Israelites had been commanded by God to destroy the inhabitants of the land, but they had made a treaty with the Gibeonites. This decision leads to problems as the other nearby nations, who had heard of the treaty, become afraid of the Israelites and gather to attack the Gibeonites.
The Gibeonites, now allies of the Israelites, turn to Joshua for help, reminding him of their treaty. Joshua, bound by his oath, leads the Israelites to defend the Gibeonites and defeat their enemies. This conflict could have been avoided if the Israelites had sought God's guidance before making a decision.
This chapter serves as a reminder of the importance of seeking God's will in all decisions we make. The Israelites' failure to seek God's guidance led to problems and conflicts that could have been avoided. It also highlights the consequences of acting without seeking God's will, even if our intentions are good.
The ninth chapter of the Book of Joshua holds several important lessons for readers. Firstly, it serves as a reminder of the consequences of deception. The Gibeonites' deception of the Israelites and the Israelites' subsequent decision to make a treaty with them leads to problems and conflicts. This serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of deception and the importance of honesty in our interactions with others.
Secondly, this chapter emphasizes the importance of obedience to God's commands. Despite being deceived, the Israelites choose to honor their promise and spare the Gibeonites. This act of obedience to God's commandments, even in difficult situations, is a recurring theme in the book of Joshua and serves as an example for readers to follow.
Lastly, this chapter highlights the significance of seeking God's guidance in all decisions we make. The Israelites' failure to seek God's will before making a decision leads to problems and conflicts. It serves as a reminder to readers to always seek God's will and guidance in our lives, as He knows what is best for us.
In conclusion, the ninth chapter of the Book of Joshua in the KJV Holy Bible continues the narrative of the Israelites' conquest of the Promised Land. It emphasizes the consequences of deception, the importance of obedience to God's commands, and the significance of seeking God's guidance in all decisions. This chapter serves as a cautionary tale and holds valuable lessons for readers to apply in their own lives.
Share this page