Joshua 9:21

Translations

Modern

They continued, “Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for the whole congregation.” So the leaders kept their promise.

Traditional

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.

Literal

And the rulers said to them, “Let them live; and let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water for all the congregation,” which the rulers had spoken to them.

Latin

…sed sic vivant, ut in usus universæ multitudinis ligna cædant, aquasque comportent. Quibus hæc loquentibus,

Original

Hebrew

English

They continued, “Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for the whole congregation.” So the leaders kept their promise.

Notes

Joshua 9:18–21

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).

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

War with Canaanites

Related verses

Deuteronomy 29:11
…your children and wives, and the foreigners in your camps who cut your wood and draw your water—
Joshua 9:23
Now therefore you are under a curse and will perpetually serve as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”
Joshua 9:27
On that day he made them woodcutters and water carriers, as they are to this day for the congregation of the LORD and for the altar at the place He would choose.
Joshua 9:15
And Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them.
2 Chronicles 2:17–18
Solomon numbered all the foreign men in the land of Israel following the census his father David had conducted, and there were found to be 153,600 in all.

Glossary

Alliance Conquest and Allotment of the Land Foreigner Gibeon, Gibeonites Jerusalem Joshua (Person) Joshua, Book of Judges, Book of Kiriath-jearim Mephibosheth Nethinim Samuel, Books of First and Second Tribe of Dan

Topics

Contracts: Scriptures Illustrative of the Binding Force of Covenant: Sacred Gibeonites: Israel: Appointed, Hewers of Wood Government: Executive officers of Tribes and Cities Joshua: Also Called Jehoshua, and Jehoshuah, and Oshea: Makes a Treaty with the Gibeonites Kirjath-Jearim: Inhabitants of Magnanimity: Joshua and the Elders of Israel to the Gibeonites Who had Deceived the Israelites Servant: Bond: Voluntary Servitude of Treaty: Sacredness of

Joshua 9:21

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