JOSHUA LESSON 9
We will begin this lesson in Joshua 9:1 "And it came to pass,
when all the kings which [were] on this side Jordan, in the hills, and
in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against
Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite,
the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard [thereof];"
In the last lesson, we saw Ai destroyed like Jericho had been
destroyed. The word quickly spread to the people in this area, that
Joshua would lead his people against all of them, and destroy them.
The names above, are lists of the people that would have to fight
Joshua and the Israelites. It seems, these people have gathered to
discuss their mutual problem.
Joshua 9:2 "That they gathered themselves together, to fight with
Joshua and with Israel, with one accord."
They have decided, that they can not individually defeat Joshua
and the Israelites. They came together and made an alliance, where
they would fight Joshua and the Israelites all at once.
Joshua 9:3 "And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua
had done unto Jericho and to Ai,"
This is speaking of a confederation of cities, with Gibeon as
their leader. These were Hivites. It seems, they had heard of the
destruction of Ai and Jericho, and feared for their own lives. We
mentioned before, that they feared Israel's God.
Joshua 9:4 "They did work wilily, and went and made as if they
had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine
bottles, old, and rent, and bound up;"
This "working wilily" means they schemed, and came up with a plan
to save their lives. They were intelligent enough to know they would
lose their lives, if they went to war against Israel and Israel's God.
Joshua 9:5 "And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old
garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry [and]
mouldy."
Everything they took with them would make them appear to have
been on a very long journey. Their clothes were worn out, and their
food was stale.
Joshua 9:6 "And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and
said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far
country: now therefore make ye a league with us."
They knew that Israel would not make an alliance with them, if
they knew they were from close by. To save their lives, they lied
about being from a long distance. We know that Rahab lied to the
king's men, to save her life. This is a desperate move on their part,
to save their lives.
Joshua 9:7 "And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites,
Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with
you?"
In Deuteronomy chapter 7 verse 2, it was forbidden to make
alliance with those who live among them. Deuteronomy 7:2 "And when the
LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them,
[and] utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor
shew mercy unto them:"
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?"
These Hivites felt it would be better to be Israel's servants,
than to die in battle against them. Joshua asks them, again, who they
are, and from where did they come?
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,"
They speak of Egypt, instead of Ai and Jericho, to prove they are
from a far country. They proclaim belief in Israel's God here. The
miracles God has done along the way, have convinced them that He is
truly God.
Joshua 9:10 "And all that he did to the two kings of the
Amorites, that [were] beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to
Og king of Bashan, which [was] at Ashtaroth."
These two kings of the Amorites were on the eastern side of the
Jordan River. They had been thought of as very powerful in battle.
Joshua 9:11 "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."
Gibeon and the other cities in league, here, did not have a
normal government with a king, as did the other countries around them.
They governed themselves. Part of this is true. The people were more
willing to be their servants, than to be dead.
Joshua 9:12 "This our bread we took hot [for] our provision out
of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now,
behold, it is dry, and it is mouldy:" Joshua 9:13 "And these bottles
of wine, which we filled, [were] new; and, behold, they be rent: and
these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very
long journey."
This part is total deception and lies. They are trying to
convince the leaders of Israel, that they came from a long way off.
Joshua 9:14 "And the men took of their victuals, and asked not
[counsel] at the mouth of the LORD."
It is not wise to make such a decision, without asking counsel of
the LORD. They made the same mistake many of us do, they went ahead
without praying about their decision.
Joshua 9:15 "And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league
with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware
unto them."
Their story has convinced Joshua and the leaders of their
honesty. Joshua agrees to an alliance with them, and the princes swear
to it.
Joshua 9:16 "And it came to pass at the end of three days after
they had made a league with them, that they heard that they [were]
their neighbours, and [that] they dwelt among them."
It did not take long for Joshua to find out they had been
tricked. Three days later, they are aware of their foolish mistake.
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 Kirjath-jearim."
It is possible that these would have been the next cities to have
been destroyed, and that prompted the men to come and make an
alliance. These cities are all close together. They are located close
to Jerusalem. "Kirjath-jearim" means the city of forests. It is better
known for the fact that the ark remained there for approximately 20
years.
Joshua 9:18 "And the children of Israel smote them not, because
the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of
Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes."
These princes had sworn to God that they could live. They could
not go back on that. The congregation is disappointed in their
princes, and make it known by murmuring. Their only real mistake was
not praying, before they made such an important decision.
Joshua 9:19 "But all the princes said unto all the congregation,
We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel: now therefore we
may not touch them."
When Israelites took an oath, they could not and would not break
it. They feared God, if they did.
Joshua 9:20 "This we will do to them; we will even let them live,
lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them."
They have no choice, because of the oath. They will have to let
them live.
Joshua 9:21 "And the princes said unto them, Let them live; but
let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the
congregation; as the princes had promised them."
They had offered to be Israel's servants, and that is exactly
what they will be. They had deceived Israel into sparing their lives.
Israel will have to punish them for their deception. They make them
servants of physically hard jobs, in way of punishing them for their
lies.
Joshua 9:22 "And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them,
saying, Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, We [are] very far from
you; when ye dwell among us?"
We must remember, that these people were trying to live. They
were not familiar with the law of God, and did not know it was a sin
to lie. They were doing whatever was necessary to live. Joshua
questions them, because of their dishonesty. We remember, in the
previous lesson, how Joshua and Israel had tricked Ai, and got them to
follow Joshua long enough for the men in hiding to burn Ai. A person
will take drastic measures when he is about to lose his life.
Joshua 9:23 "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."
This means they will not be freed of servitude at Jubilee. They
will remain servants, as long as they live. Their destiny was
servitude.
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."
This is actually the truth. Their fear of Israel's God caused
them to do this. They believed Israel's God would keep His Word and
give them all of the land. They knew the inhabitants of Ai and Jericho
had been destroyed. They were afraid for their lives. They felt it
better to serve Israel, than to die.
Joshua 9:25 "And now, behold, we [are] in thine hand: as it
seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do."
They are willing to take whatever punishment Joshua places upon
them. They feel it is better than death.
Joshua 9:26 "And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of
the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not."
At least, their lives were saved. Joshua would not let the
children of Israel destroy them, because of the oath that had been
made in front of God. A very good lesson for the Israelites, here, and
for us as well, is that hasty judgements should not be made. Every
major decision should be made after prayerful consideration. We should
ask God to keep us from making the wrong agreements with people. One
of the most important decisions that any of us make aside from
salvation, is the mate we choose for life. God says, in II Corinthians
6:14 "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what
fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion
hath light with darkness?" That is about what they have done here.
They are yoked with those who know not God.
Joshua 9:27 "And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and
drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD,
even unto this day, in the place which he should choose."
They were to serve Israel. It appears, that much of their
physical labor was to cut wood for the altar of sacrifice and draw
water for the temple washings, as well.
Joshua 9 Questions
1. What were the names of some of the nations in this land?
2. What had frightened them?
3. What do all of these people do, when they decide that individually
they cannot defeat Israel?
4. What did the inhabitants of Gibeon do?
5. Gibeon is actually speaking of a ____________ of cities.
6. These people from Gibeon were ___________.
7. Who did these people of Gibeon fear?
8. What does "working wilily" mean?
9. What did they believe would happen to them, if they had war with
Israel?
10. What things did they do, to make it appear they had been on a very
long journey?
11. Who did they go to see at Gilgal?
12. What did they want Israel to do?
13. This was a desperate move on their part to save their _________.
14. Quote Deuteronomy chapter 7 verse 2.
15. In verse 8, they offer to do what?
16. Why did they mention the miracles from Egypt, instead of the
recent destruction of Jericho and Ai?
17. What two Amorite kings did they mention next?
18. What was unusual about their government?
19. What is deceptive about verse 12 and 13?
20. What mistake did Joshua and the men make?
21. The princes ________ to the agreement.
22. When did Joshua find out who they were?
23. "Kirjath-jearim" means what?
24. What is it better known for?
25. How did the congregation feel about the decision the princes had
made?
26. Why must Israel not break the oath?
27. What punishment was spoken on these Hivites?
28. When will they be free not to serve?
29. What true statement did they make in verse 24?
30. God says, "Be ye not ___________ _________ together with
unbelievers."
31. What was much of the physical labor they were to do?
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