Joshua 9:3

Joshua 9:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,
• New International Version (NIV)However, when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,
• English Standard Version (ESV)But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai,
• New King James Version (NKJV)But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,

Context of Joshua 9:3

1Now when all the kings who were beyond the Jordan, in the hill country and in the lowland [at the western edge of the hills of Judea], and all along the coast of the Great [Mediterranean] Sea toward Lebanon, the Hittite and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite, heard of this [army and its victories over Jericho and Ai], 2they gathered together with one purpose to fight with Joshua and with Israel. But when the people of Gibeon [the Hivites] heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, 4they too acted craftily and cunningly, and set out and took along provisions, but took worn-out sacks on their donkeys, and wineskins (leather bottles) that were worn out and split open and patched together, 5and worn-out and patched sandals on their feet, and worn-out clothes; and all their supply of food was dry and had turned to crumbs.

Joshua 9:3 word by word

וְיֹשְׁבֵ֨י גִבְע֜וֹן שָׁמְע֗וּ אֵת֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשָׂ֧ה יְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַ לִֽירִיח֖וֹ וְלָעָֽי׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And when the inhabitantsיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
• of Gibeonגִּבְעוֹןgib‛ôn · GibeonH1391
• heardשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
• what Joshuaיְהוֹשׁוּעַyehôshûa‛ yehôshûa‛ · JoshuaH3091
• had doneעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• unto Jerichoיְרִיחוֹyerîychô yerêchô yerîychôh · JerichoH3405
• and to Aiעַי‛ay ‛ayâ' ‛ayâth · AiH5857

Cross-references for Joshua 9:3

• Joshua 9:17Then the sons of Israel set out and came to their cities on the third day. Now the cities [of the Hivites] were Gibeon and Chephirah and Beeroth and Kiriath-jearim.
• Joshua 10:2he [and his people] feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were mighty.
• 2 Samuel 21:1There was famine in the days of David for three consecutive years; and David sought the presence (face) of the Lord [asking the reason]. The Lord replied, “It is because of Saul and his bloody house, because he put the Gibeonites to death.”
• Joshua 6:1Now Jericho [a fortified city with high walls] was tightly closed because [of the people’s fear] of the sons of Israel; no one went out or came in.
• Joshua 8:1Now the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear or be dismayed (intimidated). Take all the men of war with you and set out, go up to Ai; see, I have given the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land into your hand.

Commentaries on Joshua 9:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3The inhabitants of Gibeon heard - These alone did not join the confederation. Gibeon is supposed to have been the capital of the Hivites. In the division of the land it fell to the lot of Benjamin, Joshua 18:25, and was afterwards given to the priests, Joshua 21:17. See the note on Joshua 10:2.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3Gibeon was the head of the four towns Joshua 9:17 occupied by the Hivites Joshua 11:19. The inhabitants were Amorites 2 Samuel 21:2; the name “Amorites” being used as a general name for the Canaanite population (Deuteronomy 1:44 note). The Hivites seem to have had a non-monarchical form of government (compare Joshua 9:3, Joshua 9:11), but their city was Joshua 10:2 in size and importance equal to those cities which the kings of the country made their…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 3-13Verses 3-13 Other people heard these tidings, and were driven thereby to make war upon Israel; but the Gibeonites were led to make peace with them. Thus the discovery of the glory and the grace of God in the gospel, is to some a savour of life unto life, but to others a savour of death unto death, 2Co 2:16. The same sun softens wax and hardens clay. The falsehood of the Gibeonites cannot be justified. We must not do evil that good may themselves to the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3The people of Gibeon tried to trick Israel into making a covenant. Gibeon was on a high plain (plateau) north of Jerusalem. It was less than 24 kilometers (15 miles) from Israel's camp at Gilgal (see study note on 7:2).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3-153-15. when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard--This town, as its name imports, was situated on a rocky eminence, about six miles northwest from Jerusalem, where the modern village of El Jib now stands. It was the capital of the Hivites, and a large important city (Jos 10:2). It seems to have formed, in union with a few other towns in the neighborhood, a free independent state (Jos 9:17) and to have enjoyed a republican government (Jos 9:11).Read the comment

Topics related to Joshua 9:3

• Confidence
• Contracts
• Craftiness
• Deception
• Diplomacy
• Gibeon
• Joshua
• Kirjath-Jearim
• Magnanimity
• Oath
• Treaty

In the dictionaries

• Ai
• Gibeon
• Jericho
• Joshua
• Gibeon, Gibeonite
• Alliance
• Wilily
• Beeroth
• Chephirah
• Exodus, the Book of

Commentaries on Joshua 9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings