Joshua 9:17

And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities [were] Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjathjearim.

And the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478} journeyed {H5265}, and came {H935} unto their cities {H5892} on the third {H7992} day {H3117}. Now their cities {H5892} were Gibeon {H1391}, and Chephirah {H3716}, and Beeroth {H881}, and Kirjathjearim {H7157}.

The people of Isra'el traveled and arrived at their cities on the third day. Their cities were Giv'on, K'firah, Be'erot and Kiryat-Ye'arim.

So the Israelites set out and on the third day arrived at their cities—Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim.

And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim.

Commentary

Joshua 9:17 describes the immediate aftermath of the Israelites' discovery of the Gibeonite deception. After entering into a covenant with them, believing they were from a distant land, the Israelites journeyed for three days only to find that the Gibeonite cities were, in fact, within the promised land of Canaan, very close to their encampment.

Historical and Cultural Context

This verse is crucial for understanding the consequences of the Israelites' failure to consult the Lord before making a treaty. The Gibeonites, through cunning and misrepresentation (Joshua 9:4-5), tricked Joshua and the leaders of Israel into a peace agreement. This was a direct violation of God's command to utterly destroy all the inhabitants of Canaan (Deuteronomy 7:2, Joshua 6:17). The "third day" journey indicates a relatively short distance, emphasizing how close these cities were, making the deception even more stark.

The cities mentioned—Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kirjathjearim—were significant Hivite settlements. Gibeon was particularly prominent, described as a "great city" (Joshua 10:2), larger than Ai, and all its men were warriors. This discovery put the Israelite leaders in a difficult position: they had made an oath before God, and breaking it would have serious spiritual implications, even if it was made under false pretenses.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Consequences of Hasty Decisions: The immediate discovery of the Gibeonites' true location highlights the direct and often swift consequences of making significant decisions without seeking divine counsel.
  • The Binding Nature of Oaths: Despite the deception, the Israelites felt bound by their oath (Joshua 9:19). This underscores the sacredness of covenants and oaths in ancient Israelite culture, even those entered into mistakenly.
  • God's Sovereignty Amidst Human Error: Even in their error, God continued to work through the Israelites, eventually incorporating the Gibeonites into a subservient role rather than annihilating them, which had its own long-term implications for the nation of Israel.

Linguistic Insights

The names of the cities themselves offer some insight:

  • Gibeon: From the Hebrew root meaning "hill" or "elevated place," suggesting its geographical prominence.
  • Kirjathjearim: Means "city of forests" or "city of woods," indicating the local landscape. This city later gained significance as a temporary resting place for the Ark of the Covenant (1 Samuel 7:1).

Practical Application

Joshua 9:17 serves as a powerful reminder for believers today about the importance of discernment and patience. Before making important life decisions—whether in personal matters, business, or ministry—it is vital to:

  • Seek God's Will: Always prioritize prayer and consult God's Word. Don't rely solely on outward appearances or persuasive arguments.
  • Consider Long-Term Consequences: Hasty decisions can have lasting impacts, as seen with the Gibeonites who remained among Israel for generations (Joshua 9:27).
  • Uphold Integrity: While the Israelites erred in making the oath, their commitment to upholding it, even when deceived, speaks to the importance of integrity and honoring one's word.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

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

Cross-References

  • Joshua 18:25 (3 votes)

    Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth,

  • Joshua 18:28 (3 votes)

    And Zelah, Eleph, and Jebusi, which [is] Jerusalem, Gibeath, [and] Kirjath; fourteen cities with their villages. This [is] the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.

  • Ezra 2:25 (3 votes)

    The children of Kirjatharim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred and forty and three.

  • Joshua 15:9 (2 votes)

    And the border was drawn from the top of the hill unto the fountain of the water of Nephtoah, and went out to the cities of mount Ephron; and the border was drawn to Baalah, which [is] Kirjathjearim:

  • Joshua 10:2 (2 votes)

    That they feared greatly, because Gibeon [was] a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it [was] greater than Ai, and all the men thereof [were] mighty.

  • 2 Chronicles 1:3 (2 votes)

    So Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the high place that [was] at Gibeon; for there was the tabernacle of the congregation of God, which Moses the servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness.

  • 2 Chronicles 1:4 (2 votes)

    But the ark of God had David brought up from Kirjathjearim to [the place which] David had prepared for it: for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem.