Joshua 9 17

Joshua 9:17 kjv

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 Kirjathjearim.

Joshua 9:17 nkjv

Then the children of Israel journeyed and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kirjath Jearim.

Joshua 9:17 niv

So the Israelites set out and on the third day came to their cities: Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth and Kiriath Jearim.

Joshua 9:17 esv

And the people of Israel set out and reached their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim.

Joshua 9:17 nlt

The Israelites set out at once to investigate and reached their towns in three days. The names of these towns were Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim.

Joshua 9 verses

Joshua 9 17 Meaning

Joshua 9:17 describes the immediate aftermath of the Israelites discovering the Gibeonites' deception. Having made a peace treaty with them unknowingly, the Israelites traveled for three days and arrived at the actual cities of the Gibeonites: Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim. This verse marks the physical confirmation that the Gibeonites were not from a distant land but were neighbors, dwelling within the very territory Israel was commanded to conquer and whose inhabitants were to be utterly destroyed. It solidifies the grave mistake made due to a lack of inquiry from the Lord.

Joshua 9 17 Context

Joshua 9:17 is a pivotal point in the Gibeonite narrative within the book of Joshua. Prior to this verse, the Israelites, led by Joshua, had achieved impressive victories at Jericho and Ai, establishing their military might and God's powerful presence among them. The Canaanite nations, hearing of these conquests, formed a confederation to fight against Israel (Josh 9:1-2). However, the Gibeonites, a Hivite people group living nearby, chose a different strategy: deception.

They approached the Israelites with old provisions, torn garments, and worn sandals, claiming to be from a "very distant country" (Josh 9:6) and desiring to make a treaty of peace. Crucially, Joshua and the leaders of Israel "did not ask counsel of the Lord" (Josh 9:14) before making this covenant. God's clear command was to utterly destroy the inhabitants of the Promised Land (Deut 7:1-6; 20:16-18) to prevent them from corrupting Israel with their idolatry. This hasty, human-centric decision to make a treaty with the Gibeonites without divine consultation set the stage for the revelation in verse 17. The Israelites' physical journey to these cities served as the stark confirmation of their grave error. The cities themselves, Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim, were well-known locations in central Canaan, indicating how close these "distant" people truly were.

Joshua 9 17 Word analysis

• So the Israelites: The phrase vayisa'u (וַיִּסְעוּ), "and they journeyed/pulled up stakes," indicates a deliberate action, a military reconnaissance to confirm the Gibeonites' claims. This journey represents Israel’s move to verify the story, rather than seeking God’s guidance upfront.
• journeyed, and came: This dual description emphasizes both the act of setting out and the destination achieved, highlighting the physical verification.
• to their cities: ʿareyhem (עָרֵיהֶם). The possessive "their" points directly to the Gibeonites' rightful homeland, exposing the lie. These were not random settlements but specific, known locations that would later be identified with Israel's tribal inheritances.
• on the third day: ba-yom ha-shelishi (בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי). This specific time frame immediately exposed the Gibeonites' lie of being from "a very distant country" (Josh 9:6). A three-day journey was not distant in ancient near eastern terms for a land-conquering army, suggesting instead a location relatively close to the Israelite camp at Gilgal. This detail serves to emphasize the deceit and Israel's folly in not discerning it.
• Now their cities were: This phrasing sets up the list of specific geographical locations, grounding the narrative in concrete reality and confirming the deception without ambiguity.
• Gibeon: (גִּבְעוֹן - Gibʿôn) Meaning "hill" or "elevated place". It was the principal city of the Hivites in the region, known for its strategic importance. Later it became a significant place in Israel's history, eventually becoming a Levitical city (Jos 21:17) and the location of the Tabernacle and the great high place where Solomon sought wisdom from God (1 Kgs 3:4-5).
• Chephirah: (הַכְּפִירָה - ha-Kĕphîrāh) Meaning "the village" or possibly "the lioness-city." Another Hivite town that later became part of the territory of Benjamin (Jos 18:26).
• Beeroth: (בְּאֵרוֹת - Be’erōṯ) Meaning "wells." Also a Hivite city, it was allotted to the tribe of Benjamin (Jos 18:25).
• Kiriath Jearim: (קִרְיַת יְעָרִים - Qiryath Yeʿarim) Meaning "city of forests." This was an important Hivite city later allotted to the tribe of Judah (Jos 15:9). Notably, the Ark of the Covenant remained here for two decades after its capture and return (1 Sam 7:1-2), showing the unexpected ways in which the Gibeonites’ cities became significant in Israelite history due to the unbreakable oath.

Words-group Analysis:

• "So the Israelites journeyed, and came to their cities on the third day": This sequence reveals the rapid realization of the Gibeonites' trick. The short travel time, ending abruptly at "their cities," physically exposes the magnitude of the Israelite leaders' error in not consulting God and validates the Gibeonites' nearby status. It underscores the ease with which the deception could have been uncovered had proper diligence been exercised earlier.
• "Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim": The naming of these four specific cities serves multiple functions. It roots the event in clear geography, confirming the close proximity of the Hivites. These were not obscure locations but prominent sites in the Promised Land, destined to be within the tribal allocations of Judah and Benjamin. Their enumeration confirms the Gibeonites were a significant confederacy within Canaan, undeniably under the general ban of destruction, thereby highlighting the gravity of the broken command due to the Israelite leaders' human judgment.

Joshua 9 17 Bonus section

• The detail "on the third day" is significant not just for demonstrating proximity but also for its broader biblical resonance. The "third day" often signifies a critical moment of revelation, crisis, or new beginning (e.g., resurrection of Christ, covenant at Sinai). Here, it serves as the precise moment the Israelites' blind agreement came into sharp, undeniable focus.
• The fact that these cities (Gibeon, Kiriath Jearim, etc.) appear later in biblical history with prominence (e.g., Kiriath Jearim housing the Ark for 20 years, Gibeon becoming the place of the high place for sacrifice where Solomon sought wisdom) indicates a peculiar aspect of divine providence. God allowed for this "compromise" (due to Israel's failure) to occur, and the places tied to this misjudgment still became intertwined with significant events in Israel’s journey. This suggests God’s ability to work His purposes through human weakness, while not condoning the weakness itself.
• This account emphasizes the absolute importance of prayer and seeking God's face in decision-making, especially when confronted with persuasive narratives or seemingly beneficial deals. The lesson echoes throughout Scripture that trust in one's own perception or human wisdom is inherently flawed (Prov 3:5-6; Jer 17:5).

Joshua 9 17 Commentary

Joshua 9:17 is a succinct verse that seals the confirmation of the Gibeonite deception and Israel's significant failure. It showcases the tension between human ingenuity and divine command. The Israelites, fresh from stunning victories, succumbed to pride or haste, neglecting the crucial step of seeking the Lord's counsel (Josh 9:14). This verse underscores the immediate and inescapable reality: the Gibeonites were close neighbors, not distant strangers, meaning the covenant of peace made with them violated God's explicit instructions to destroy all inhabitants of the land.

Yet, despite this misstep, the divine imperative to honor an oath, even one made in error or under false pretenses, became paramount (Ps 15:4). This incident provides a foundational lesson: while hasty actions have consequences, God honors faithfulness to vows, and He can integrate human error into His broader sovereign plan. The Gibeonites, through deception, gained their lives and ultimately served Israel, with some of their cities even gaining prominence in Israelite history. This serves as a reminder that discerning God's will requires continuous reliance on Him, not just in times of crisis, but in all decisions.