Tyndale Open Study NotesJoshua 9

Joshua failed to consult God again (9:14; compare 7:2–4). This time it was about an unexpected request. Other ancient Near Eastern stories only describe a leader’s successes. However, this author also noted the mistakes of Joshua and Israel’s elders. God is the true hero of the story, and the author wanted to emphasize God's achievements.

• Hittites … Jebusites: See study note on 3:10.

• The fertile region of lower hills between the highlands of Judah and the southern coastal plain was known as the western foothills.

• Although not all of the coastal plain of the Mediterranean Sea (the Great Sea) was occupied during this period, several important cities did exist. The kings of those small city-states, as far north as Mount Carmel, joined the southern coalition to resist Israel’s advances.

Chapter 10 gives a detailed account of these kings and why they joined forces to fight the Israelites.

The 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).

At that time, traveling long distances was difficult, dirty, and dangerous. To succeed in their trick, the Gibeonites needed their supplies, clothes, and food to appear convincing.

• The name Hivites is known only from the Bible and refers to a non-Semitic ethnic group that lived in various parts of Canaan (see Genesis 34:2; 36:2; Exodus 23:23, 28). Semitic people were ancient groups from the Middle East and North Africa, known for their shared languages (such as Hebrew, Aramaic, or Arabic) and cultural traditions.

• Perhaps you dwell near us: Israel’s leaders worried that the visitors were lying. They asked how they could know the visitors did not live nearby. Joshua then asked two direct questions. Still, he could have learned the truth by asking the Lord for guidance (Joshua 9:14).

• In Egypt: See Exodus 7–14.

• kings … Sihon … Og: See Numbers 21.

• None of Israel’s leaders noticed that the Gibeonites did not answer Joshua’s questions. This was because they had become distracted by the false words of praise about God and the idea that a foreign people wanted a treaty.

• If the Israelites spared their lives, the Gibeonites were willing to become Israel’s servants and swear to a treaty. This request should have raised suspicions among Israel’s leaders. Why would people from a distant land want a treaty of protection?

Israel's leaders checked the bread to confirm the story of the Gibeonites. But Joshua did not ask the Lord for guidance. This same mistake had caused deaths at Ai. In contrast, Israel won victories at Jericho and Ai by following God's instructions precisely.

• Israel made a treaty of peace with the Gibeonites. The Israelites were God's subjects, having made a treaty with God at Mount Sinai (see study note on Exodus 20:1–23:33). Israel could not make treaties without God's approval.

• made a treaty of peace with them to let them live (literally made a covenant for their lives): Nations confirmed covenants through a ceremony involving cutting animals in half as sacrifices. The parties of the covenant walked between two halves of animals to show their commitment (compare Genesis 15:9–18). If one party violated the covenant, they risked being cut in half like the sacrifice. Covenants were also written documents, sometimes carved in stone and displayed publicly for everyone to see and remember (see study note on Joshua 8:32).

• In Israel, people swore oaths in the name of the Lord that bound them. violating the oath brought the Lord's judgment for false swearing (Exodus 20:7).

living among them: When reporting Israel’s discovery, the author of Joshua repeated the word the Israelites used to express their suspicion of the Gibeonites (9:7).

Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim were on the high flat place (plateau) northwest of Jerusalem and southwest of Bethel and Ai (see study note on 7:2 for more details).

Israel could not violate this treaty, even though the Gibeonites tricked them into making it. Violating a covenant sworn by an oath before the Lord would have shown a lack of respect for God's name and honor (compare Genesis 27:30–38).

• As Israel's leader, Joshua had the right to gather the Gibeonites for questioning.

• "when in fact you live among us?": By using this phrase, Joshua quietly admitted (acknowledged without saying it directly) that he should not have trusted the Gibeonites without first asking the Lord.

• under a curse: This means they became servants.

• At that time, the house of my God was the tabernacle. Later, it was the temple in Jerusalem.

The response of the Gibeonites showed their faith in the Lord. They used dishonesty because they believed God would help Israel conquer Canaan.

• This summary ends the account of Joshua’s second and final major mistake as a leader.

• to this day: See study note on 4:9.