Keraia
Joshua 9

Joshua 9:1

The Deceit of the Gibeonites · Joshua 9:1–27
Read Joshua 9

Translations

Modern
Now when news of this reached all the kings west of the Jordan—those in the hill country, the foothills, and all along the coast of the Great Sea toward Lebanon (the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites)—
Traditional
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;
Literal
And it came to pass, when heard all the kings who were on this side of the Jordan, in the hills, and in the Shephelah, and in all the coasts of the Great Sea, over toward Lebanon (the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite),
Latin
Quibus auditis, cuncti reges trans Jordanem, qui versabantur in montanis et campestribus, in maritimis ac littore magni maris, hi quoque qui habitabant juxta Libanum, Hethæus et Amorrhæus, Chananæus, Pherezæus, et Hevæus, et Jebusæus,

Original

Hebrew
English
Now when news of this reached all the kings west of the Jordan—those in the hill country, the foothills, and all along the coast of the Great Sea toward Lebanon (the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites)—

Notes

Joshua 9:1

  • 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.

Joshua 9:1–27

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.

Theme notes and profiles

Joshua

Events

People

Amorites: Canaanite people group, enemies of Israel Heth: Son of Canaan and ancestor of the Hittites Hivites: A Canaanite people group Jebusites: Canaanite tribe inhabiting Jerusalem before David's conquest Perizzites: Canaanite people group living in the land of Canaan

Places

Canaan: Ancient region; descendants of Ham; promised to Abraham's descendants Great Sea: The Mediterranean Sea, the western boundary of the Promised Land Jordan: A river and region, significant in Israel's history Lebanon: A mountainous region known for its cedar trees Shephelah: Lowland region between Judean hills and coastal plain

Glossary

Alliance Amorites Conquest and Allotment of the Land Foreigner Gibeon, Gibeonites Jerusalem Joshua (Person) Joshua, Book of Judges, Book of Mediterranean Sea Perizzite Tribe of Dan

Topics

Alliances: Canaanitish Nations Against Israel Alliances: Joshua and the Gibeonites Canaan: Land of Conquest of, by the Israelites Gibeon: A City of the Hivites: The People of, Adroitly Draw Joshua Into a Treaty God: Preserver: Victories Over the Canaanites Under Joshua Hittites: Conquered by Joshua Hivites: Conquered by Joshua Israel: Make a Treaty with the Gibeonites Joshua: The Kings of the Six Nations of the Canaanites Band Together Against Him Lebanon: Northern Boundary of the Land of Canaan Mediterranean Sea: Mentioned in Scripture As |The Great Sea| The Gibeonites, Ambassadors, in the Deception