Joshua 9 Can't kill 'em

seekeroftruth

Well-Known Member
Joshua 9:16 Three days after they made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites heard that they were neighbors, living near them. 17 So the Israelites set out and on the third day came to their cities: Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth and Kiriath Jearim. 18 But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath to them by the Lord, the God of Israel.

The whole assembly grumbled against the leaders, 19 but all the leaders answered, “We have given them our oath by the Lord, the God of Israel, and we cannot touch them now. 20 This is what we will do to them: We will let them live, so that God’s wrath will not fall on us for breaking the oath we swore to them.” 21 They continued, “Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers in the service of the whole assembly.” So the leaders’ promise to them was kept.

22 Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, “Why did you deceive us by saying, ‘We live a long way from you,’ while actually you live near us? 23 You are now under a curse: You will never be released from service as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”

24 They answered Joshua, “Your servants were clearly told how the Lord your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you the whole land and to wipe out all its inhabitants from before you. So we feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we did this. 25 We are now in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you.”

26 So Joshua saved them from the Israelites, and they did not kill them. 27 That day he made the Gibeonites woodcutters and water carriers for the assembly, to provide for the needs of the altar of the Lord at the place the Lord would choose. And that is what they are to this day.​

So they tricked Joshua into letting them live. Joshua made them labor. Makes sense.... can't kill 'em.... you swore an oath.

This is from Bible.org.

While they could not go back on their pledge, the Gibeonites had deceived them, so a punishment fitting their sin had to be prescribed. First, Joshua rebuked them for their dishonesty and then sentenced them to perpetual slavery. In the ruse of the Gibeonites, they had offered to be the subjects of the Israelites. By this they were merely offering to become Israel’s vassals. In return they expected Israel, the stronger of the two, to protect them from their enemies. This backfires on them and they had to become Israel’s slaves. They would become woodcutters and water-bearers for the Israelites, especially in relation to the tabernacle service. In God’s grace, this turned out to be a great blessing.

to keep the Gibeonites’ idolatry from defiling the true faith of Israel, their work would be carried out in the tabernacle, where they would be exposed to the worship of the one true God.​

This is from the easy English.

God told the Israelites not to make peace with the Hivites. The Gibeonites were Hivites. God wanted the Israelites to kill the Hivites. This was because the Hivites were very evil. God was punishing the Hivites for their sins. So, the Gibeonites deserved to die. But God allowed the Israelites to make a peace agreement with them. God saved the Gibeonites.

God did not save the Gibeonites because they lied. Lies are wrong. But God knew that the Gibeonites really wanted to serve God. In fact, they were desperate to serve God. They did not want God to punish them. They would do anything if God would save them. God knew their true thoughts.​

OK... it was the third commentary this morning that cleared up the hard labor side or these verses. When I read the word "woodcutter" I thought of a wood carver.... you know, creating beautifully crafted woodwork came to mind.... but that's not what a "woodcutter" is. These other commentaries made it seem [to me at least] that these Gibeonites had done something good for themselves. But that's not true.

Remember, the Israelites numbered in the thousands.... and all those thousand had to make sacrifices. All those sacrifices required wood for fire. The woodcutters had to supply that wood.... all day long.... thousands of cords of wood.... thousands of buckets of water.... all day long.... six days a week.... chopping wood.... what a life!

This is from blueletterbible.org.

They would serve in menial ways such as cutting wood for the sacrificial fires of the tabernacle and carrying water used in its service.​

:coffee:
 
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