Joshua 9:9

And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the LORD thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt,

And they said {H559} unto him, From a very {H3966} far {H7350} country {H776} thy servants {H5650} are come {H935} because of the name {H8034} of the LORD {H3068} thy God {H430}: for we have heard {H8085} the fame {H8089} of him, and all that he did {H6213} in Egypt {H4714},

They answered him, "Your servants have come from a very distant country because of the reputation of ADONAI your God. We have heard reports about him - everything he did in Egypt,

โ€œYour servants have come from a very distant land,โ€ they replied, โ€œbecause of the fame of the LORD your God. For we have heard the reports about Him: all that He did in Egypt,

And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of Jehovah thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt,

Commentary

Context of Joshua 9:9

This verse is part of a clever deception orchestrated by the Gibeonites, a Hivite people inhabiting Canaan. Following Israel's decisive victories at Jericho and Ai, the Gibeonites feared for their lives, knowing God had commanded Israel to utterly destroy the inhabitants of the land (Deuteronomy 7:2). To avoid this fate, they pretended to be ambassadors from a very distant land, arriving with worn-out provisions and clothing to convince Joshua and the Israelite leaders that they were not from Canaan. This verse records their statement to Joshua, designed to establish their false identity and secure a peace treaty.

Key Themes and Messages

  • The Spreading Fame of God: The Gibeonites' statement, though deceitful, acknowledges that the reputation of the LORD God had extended far beyond Israel's immediate borders. They had clearly heard of His powerful deeds, particularly "all that he did in Egypt", including the plagues and the Exodus. This highlights God's universal sovereignty and the impact of His mighty works.
  • Cunning and Deception: The Gibeonites employed elaborate trickery to preserve themselves. Their lie underscores the lengths to which people will go out of fear and self-preservation, directly contrasting with the straightforward obedience God expected from Israel.
  • Consequences of Lack of Discernment: The Israelites, failing to inquire of the LORD, fell for the Gibeonites' ruse, leading to a forbidden covenant. This serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of seeking divine counsel before making significant decisions, especially concerning alliances or commitments (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "the name of the LORD thy God" (Hebrew: ืฉึตืื ื™ึฐื”ื•ึธื” ืึฑืœึนื”ึถื™ืšึธ, shem Yahweh Eloheykha) is significant. In biblical thought, the "name" (shem) often represents the very character, authority, and reputation of an individual or, in this case, God Himself. The Gibeonites were not just aware of a deity named Yahweh; they were aware of His powerful and awe-inspiring character as demonstrated through His actions. Their "hearing the fame of him" (ืฉึตืืžึทืข, shema) refers to the widespread report or renown of God's deeds.

Practical Application

Joshua 9:9 reminds us that God's power and glory are evident throughout the world, even to those who may not formally worship Him. It challenges believers to recognize the profound impact of God's actions throughout history. Furthermore, this narrative serves as a timeless reminder for us to exercise discernment and to always seek God's guidance through prayer and His Word before making crucial decisions. Just as Rahab in Jericho had heard of God's fame, so too should our lives be a testament to His power, drawing others to Him, even as we remain vigilant against deception in the world around us.

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 9:24

    And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the LORD thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing.

  • Deuteronomy 20:15

    Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities [which are] very far off from thee, which [are] not of the cities of these nations.

  • Joshua 2:9

    And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.

  • Joshua 2:10

    For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that [were] on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.

  • 1 Kings 8:41

    Moreover concerning a stranger, that [is] not of thy people Israel, but cometh out of a far country for thy name's sake;

  • Exodus 15:14

    The people shall hear, [and] be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina.

  • Numbers 14:15

    Now [if] thou shalt kill [all] this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of thee will speak, saying,
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