1I stalo se, jakmile to uslyšeli všichni králové, kteří sídlili na druhé straně Jordánu v pohoří, v podhůří a na celém pobřeží Velikého moře směrem k Libanonu, král chetejský a emorejský, kenaanský, perizejský, chivejský a jebúsejský, 2že se společně shromáždili, aby vedli válku s Jozuem a s Izraelem pod jedním velením. 3Když se obyvatelé Gibeónu doslechli, co Jozue provedl s Jerichem a s Ajem, 4tu také oni jednali chytře, šli a vydávali se za posly. Vzali na své osly opotřebované pytle a opotřebované, popraskané a svazované vinné měchy, 5na nohách měli opotřebované a spravované sandály, na sobě opotřebované pláště a veškerý chléb z jejich zásob byl suchý, až se drolil. 6Tak šli k Jozuovi do tábora v Gilgálu a řekli jemu i izraelským mužům: Přišli jsme ze vzdálené země, nyní tedy s námi uzavřete smlouvu. 7Nato izraelští muži Chivejcům odpověděli: Vy možná pobýváte mezi námi. Jak s vámi máme uzavřít smlouvu? 8Tu řekli Jozuovi: Jsme tví otroci. A Jozue se jich zeptal: Kdo jste a odkud přicházíte? 9Odpověděli mu: Tví otroci přišli z velmi vzdálené země kvůli jménu Hospodina, tvého Boha, neboť jsme uslyšeli zvěst o něm a o všem, co učinil v Egyptě, 10a o všem, co učinil dvěma emorejským králům na druhé straně Jordánu, Síchonovi, králi Chešbónu, a Ógovi, králi bášanskému, v Aštarótu. 11Naši starší i všichni obyvatelé naší země nám tedy řekli: Vezměte si s sebou zásobu potravin na cestu, jděte jim naproti a řeknete jim: Jsme vaši otroci, nyní s námi uzavřete smlouvu. 12Tento náš chléb jsme s sebou vzali do zásoby ještě horký z našich domů v den, kdy jsme se vydávali na cestu k vám, a nyní hle, vyschl, jen se drolí. 13A hle, i tyto vinné měchy, které jsme naplnili jako nové, popraskaly. I tyto naše pláště a naše sandály se obnosily, protože cesta byla velmi dlouhá. 14Muži si tedy vzali z jejich zásob, aniž se zeptali na Hospodinův příkaz. 15Jozue s nimi dojednal pokoj a uzavřel s nimi smlouvu, že jim daruje život, a předáci obce jim to odpřisáhli. 16Když však uplynuly tři dny poté, co s nimi uzavřeli smlouvu, stalo se, že se doslechli, že jsou nedaleko od nich a pobývají mezi nimi. 17Synové Izraele vyrazili a třetího dne přišli k jejich městům. Byla to města Gibeón, Kefíra, Beerót a Kirjat-jearím. 18Synové Izraele je však nepobili, neboť jim předáci obce přísahali při Hospodinu, Bohu Izraele, a tak reptali, celá obec, proti těm předákům. 19Nato řekli všichni předáci celé obci: My jsme jim přísahali při Hospodinu, Bohu Izraele. Nyní tedy na ně nemůžeme sáhnout. 20Provedeme s nimi tohle: Zachováme je při životě a nedopadne na nás rozhořčení kvůli přísaze, kterou jsme jim odpřisáhli. 21Předáci jim řekli: Ať zůstanou naživu. I stali se z nich dřevorubci a čerpali vodu pro celou obec, jak jim to předáci nakázali. 22Jozue na ně zavolal a promluvil k nim: Proč jste nás podvedli? Že prý: Jsme od vás velmi vzdálení. A přitom bydlíte mezi námi. 23Nyní jste tedy prokletí a nepřestanete být otroky, dřevorubci a nosiči vody pro dům mého Boha. 24Nato Jozuovi odpověděli. Řekli: Jelikož bylo tvým otrokům dobře známo, co přikázal Hospodin, tvůj Bůh, svému otroku Mojžíšovi, že vám dá celou zemi a že před vámi vyhladí všechny obyvatele té země, proto jsme se hrozně báli před vámi o své duše a provedli jsme tuto věc. 25Nuže, hle, jsme ve tvé ruce. Udělej, co je ve tvých očích dobré a správné nám provést. 26I naložil s nimi tak a vysvobodil je z ruky synů Izraele, takže je nezabili. 27Jozue je v onen den nechal těžit dřevo a čerpat vodu pro obec a pro Hospodinův oltář až do tohoto dne na místě, které vybere.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 THE KINGS COMBINE AGAINST ISRAEL. (Jos. 9:1-27)
all the kings which were on this side--that is, the western side of Jordan.
in the hills, and in ther valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea--This threefold distinction marks out very clearly a large portion of Canaan. The first designates the hill country, which belonged afterwards to the tribes of Judah and Ephraim: the second, all the low country from Carmel to Gaza; and the third, the shores of the Mediterranean, from the Isthmus of Tyre to the plain of Joppa. (As for the tribes mentioned, see on
Num 13:29).
heard thereof--that is, of the sacking of Jericho and Ai, as well as the rapid advance of the Israelites into the interior of the country.
2 they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord--Although divided by separate interests and often at war with each other, a sense of common danger prompted them to suspend their mutual animosities, that by their united forces they might prevent the land from falling into the hands of foreign masters.
3 THE GIBEONITES OBTAIN A LEAGUE BY CRAFT. (
Josh 9:3-
Josh 9:15)
when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard--This town, as its name imports, was situated on a rocky eminence, about six miles northwest from Jerusalem, where the modern village of El Jib now stands. It was the capital of the Hivites, and a large important city (
Josh 10:2). It seems to have formed, in union with a few other towns in the neighborhood, a free independent state (
Josh 9:17) and to have enjoyed a republican government (
Josh 9:11).
4 They did work wilily--They acted with dexterous policy, seeking the means of self-preservation, not by force, which they were convinced would be unavailing, but by artful diplomacy.
took old sacks upon their asses--Travellers in the East transport their luggage on beasts of burden; the poorer sort stow all their necessaries, food, clothes, utensils together, in a woollen or hair-cloth sack, laid across the shoulders of the beast they ride upon.
wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up--Goat-skins, which are better adapted for carrying liquor of any kind fresh and good, than either earthenware, which is porous, or metallic vessels, which are soon heated by the sun. These skin bottles are liable to be rent when old and much used; and there are various ways of mending them--by inserting a new piece of leather, or by gathering together the edges of the rent and sewing them in the form of a purse, or by putting a round flat splinter of wood into the hole.
5 old shoes and clouted--Those who have but one ass or mule for themselves and baggage frequently dismount and walk--a circumstance which may account for the worn shoes of the pretended travellers.
bread . . . dry and mouldy--This must have been that commonly used by travellers--a sort of biscuit made in the form of large rings, about an inch thick, and four or five inches in diameter. Not being so well baked as our biscuits, it becomes hard and mouldy from the moisture left in the dough. It is usually soaked in water previous to being used.
6 they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal--Arrived at the Israelitish headquarters, the strangers obtained an interview with Joshua and the elders, to whom they opened their business.
7 the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us--The answer of the Israelites implied that they had no discretion, that their orders were imperative, and that if the strangers belonged to any of the native tribes, the idea of an alliance with them was unlawful since God had forbidden it (
Exod 23:32;
Exod 34:12;
Deut 7:2).
9 From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the Lord thy God--They pretended to be actuated by religious motives in seeking to be allied with His people. But their studied address is worthy of notice in appealing to instances of God's miraculous doings at a distance, while they pass by those done in Canaan, as if the report of these had not yet reached their ears.
14 the men took of their victuals and asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord--The mouldy appearance of their bread was, after examination, accepted as guaranteeing the truth of the story. In this precipitate conclusion the Israelites were guilty of excessive credulity and culpable negligence, in not asking by the high priest's Urim and Thummim the mind of God, before entering into the alliance. It is not clear, however, that had they applied for divine direction they would have been forbidden to spare and connect themselves with any of the Canaanite tribes who renounced idolatry and embraced and worshipped the true God. At least, no fault was found with them for making a covenant with the Gibeonites; while, on the other hand, the violation of it was severely punished (
2Sam 21:1; and
Josh 11:19-
Josh 11:20).
16 at the end of three days . . . they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt among them--This information was obtained in their further progress through the country; for as
Josh 9:17 should be rendered, "when the children of Israel journeyed, they came to their cities." Gibeon was about eighteen or twenty miles from Gilgal.
17 Chephirah-- (
Josh 18:26;
Ezra 2:25;
Neh 7:29).
Beeroth-- (
2Sam 4:2), now El Berich, about twenty minutes' distance from El Jib (Gibeon).
Kirjath-jearim--"the city of forests," now Kuryet-el-Enab [ROBINSON].
18 the children of Israel smote them not--The moral character of the Gibeonites' stratagem was bad. The princes of the congregation did not vindicate either the expediency or the lawfulness of the connection they had formed; but they felt the solemn obligations of their oath; and, although the popular clamor was loud against them, caused either by disappointment at losing the spoils of Gibeon, or by displeasure at the apparent breach of the divine commandment, they determined to adhere to their pledge, "because they had sworn by the Lord God of Israel." The Israelitish princes acted conscientiously; they felt themselves bound by their solemn promise; but to prevent the disastrous consequences of their imprudent haste, they resolved to degrade the Gibeonites to a servile condition as a means of preventing their people from being ensnared into idolatry, and thus acted up, as they thought, to the true spirit and end of the law.
27 hewers of wood and drawers of water--The menials who performed the lowest offices and drudgery in the sanctuary; whence they were called Nethinims (
1Chr 9:2;
Ezra 2:43;
Ezra 8:20); that is, given, appropriated. Their chastisement thus brought them into the possession of great religious privileges (
Ps 84:10).