Joshua 9:6

Translations

Modern

They went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant land; please make a treaty with us.”

Traditional

And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us.

Literal

And they went to Joshua to the camp at Gilgal and said to him and to the men of Israel, “From a distant country we have come, and now make with us a covenant.”

Latin

…perrexeruntque ad Josue, qui tunc morabatur in castris Galgalæ, et dixerunt ei, atque simul omni Israëli: De terra longinqua venimus, pacem vobiscum facere cupientes. Responderuntque viri Israël ad eos, atque dixerunt:

Original

Hebrew

English

They went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant land; please make a treaty with us.”

Notes

Joshua 9:4–6

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.

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

Joshua 5:10
On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while the Israelites were camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, they kept the Passover.
2 Kings 20:14
Then the prophet Isaiah went to King Hezekiah and asked, “Where did those men come from, and what did they say to you?” “They came from a distant land,” Hezekiah replied, “from Babylon.”
Joshua 10:43
Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.
Deuteronomy 20:11–15
If they accept your offer of peace and open their gates, all the people there will become forced laborers to serve you.
1 Kings 8:41
And as for the foreigner who is not of Your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of Your name—
Joshua 9:9
“Your servants have come from a very distant land,” they replied, “because of the fame of the LORD your God. For we have heard the reports about Him: all that He did in Egypt,

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes Joshua: Moses' assistant who led Israel into Canaan

Places

Gilgal: A significant site during Israel's early history in Canaan

Glossary

Alliance Conquest and Allotment of the Land Foreigner Gibeon, Gibeonites Gilgal Jerusalem Joshua, Book of Judges, Book of Kiriath-jearim Mephibosheth Testament Tribe of Dan

Topics

Confidence: Betrayed: Joshua, by the Gibeonites Contracts: Scriptures Illustrative of the Binding Force of Craftiness: Gibeonites, in Deceiving Joshua and the Israelites Into a Treaty Deception: The Gibeonites, in Misrepresenting Their Habitat Diplomacy: The Gibeonites, in Securing a Treaty with the Israelites Through Deception Gibeonites: Israel: Deceived By Gilgal: Place of the First Encampment of the Israelites West of the Jordan River 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 Oath: The Israelites Confirm the Covenant with the Hivites The Amorites: The Gibeonites a Tribe of, Deceived Israel Into a League Treaty: Between Nations: Israelites and Gibeonites

Joshua 9:6

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