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?

And they said {H559} unto Joshua {H3091}, We are thy servants {H5650}. And Joshua {H3091} said {H559} unto them, Who are ye? and from whence {H370} come {H935} ye?

But they answered Y'hoshua, "We are your servants." Y'hoshua asked, "Who are you, and where do you come from?"

“We are your servants,” they said to Joshua. Then Joshua asked them, “Who are you and where have you come from?”

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

Commentary

Joshua 9:8 captures a pivotal moment in the Gibeonites' clever deception of Joshua and the leaders of Israel. Having just witnessed the miraculous fall of Jericho and the strategic conquest of Ai, the surrounding Canaanite nations were either terrified or forming alliances against Israel. The Gibeonites, however, chose a different, more subtle strategy: trickery.

Context

Following Israel's decisive victories at Jericho (Joshua 6) and Ai (Joshua 8), the fear of the Israelites had spread throughout the land. While other kings of Canaan gathered together to fight against Israel (Joshua 9:1-2), the inhabitants of Gibeon, who were Hivites, devised a deceptive plan. They pretended to be ambassadors from a very distant land, coming with worn-out clothes, old wineskins, and stale bread to feign a long journey. In this verse, Joshua's direct questions, "Who are ye? and from whence come ye?", show his initial suspicion and caution, prompting the Gibeonites' immediate response asserting their servanthood.

Key Themes

  • Deception and Cunning: The Gibeonites' strategy highlights their shrewdness in avoiding direct conflict by presenting themselves as humble servants from afar, thereby circumventing God's command to destroy all Canaanite inhabitants (Deuteronomy 7:2).
  • Initial Caution: Joshua's questions reveal a natural skepticism, indicating that he was not easily fooled. However, this caution was ultimately insufficient, as the Israelites failed to seek the counsel of the Lord before making a covenant with them (Joshua 9:15).
  • The Importance of Discernment: This passage serves as a powerful reminder of the need for spiritual discernment, particularly when appearances are deceiving.

Linguistic Insights

The Gibeonites' declaration, "We are thy servants," uses the Hebrew word 'avadim, which means 'servants' or 'slaves'. By using this term, they immediately position themselves in a place of humility and submission, hoping to disarm Joshua's suspicions and make their plea for a treaty more appealing. Joshua's subsequent questions, "Who are ye? and from whence come ye?", are direct inquiries into their identity and origin, crucial details that would determine whether they were among the peoples Israel was commanded to dispossess.

Practical Application

The encounter in Joshua 9:8 offers timeless lessons for believers today. Just as Joshua faced a deceptive appearance, we too must be vigilant and discerning in our interactions and decisions. Not everything that appears humble or harmless is so. This verse underscores the critical importance of seeking divine wisdom and counsel in all matters, especially before entering into significant agreements or relationships. As Proverbs 3:5-6 teaches, we should "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Relying solely on our own judgment, even when initially cautious, can lead to unintended consequences.

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

  • 2 Kings 10:5 (4 votes)

    And he that [was] over the house, and he that [was] over the city, the elders also, and the bringers up [of the children], sent to Jehu, saying, We [are] thy servants, and will do all that thou shalt bid us; we will not make any king: do thou [that which is] good in thine eyes.

  • Deuteronomy 20:11 (4 votes)

    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 9:11 (3 votes)

    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.

  • Joshua 9:23 (2 votes)

    Now therefore ye [are] cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.

  • Joshua 9:25 (2 votes)

    And now, behold, we [are] in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do.

  • Genesis 9:25 (2 votes)

    And he said, Cursed [be] Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.

  • Genesis 9:26 (2 votes)

    And he said, Blessed [be] the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.