Joshua 9 14

Joshua 9:14 kjv

And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.

Joshua 9:14 nkjv

Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions; but they did not ask counsel of the LORD.

Joshua 9:14 niv

The Israelites sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the LORD.

Joshua 9:14 esv

So the men took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel from the LORD.

Joshua 9:14 nlt

So the Israelites examined their food, but they did not consult the LORD.

Joshua 9 verses

Joshua 9 14 Meaning

Joshua 9:14 reveals a critical moment of decision for the leaders of Israel. After examining the Gibeonites' apparent proof of distant origin—their old provisions—the Israelite leaders were convinced by their story. Crucially, they proceeded to make a covenant with the Gibeonites based on this human assessment without seeking divine counsel or confirmation from the Lord, leading to an ill-advised oath that would bind them later.

Joshua 9 14 Context

Following significant victories at Jericho and Ai, Israel was poised to continue its conquest of Canaan. Joshua 8 records a strategic and obedient battle, showcasing Israel's renewed commitment to following God's commands after the Achan incident. News of Israel's military success, driven by divine power, spread across the land, striking fear into the hearts of the Canaanite kings (Josh 9:1). They naturally united against Israel, fulfilling God's promise to draw them out. The Gibeonites, however, opted for a different strategy: deception. Instead of fighting, they pretended to be from a distant land, presenting worn-out clothing, moldy bread, and cracked wineskins as proof of their long journey. This pretense directly exploited Israel's vulnerability—their trust in appearances and a failure to recall specific divine injunctions about making treaties only with those far off (Deut 20:10-15), while utterly destroying nearby Canaanites (Deut 7:1-6, 20:16-18). Verse 14 captures the decisive misstep by the Israelite leaders who, swayed by the visual evidence, bypassed their essential practice of seeking God's will.

Joshua 9 14 Word analysis

• So: (Heb. wa-yiqḥū - and they took/accepted). This particle acts as a narrative conjunction, indicating a direct consequence or continuation of the previous statement (the Gibeonites presenting their "evidence"). It implies an immediate action without proper deliberation.
• the men: Refers to the leading men of Israel, specifically Joshua and the elders (as indicated by Josh 9:15, "Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live; and the leaders of the congregation swore to them"). This emphasizes the collective leadership's responsibility and their failure.
• took: (Heb. lāqaḥ) — This word signifies "to take," "to receive," or "to accept." In this context, it implies they took for themselves (their provisions) and accepted the Gibeonites' story at face value, without further verification or divine consultation. They engaged with the deceptive "proof" rather than dismissing it.
• some of their provisions: This phrase refers to the Gibeonites' deceptive display: the stale bread, cracked wineskins, and old garments (Josh 9:5). The Israelites examined these material evidences and were convinced by them. Their senses led them astray.
• but did not ask counsel: (Heb. wᵉ-ʾeṯ pî YHWH lōʾ šāʾālū) — This is the heart of the error.
  • wᵉ-ʾeṯ: "and not" or "but not." Introduces the critical contrast to the preceding action.
  • pî: "mouth" or "command/word" of. It signifies direct communication or authoritative instruction. Not asking of God's mouth implies not seeking His direct word or instruction through His established means.
  • YHWH: The covenant name of God, highlighting the profound intimacy and reliance Israel was supposed to have on Him. Their failure was against their own God.
  • lōʾ šāʾālū: "they did not ask/inquire." The verb šāʾal means to inquire, consult, or ask. This refers to the prescribed methods for consulting God in the Old Testament, such as through the high priest with the Urim and Thummim (Num 27:21), through a prophet, or through direct prayer. It reveals a critical omission in their decision-making process.
• of the LORD: Emphasizes that it was not just any advice they neglected, but the specific guidance of the Almighty God who was leading them in their conquest and had given them explicit instructions.

Words-group Analysis

• "So the men took some of their provisions": This describes the physical action of engaging with the evidence provided by the Gibeonites. It shows they used their own faculties and senses (sight, touch, taste?) to evaluate the situation, rather than divine discernment. They were impressed by what they saw.
• "but did not ask counsel of the LORD": This is the contrasting and tragic counter-point. Despite engaging with the human-presented evidence, they omitted the divine input. This was the critical spiritual and leadership failure. Their assessment was based solely on superficial, tangible proof, neglecting the spiritual means of guidance God had provided. It speaks to a common human tendency to trust what can be seen and analyzed, overlooking the necessity of prayerful inquiry and submission to God's higher wisdom. This breach of procedure had far-reaching consequences, directly violating God's command regarding covenants with the inhabitants of the land.

Joshua 9 14 Bonus section

The consequences of this singular failure to consult the Lord reverberated for centuries. The covenant made with the Gibeonites, though borne out of deception, was upheld by the Israelites due to their oath made in God's name (Josh 9:19-20), even though it meant integrating the Gibeonites into their service rather than eliminating them as other Canaanites. This sacred regard for an oath, even a foolish one, underscores the weight of taking God's name in a promise (Num 30:2; Deut 23:21). Centuries later, during David's reign, a three-year famine occurred because King Saul had violated this very covenant with the Gibeonites by seeking to strike them down (2 Sam 21:1-6). This ancient sin, committed by a prior generation of leaders and renewed by Saul, demanded propitiation, highlighting God's commitment to the integrity of oaths made in His name, regardless of the circumstances under which they were initiated. It demonstrates that God takes the actions of His people, both obedient and disobedient, seriously, and their choices can have multi-generational impacts.

Joshua 9 14 Commentary

Joshua 9:14 encapsulates a monumental failure of leadership rooted in human self-reliance and the neglect of divine wisdom. After clear directives from God on how to handle the Canaanite inhabitants and the establishment of clear protocols for divine consultation, the Israelite leaders bypassed their ultimate authority, the Lord Himself. They were misled by a plausible but deceptive presentation of circumstantial evidence, failing to apply the discernment that comes from waiting on God's word. This decision highlights the danger of relying on sensory evidence or human logic alone, especially when divine commands or promises are at stake. It serves as a stark warning that even zealous individuals in a God-given mission can stumble when they operate outside of His counsel. Their failure demonstrates that active consultation of God is not an option but a prerequisite for every significant undertaking, particularly in matters involving spiritual warfare and the carrying out of God's will. The leaders had just seen what Achan's individual sin led to, and here their collective sin of omission in consulting God was equally grave, leading to a long-standing, inconvenient covenant that they could not break due to the sacredness of their oath.