Joshua 9:11

KJV

Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We [are] your servants: therefore now make ye a league with us.

KJV (with Strong's)

Wherefore our elders {H2205} and all the inhabitants {H3427} of our country {H776} spake {H559} to us, saying {H559}, Take {H3947} victuals {H6720} with you {H3027} for the journey {H1870}, and go {H3212} to meet {H7125} them, and say {H559} unto them, We are your servants {H5650}: therefore now make {H3772} ye a league {H1285} with us.

Complete Jewish Bible

So our leaders and all the people living in our country said to us, "Take provisions with you for the journey, go to meet them, and say to them, 'We are your servants, and now make a covenant with us.'

Berean Standard Bible

So the elders and inhabitants of our land told us, ‘Take provisions for your journey; go to meet them and say to them: We are your servants. Please make a treaty with us.’

American Standard Version

And our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take provision in your hand for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants: and now make ye a covenant with us.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Joshua 9:11 captures the cunning deception orchestrated by the Gibeonites, a Hivite people, to secure their survival against the advancing Israelites. This verse recounts their fabricated narrative, claiming to be envoys from a distant land, sent by their elders to propose a covenant of peace. Their carefully constructed lie, presented with feigned humility and evidence of a long journey, was designed to bypass God's clear command to Israel regarding the inhabitants of Canaan, ultimately leading to a binding, yet ill-advised, treaty.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Joshua 9:11 is embedded within the narrative of Israel's conquest of Canaan, immediately following the miraculous victories at [Jericho](/joshua/6 "Joshua 6 - The Fall of Jericho") and [Ai](/joshua/8 "Joshua 8 - The Conquest of Ai"). These decisive victories had instilled widespread fear among the Canaanite kingdoms, setting the stage for the Gibeonites' desperate and deceptive strategy. The verse serves as a crucial component of their elaborate ruse, presenting the fabricated instructions from their "elders and all the inhabitants of our country" as justification for their presence and their plea for a treaty. This narrative directly contrasts with the divine command given to Israel in [Deuteronomy 7:2](/deuteronomy/7-2 "Deuteronomy 7:2 - God's Command to Destroy Canaanites"), which strictly prohibited making covenants with the indigenous peoples of the land, highlighting Israel's subsequent failure of discernment.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, treaties and covenants (`berith`) were solemn, binding agreements, often involving oaths and rituals, and were considered sacred. The Gibeonites, aware of Israel's overwhelming military success and their God-given mandate to utterly destroy the Canaanites, understood the gravity of their situation. As a Hivite people, they were among those designated for destruction. Their elaborate deception, involving worn-out clothes, mended sandals, and old, moldy provisions, was a culturally astute performance designed to convince the Israelites of their distant origin and the urgency of their mission. This ruse played on the cultural expectation that distant peoples might seek alliances, while nearby enemies were to be eradicated, providing a plausible cover for their true, immediate proximity.

* **Key Themes:** This verse is central to several key themes within the book of Joshua and the broader Old Testament. It powerfully illustrates the theme of **deception and cunning**, as the Gibeonites strategically employ lies and elaborate staging to manipulate the Israelite leadership, demonstrating human ingenuity in the face of existential threat. Furthermore, it underscores the theme of **fear and self-preservation**, as the Gibeonites' actions are driven by an intense desire to avoid the fate of [Jericho](/joshua/6 "Joshua 6 - The Fall of Jericho") and [Ai](/joshua/8 "Joshua 8 - The Conquest of Ai"). Most significantly, the verse sets the stage for Israel's critical failure in **discernment and obedience**. Their leaders, particularly Joshua, neglected to seek divine counsel before responding to the Gibeonites' plea, a lapse in judgment that led to a binding covenant that violated God's explicit commands, as seen in [Joshua 9:14](/joshua/9-14 "Joshua 9:14 - Israel's Failure to Consult God").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Elders (Hebrew, _zaqen'_):** This term refers to the respected, often older, leaders or representatives of a community. In ancient Near Eastern societies, elders held significant authority and were responsible for governance, judicial decisions, and representing their people. By claiming their "elders" had sent them, the Gibeonites lent an air of legitimacy and official sanction to their embassy, implying that their request for a league was a formal, communal decision rather than a rogue initiative. This detail was crucial in making their story believable to the Israelite leaders who also operated under a system of elders.
* **League (Hebrew, _berith'_):** This is a pivotal term, signifying a formal, binding agreement or covenant. In the Old Testament, a `berith` was a solemn pact, often sealed with oaths and carrying significant legal, social, and religious weight. It could be between individuals, nations, or even between God and humanity. By requesting a `berith`, the Gibeonites were not merely asking for a handshake agreement but a sacred, unbreakable treaty of peace and mutual non-aggression. This term would have immediately signaled to the Israelites the profound and enduring nature of the commitment being sought, making their subsequent failure to inquire of the Lord all the more grievous.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying,"**: This opening clause establishes the Gibeonites' fabricated authority and the collective nature of their supposed mission. By claiming that their entire community, led by its respected elders, had commissioned them, they presented themselves as legitimate envoys with a mandate to negotiate. This detail was designed to enhance the credibility of their story and suggest a broad, unified desire for peace from a distant land.
* **"Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them,"**: This instruction highlights the practical preparations for their supposed long journey, emphasizing the necessity of provisions. The Gibeonites' physical appearance—their moldy bread, worn wineskins, and patched garments—would later visually corroborate this claim, serving as "evidence" of their arduous travels. This detail skillfully reinforces the narrative of their remote origin, making their subsequent request more plausible to the Israelites.
* **"and say unto them, We [are] your servants:"**: This declaration of servitude is a strategic act of humility and submission. In the ancient world, declaring oneself a "servant" was a common diplomatic maneuver by the weaker party seeking favor or protection from a stronger power. It was an appeal to the Israelites' potential magnanimity and a tacit acknowledgment of their superior strength, further disarming them and making them more receptive to the idea of an alliance rather than conquest.
* **"therefore now make ye a league with us."**: This is the ultimate objective of the Gibeonites' elaborate deception: to secure a binding covenant (`berith`) with Israel. This request directly contravened God's command to Israel to utterly destroy the inhabitants of Canaan and make no treaties with them. The Gibeonites' plea for a "league" was a desperate and effective attempt to circumvent divine judgment through human cunning, ultimately leading Israel into a compromised position.

#### Literary Devices
The passage in Joshua 9:11 is rich with **Irony**, as the Gibeonites, who are immediate neighbors and designated enemies, present themselves as distant, humble servants seeking a covenant, directly contradicting their true status and intentions. Their entire presentation is a masterful act of **Deception**, employing **Dramatic Irony** where the audience (and God) knows the truth, but the Israelite leaders are ignorant. The detailed instructions from the "elders" and the emphasis on "victuals for the journey" serve as **Verisimilitude**, lending an air of authenticity to their fabricated story. This meticulous staging is a form of **Foreshadowing**, hinting at the costly mistake Israel is about to make due to their lack of discernment and failure to consult God.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Joshua 9:11 profoundly illustrates the dangers of human cunning and the critical importance of divine counsel. The Gibeonites' successful deception highlights humanity's capacity for manipulation, driven by fear and self-preservation, even against a people divinely commissioned. This episode serves as a powerful reminder that appearances can be deceiving and that spiritual discernment, rooted in seeking God's will, is paramount in all decision-making. Israel's failure to inquire of the Lord before entering into this covenant underscores the tragic consequences of relying solely on human judgment, even when faced with seemingly plausible circumstances. It reveals that obedience to God's specific commands, even when inconvenient or seemingly harsh, is always the path to true blessing and avoids long-term complications.

* [Deuteronomy 7:2](/deuteronomy/7-2 "Deuteronomy 7:2 - God's Command to Destroy Canaanites")
* [Joshua 9:14](/joshua/9-14 "Joshua 9:14 - Israel's Failure to Consult God")
* [Joshua 9:27](/joshua/9-27 "Gibeonites Become Servants")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The narrative of the Gibeonites in Joshua 9:11 offers profound lessons for contemporary believers. It challenges us to cultivate a deep reliance on God's wisdom rather than our own limited understanding or the persuasive appearances of the world. In an age saturated with information and various "offers," the call to discernment is more critical than ever. We are reminded that not every opportunity, plea, or alliance, however appealing or seemingly beneficial, aligns with God's perfect will. Our default posture should always be one of prayerful inquiry, seeking the Lord's guidance through His Word and by His Spirit, especially in significant decisions that could have lasting consequences. This story encourages us to exercise caution, to look beyond superficial presentations, and to prioritize faithful obedience over expediency or perceived advantage, trusting that God's ways are always higher and ultimately for our good.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life are you most tempted to rely on your own judgment rather than seeking God's counsel?**
* **How can you cultivate a greater habit of prayerful discernment before making significant decisions?**
* **What "victuals" or "worn-out clothes" might people or situations present today to deceive or manipulate?**
* **What are the potential long-term consequences of making hasty decisions without consulting God?**

### FAQ
**Why did the Gibeonites resort to such an elaborate deception?**

Answer: The Gibeonites resorted to deception out of intense fear and a desperate desire for self-preservation. They had witnessed the devastating defeats of [Jericho](/joshua/6 "Joshua 6 - The Fall of Jericho") and [Ai](/joshua/8 "Joshua 8 - The Conquest of Ai") at the hands of the Israelites and were aware of God's command to Israel to utterly destroy the Canaanite inhabitants ([Deuteronomy 7:2](/deuteronomy/7-2 "Deuteronomy 7:2 - God's Command to Destroy Canaanites")). Recognizing their military inferiority and the divine mandate against them, they devised a cunning plan to avoid destruction by feigning a distant origin, thus circumventing the prohibition against making treaties with local peoples.

**How could Israel, led by Joshua, be so easily deceived?**

Answer: Israel's deception, particularly that of Joshua and the leaders, stemmed primarily from their failure to inquire of the Lord before making a critical decision ([Joshua 9:14](/joshua/9-14 "Joshua 9:14 - Israel's Failure to Consult God")). While the Gibeonites' ruse was elaborate and convincing, the Israelites relied on their own human judgment and sensory evidence (the worn clothes, moldy bread). They likely assumed that anyone from a truly distant land would not be subject to God's command for destruction, and the Gibeonites' humble plea for a "league" seemed reasonable. Their overconfidence from recent victories and lack of immediate spiritual consultation left them vulnerable to the Gibeonites' cunning.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Joshua 9:11 depicts a covenant born of deception and human error, it subtly points to the ultimate, true covenant established in Christ. The Gibeonites sought a "league" out of fear of death, a temporary and imperfect peace. In stark contrast, Jesus Christ offers a new and eternal covenant, not based on human cunning or fear, but on divine grace and perfect sacrifice ([Hebrews 8:6](/hebrews/8-6 "Hebrews 8:6 - Christ, Mediator of a Better Covenant")). He is the true [Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), providing a genuine way for humanity, alienated by sin, to be reconciled to God. Unlike the Gibeonites' false claim of servitude, Christ truly became a servant, taking on human flesh ([Philippians 2:7](/philippians/2-7 "Philippians 2:7 - Christ's Humility")) to bring about a lasting peace that transcends all human deception and conflict ([Ephesians 2:14-16](/ephesians/2-14 "Ephesians 2:14-16 - Christ Our Peace")). Through Him, believers enter into a covenant of life, not of forced servitude, but of adopted sonship, fulfilling God's promise of true and eternal relationship.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Joshua 9:8

And they said unto Joshua, We [are] thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who [are] ye? and from whence come ye?

Esther 8:17

And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.

Luke 9:3

And he said unto them, Take nothing for [your] journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.

Genesis 43:12

And take double money in your hand; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry [it] again in your hand; peradventure it [was] an oversight:

Matthew 10:9

Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,

Matthew 10:10

Nor scrip for [your] journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.

Joshua 1:11

Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the LORD your God giveth you to possess it.