Keraia
Joshua 9

Joshua 9:23

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

Translations

Modern
Now therefore you are under a curse and will perpetually serve as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”
Traditional
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.
Literal
And now cursed are you, and none of you shall be freed from being slaves and woodcutters and drawers of water for the house of my God.”
Latin
…itaque sub maledictione eritis, et non deficiet de stirpe vestra ligna cædens, aquasque comportans in domum Dei mei.

Original

Hebrew
English
Now therefore you are under a curse and will perpetually serve as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”

Notes

Joshua 9:23

  • 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.

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

Glossary

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

Topics

Church: House of God Contracts: Scriptures Illustrative of the Binding Force of Gibeonites: Israel: Appointed, Hewers of Wood 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: Gibeonites