Joshua 9:2 kjv
That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.
Joshua 9:2 nkjv
that they gathered together to fight with Joshua and Israel with one accord.
Joshua 9:2 niv
they came together to wage war against Joshua and Israel.
Joshua 9:2 esv
they gathered together as one to fight against Joshua and Israel.
Joshua 9:2 nlt
These kings combined their armies to fight as one against Joshua and the Israelites.
Joshua 9 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 2:2 | The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, ... | Kings plotting against God's anointed |
| Acts 4:26 | The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ.' | Fulfils Ps 2:2; united opposition to God |
| Josh 10:4 | “Come up to me and help me, that we may attack Gibeon; for it has made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel.” | Another coalition against perceived traitors |
| Josh 11:5 | All these kings met together and encamped together at the waters of Merom to fight against Israel. | Formation of a similar grand coalition |
| Gen 14:1 | And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations... | Early example of multiple kings uniting |
| Ps 83:5 | For they have consulted together with one consent; They form a confederacy against You... | United counsel against God |
| Prov 21:30 | There is no wisdom or understanding Or counsel against the LORD. | Human plots against God ultimately fail |
| Isa 8:9 | "Be shattered, O you peoples, and be broken in pieces; Give ear, all you from far countries. Gird yourselves, but be broken in pieces; Gird yourselves, but be broken in pieces; | Divine defiance to allied enemies |
| Jer 1:19 | They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you. For I am with you, says the Lord, to deliver you.” | God assures protection despite opposition |
| Num 22:3-4 | Moab was exceedingly afraid of the people because they were many... | Fear of Israel leads to alliance against them |
| Judg 6:33 | Then all the Midianites and Amalekites, the people of the East, gathered together... | Confederacy against Israel |
| 1 Sam 13:5 | Then the Philistines gathered together to fight with Israel... | Unified enemy against Israel |
| 2 Sam 5:17 | Now when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel... | United opposition to God's chosen leader |
| 2 Chron 20:1 | It happened after this that the people of Moab with the people of Ammon... | Alliances against God's people |
| Neh 4:8 | And all of them conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem and create confusion. | Unified plot against God's work |
| John 11:47 | Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs." | Leaders conspiring against God's Christ |
| Rev 16:14 | For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth... to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. | Global alliance against God's people/Christ |
| Rev 19:19 | And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. | Final, united war against Christ |
| Gal 1:7 | ...which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. | Unified opposition can be deceptive |
| Eph 6:12 | For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age... | The true, spiritual nature of unified opposition |
Joshua 9 verses
Joshua 9 2 Meaning
Joshua 9:2 describes the united front of the various kings in Canaan, particularly those from the hills, the Shephelah, and the coast, who had heard of Israel's overwhelming victories. They formed a deliberate and unanimous alliance with the explicit purpose of engaging in military conflict against Joshua and the entire nation of Israel. This verse highlights the determined and organized opposition facing God's chosen people as they continued their conquest of the Promised Land.
Joshua 9 2 Context
Joshua chapter 9 follows significant victories for Israel at Jericho (Josh 6) and Ai (Josh 8). These devastating defeats had spread fear throughout Canaan, specifically among the kings west of the Jordan, from the hill country to the Mediterranean coast (Josh 9:1). Instead of seeking peace, as some later would (like the Gibeonites, through deception), the immediate reaction of these kings was to form a collective military alliance. This verse sets the stage for a period of unified military opposition to Israel, highlighting the strategic thinking of the Canaanite kings in light of the perceived existential threat Israel posed to their land and rule. Historically, such alliances were common in the ancient Near East among city-states facing a common, powerful enemy, as individual states were often too weak to resist alone.
Joshua 9 2 Word analysis
- that: Connects the actions described in this verse directly to the preceding verse, which details the kings hearing about Israel's conquest (Josh 9:1). It highlights the causal link between Israel's success and the enemies' unified response.
- they gathered together: (Heb. יִתְקַבְּצוּ, yitqabtsu, Niphal imperfect of קָבַץ qabats). This signifies a deliberate, concerted assembly, not a casual meeting. The Niphal stem implies a passive sense (they were gathered) or a reflexive one (they gathered themselves), emphasizing the internal decision and collective effort to unite. It indicates strategic planning and the formation of a formal coalition or confederacy. This act directly contrasts with God's gathering of Israel for a specific purpose (e.g., Exod 12:6, assembling for Passover; Num 1:18, gathering by their families).
- to fight: (Heb. לְהִלָּחֵם, lehilachem, Lamed-infinitive construct of לָחַם lacham). The Lamed prefix indicates purpose: "in order to fight" or "for the purpose of fighting." Lacham is a common word for engaging in battle or war. It stresses the singular, violent objective of their alliance. Their gathering was not for counsel or retreat, but for direct military confrontation.
- with Joshua: Joshua is identified as the immediate human leader and direct antagonist. This highlights his divinely appointed authority and his role as the embodiment of God's will for Israel's conquest. Opposing Joshua was, by extension, opposing the God of Israel (cf. Exod 17:16 where God fights Amalek from generation to generation).
- and Israel: This indicates the target of their aggression was not merely Joshua as an individual leader, but the entire nation under his command. It underscores the threat they perceived from the entire nation, not just its general. This mirrors God's covenant with Abraham, which included his descendants (Israel) as the recipients of the land (Gen 12:7, 13:15).
- with one accord: (Heb. פֶּה אֶחָד, peh echad, literally "one mouth"). This idiomatic phrase powerfully conveys unanimity, unity of purpose, and a shared decision. It signifies that there was no dissent or division among these kings; they were fully united in their intent to wage war. This stands as a counter-unity to the unity God desires for His people. While Israel was commanded to act "with one mind" in obeying God, here the enemies achieve their own twisted unity in opposition to God's plan.
Joshua 9 2 Bonus section
The formation of this alliance indicates that the individual Canaanite kings recognized their own inability to withstand Israel's advance alone, a testament to the fear Israel had instilled following God's miraculous victories. The geography implied by Joshua 9:1 suggests a broad confederation from the hills, the western foothills (Shephelah), and the Mediterranean coast, signifying a substantial and diverse coalition of regional powers. This united front aimed to leverage combined strength, resources, and military strategies, a common tactic in ancient warfare against a formidable, invading force. Despite this strong human unity, the underlying biblical narrative reveals God's sovereignty over such opposition, turning even their unified defiance into a means for His larger plan to unfold, as seen in the subsequent battles and eventual conquest.
Joshua 9 2 Commentary
Joshua 9:2 paints a vivid picture of the formidable human opposition Israel faced in fulfilling God's mandate to possess the land. Following the stunning victories at Jericho and Ai, the kings of Canaan did not repent or seek terms; instead, fear drove them into a strategic alliance. The phrase "gathered together to fight" highlights their proactive, coordinated aggression. This was not a series of isolated skirmishes, but a deliberate, organized war effort. The specificity of "with Joshua and Israel" emphasizes that their aim was to crush the leadership and the very nation, the people of God, hindering His divine plan. Crucially, their unity, "with one accord" (literally "with one mouth"), reflects a complete and shared resolve against Israel. This unified enemy was a significant test, a consolidated power bloc driven by a common threat. This scene underscores the constant spiritual reality that God's people often face united opposition from forces that conspire against divine purposes, acting as agents of resistance to God's sovereign will and redemptive work in the world. This alliance also foreshadows the deception by the Gibeonites, which would further complicate Israel's military engagements in the region.