Joshua 9:15

ยถ And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.

And Joshua {H3091} made {H6213} peace {H7965} with them, and made {H3772} a league {H1285} with them, to let them live {H2421}: and the princes {H5387} of the congregation {H5712} sware {H7650} unto them.

so Y'hoshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them to spare their lives, and the leading officials of the community swore to them.

And Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them.

And Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.

Commentary

Joshua 9:15 describes the culmination of a deceptive peace overture from the Gibeonites towards the Israelites. After being tricked into believing the Gibeonites were from a distant land, Joshua and the leaders of Israel entered into a solemn covenant with them.

Context of Joshua 9:15

This verse follows directly from the Gibeonites' clever deception, where they presented themselves as ambassadors from a far-off country, wearing worn-out clothes and carrying stale provisions. Their aim was to avoid destruction, as God had commanded Israel to utterly destroy the inhabitants of Canaan (Deuteronomy 7:2). The crucial mistake made by the Israelites, as highlighted in Joshua 9:14, was that they "asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD." This lack of divine consultation led them into a binding agreement with a people God had commanded them to dispossess.

Key Themes and Messages

  • The Binding Nature of Oaths: Even though the covenant was made under false pretenses, the Israelites, particularly the "princes of the congregation," considered the oath sacred and binding before God. This highlights the high regard for vows and promises in ancient Israel, emphasizing that even a mistakenly made oath must be upheld (Numbers 30:2).
  • Consequences of Hasty Decisions: The narrative serves as a powerful cautionary tale about the dangers of making significant decisions without first seeking God's guidance. Israel's failure to inquire of the Lord resulted in a long-term commitment that contradicted their divine mission.
  • Divine Sovereignty Amidst Human Error: While Israel's actions were flawed, God allowed the Gibeonites to live, albeit in servitude, ultimately fulfilling a different aspect of His plan for the land and its inhabitants, and setting a precedent for how Israel would deal with those who humbled themselves before them.

Linguistic Insights

The word "league" in KJV is translated from the Hebrew term berith (ื‘ึฐึผืจึดื™ืช), which signifies a solemn covenant or treaty. This was not merely an agreement but a deeply binding pact, often sealed with an oath and carrying significant religious and legal weight. The phrase "sware unto them" (from Hebrew shaba, ืฉึธืื‘ึทืข) underscores the act of taking an oath, invoking the divine name to guarantee the promise, making it unbreakable in the eyes of God and man.

Practical Application

Joshua 9:15 offers timeless lessons for believers today. It underscores the vital importance of seeking God's wisdom and counsel in all our decisions, especially major ones. Just as the Israelites faced consequences for their hasty oath, we too must be mindful of the commitments we make. Our integrity, both in our words and actions, reflects our character and our walk with God. This passage reminds us that even when we make mistakes, we are still called to honor our commitments, trusting God to work through our circumstances.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Samuel 21:2

    And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them; (now the Gibeonites [were] not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah.)

  • Deuteronomy 20:10

    ยถ When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it.

  • Deuteronomy 20:11

    And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be, [that] all the people [that is] found therein shall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee.

  • Joshua 11:19

    There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, save the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibeon: all [other] they took in battle.

  • Joshua 6:22

    But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot's house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her.

  • Joshua 6:25

    And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel [even] unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.

  • Jeremiah 18:7

    [At what] instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy [it];
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