Joshua 9:3

ยถ And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,

And when the inhabitants {H3427} of Gibeon {H1391} heard {H8085} what Joshua {H3091} had done {H6213} unto Jericho {H3405} and to Ai {H5857},

But when the inhabitants of Giv'ah heard what Y'hoshua had done to Yericho and 'Ai,

But the people of Gibeon, having heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,

But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,

Commentary

Joshua 9:3 introduces a pivotal moment in the Israelite conquest of Canaan, setting the stage for one of the most significant deceptions in the book of Joshua. This verse highlights the widespread impact of God's power demonstrated through Israel's recent victories.

Context of Joshua 9:3

Following the miraculous fall of Jericho and the subsequent, though initially challenging, victory at Ai, the reputation of Israel and their powerful God, Yahweh, had spread throughout the land of Canaan. The indigenous Canaanite nations, including the Hivites, were well aware of the Israelites' devastating military success. God had commanded Israel to utterly destroy these nations (Deuteronomy 7:1-2) to prevent their idolatry from corrupting Israel.

Key Themes and Messages

  • The Spreading Fame of God's Power: The news of Israel's victories was not confined to immediate battlefields; it reverberated across the region, instilling fear in the hearts of the Canaanite inhabitants. This demonstrates how God's mighty acts serve as a testimony to His sovereignty.
  • Fear and Reaction: The Gibeonites, unlike some other kings who formed a confederacy to fight Israel (Joshua 9:1-2), chose a different survival strategy: deception. Their reaction of fear, born from hearing of Israel's overwhelming might, led them to concoct a cunning plan rather than direct confrontation.
  • Impending Deception: This verse immediately foreshadows the elaborate ruse that the Gibeonites would employ to secure a covenant with Israel, circumventing God's command to not make treaties with the land's inhabitants.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard" uses the Hebrew verb shama' (ืฉึธืืžึทืข), which means more than just a passive hearing. It implies understanding, taking heed, or even obeying. In this context, it signifies that the Gibeonites fully grasped the implications of Joshua's devastating victories at Jericho and Ai โ€“ that Israel was an unstoppable force backed by a powerful deity. This deep understanding prompted their subsequent actions.

Practical Application

This verse reminds us that the impact of God's work often precedes direct encounter. Just as the Gibeonites heard of God's power through Israel's actions, our lives and the church's witness can spread the fame of God to those around us. It also highlights how fear, when not channeled into seeking God, can lead to desperate and sometimes deceitful measures. It underscores the importance of discerning truth and seeking divine counsel before making critical decisions, a lesson Israel would learn in the subsequent verses of this chapter.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“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 โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Joshua 10:2

    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.

  • 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.

  • 2 Samuel 21:1

    ยถ Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, [It is] for Saul, and for [his] bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.

  • 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.)

  • Joshua 6:1

    ยถ Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.

  • Joshua 6:27

    So the LORD was with Joshua; and his fame was [noised] throughout all the country.

  • Joshua 8:1

    ยถ And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land:
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