Joshua 9 16

Joshua 9:16 kjv

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 neighbors, and that they dwelt among them.

Joshua 9:16 nkjv

And it happened at the end of three days, after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors who dwelt near them.

Joshua 9:16 niv

Three days after they made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites heard that they were neighbors, living near them.

Joshua 9:16 esv

At the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, they heard that they were their neighbors and that they lived among them.

Joshua 9:16 nlt

Three days after making the treaty, they learned that these people actually lived nearby!

Joshua 9 verses

Joshua 9 16 Meaning

Three days after the Israelite leaders had solemnly sworn an oath of peace with the Gibeonites, they discovered the shocking truth: the Gibeonites were not from a distant land as they claimed, but were their immediate neighbors living within the Promised Land, contrary to God's command to dispossess the inhabitants.

Joshua 9 16 Context

Joshua chapter 9 immediately follows Israel's significant victories at Jericho and Ai, which instilled great fear among the Canaanite kings (Josh 9:1). Aware of Israel's formidable power and divine backing, the Gibeonites, unlike other nations who chose to gather for war, decided to resort to deception to save their lives. They cleverly disguised themselves as weary travelers from a distant land, presenting old bread and worn-out garments and wineskins as proof of their long journey.

The verse (9:16) reveals the consequence of the Israelite leaders' failure to consult God (Josh 9:14). Their judgment was based solely on appearances and the Gibeonites' fabricated story. The revelation within three days highlights the swift unfolding of truth after a deceptive act. This event is critical as it established a unique covenant with a Canaanite people, directly contradicting God's command for complete disinheritance and destruction of the inhabitants of the land. It became a significant episode illustrating Israel's vulnerability to human cunning when divine guidance is neglected, laying the groundwork for future challenges and the unwavering sacredness of a covenant made, even under false pretenses.

Joshua 9 16 Word analysis

• And it came to pass (וַיְהִי - wayhî): A common Hebrew narrative marker, indicating a transition or the onset of an event. It translates simply as "and it was" or "then it happened," signifying the progression of the story. Its use here indicates the immediate, unavoidable consequence of the prior actions.
• at the end of three days (מִקְּצֵה שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים - miqṣēh šəlōšeṯ yāmîm): A precise time frame. "Three days" is not accidental; it implies a short, conclusive period. The lie was exposed quickly. This period allows just enough time for the Gibeonites to integrate, or for some mundane reconnaissance to reveal the truth, without being an immediate shock, yet quick enough to show Israel's immediate regret.
• after they had made a league with them (אַחַר אֲשֶׁר כָּרְתוּ לָהֶם בְּרִית - ʾaḥar ʾăšer kāreṯû lāhem bərît): This phrase highlights the crucial event – the establishment of the covenant. "Made a league" is karat bĕrît (כָּרַת בְּרִית), literally "to cut a covenant." This term alludes to ancient rituals involving the cutting of animals, signifying the seriousness and binding nature of the agreement, as if to say, "let it be done to me if I break this covenant as to these cut animals." The leaders were bound by their solemn oath, invoked in the name of the Lord (Josh 9:15), a bond considered sacred and inviolable in the ancient Near East and under Yahwistic law.
• that they heard (וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ - wayyišməʿû): "Heard" here implies discovery through information, rather than immediate, direct observation. It suggests the news might have circulated, or they obtained intelligence. This hearing is a rude awakening from their initial complacency.
• that they were their neighbours (כִּי קְרֹובִים הֵם לוֹ - kî qərōḇîm hēm lô): "Neighbors" (קְרֹובִים - qerovim) indicates their proximity. This directly contradicts the Gibeonites' initial lie of being from "a very distant country" (Josh 9:6). The deceit centered on their geographical location, directly impacting Israel's mission to cleanse the land.
• and that they dwelt among them (וּבְקִרְבָּם הֵמָּה יֹשְׁבִים - ūḇeqirbām hēmmāh yōšəḇîm): "Dwelt among them" or "dwelled in their midst" emphasizes their presence within the geographical bounds of Canaan, the land designated for Israel's inheritance and the inhabitants of which were to be destroyed. This re-affirms that the Gibeonites were indeed part of the people God commanded Israel to eradicate. It underscores the severity of Israel's oversight.

Joshua 9 16 Bonus section

The Gibeonite narrative serves as a vital biblical account of strategic deception and its enduring consequences. This particular verse (9:16) reveals how short-lived deception often is when not undergirded by divine approval. The three-day interval might be a literary device to indicate both the quick revelation of truth and perhaps a minimal journey from Gibeon to the Israelite camp in Gilgal, confirming their true proximity. Furthermore, this incident profoundly impacted later Israelite history; the famine in David's time (2 Sam 21:1-9) directly links back to King Saul's later breach of this very covenant with the Gibeonites. It illustrates a crucial theological principle: while God desires obedience, He also upholds the integrity of solemn oaths made in His name, even when entered into by human folly. This narrative therefore reinforces the importance of discerning wisdom (which only comes from God, not from relying on human sight or intellect alone) in all decision-making, particularly concerning matters of significant consequence and covenant.

Joshua 9 16 Commentary

Joshua 9:16 acts as the dramatic climax of the Gibeonite deception narrative, marking the precise moment of discovery and ushering in the complex repercussions of Israel's error. The immediacy of the revelation, "at the end of three days," underscores the superficiality of the Israelites' initial inquiry; their failure to consult God was quickly exposed. This narrative detail highlights God's sovereignty even in human folly; the truth could not remain hidden indefinitely.

The core of the problem lay in the binding "league" or covenant, bĕrît, sworn by Israel's leaders. Ancient covenants, particularly those invoked by a divine name, were profoundly serious and deemed unbreakable. Despite the Gibeonites' cunning deception, Israel was now obligated to uphold their word, for breaking such a covenant would not only dishonor them but, more importantly, profane the name of the Lord by whom they had sworn (Josh 9:19-20). This incident served as a powerful lesson for Israel about the sanctity of oaths, even those made in error, and the paramount importance of seeking divine counsel before making critical decisions. It implicitly teaches that human cleverness or haste, unaccompanied by prayerful reliance on God, inevitably leads to regrettable consequences. The narrative provides a cautionary tale against complacency, presumption, and a lack of spiritual discernment in the face of plausible deceptions, demonstrating that even chosen people can falter when they neglect their primary source of guidance—the Lord Himself.