Joshua 9 20

Joshua 9:20 kjv

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.

Joshua 9:20 nkjv

This we will do to them: We will let them live, lest wrath be upon us because of the oath which we swore to them."

Joshua 9:20 niv

This is what we will do to them: We will let them live, so that God's wrath will not fall on us for breaking the oath we swore to them."

Joshua 9:20 esv

This we will do to them: let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath that we swore to them."

Joshua 9:20 nlt

This is what we must do. We must let them live, for divine anger would come upon us if we broke our oath.

Joshua 9 verses

Joshua 9 20 Meaning

This verse states the firm decision of the Israelite leaders to let the Gibeonites live, despite having discovered their deceptive plot. Their central motivation for upholding this ill-advised treaty was to prevent divine wrath from falling upon the entire nation of Israel, recognizing the serious consequences of breaking an oath they had sworn, even if under false pretenses. This reveals their profound respect for the sanctity of a vow and their fear of God's just judgment.

Joshua 9 20 Context

Joshua 9:20 occurs directly after the revelation of the Gibeonites' deception to the Israelite assembly (Joshua 9:16-17). The Israelites had unwittingly made a peace treaty with the Gibeonites, believing them to be from a distant land, whereas they were local Hivites residing within the land God commanded Israel to conquer and cleanse. The core problem, leading to this dilemma, was Israel's failure to consult the Lord before making the treaty (Joshua 9:14). Despite the people's grumbling (Joshua 9:18), the leaders resolve to honor the oath they swore. The prevailing historical and cultural context in the ancient Near East was that oaths, particularly those sworn in the name of a deity, were considered inviolable and binding, and their breach could incur divine punishment, irrespective of how the oath was elicited. This episode underscores the tension between God's command to utterly destroy Canaanite inhabitants and the absolute sanctity of an oath.

Joshua 9 20 Word analysis

• "This we will do to them:"

  • זֹאת֙ (zo’t): "This" – Refers to the immediately following action. Signifies a concrete and firm decision.
  • נַעֲשֶׂ֖ה (na‘aseh): "we will do" – From the Hebrew עָשָׂה (asah), "to do, make, accomplish." Denotes a resolved action by the leaders, demonstrating their commitment despite popular dissent.

• "We will let them live,"

  • וְנַֽחְיֶ֣ה (w’naḥayyeh): "and we will make them live, preserve them" – From חָיָה (chayah), "to live, cause to live." This is a causative verb, highlighting the active choice of the Israelites to grant life. This directly counteracts the specific divine command (חָרַם, charam) to utterly destroy all Canaanite inhabitants (Deut 20:16-18), illustrating the paramount importance placed on oaths once made.

• "so that wrath may not fall on us"

  • לְמַ֣עַן אֲשֶׁר֙ (lema‘an asher): "in order that, so that" – A strong conjunction of purpose, directly linking their action of sparing lives to the prevention of a specific outcome.
  • לֹא־יִהְיֶ֣ה עָלֵ֔ינוּ (lo’-yihyeh ‘aleinu): "may not be upon us, may not come upon us" – Indicates a preventative measure against a feared consequence.
  • קֶ֖צֶף (qeṣef): "wrath, indignation, fury, anger" – A weighty term signifying divine anger and judgment, often accompanied by calamitous effects. The Israelite leaders understood that God's justice demanded accountability for broken promises, and qeṣef was the specific divine retribution they sought to avert. Their fear was theological, stemming from a recognition of God's holiness and His commitment to oaths.

• "because of the oath we swore to them."

  • עַל־הַשְּׁבֻעָ֛ה (ʿal-hashvuʿah): "because of the oath" – שְׁבֻעָה (shvu'ah) means "oath, sworn statement, pledge." It comes from שָׁבַע (shava’), "to swear." The definite article (הַ-) signifies "the" specific, well-known oath made with the Gibeonites.
  • אֲשֶׁ֥ר נִשְׁבַּ֖עְנוּ לָהֶֽם׃ (asher nishba‘nu lahem): "which we swore to them" – Explicitly names the act of oath-swearing by the Israelite leaders and its recipients. This underscores the personal commitment involved in the vow.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "This we will do to them: We will let them live": This demonstrates the decisive and committed action of the Israelite leadership. It shows a choice to act counter to initial divine commands regarding the Canaanites, solely driven by the sacred bond of the oath. The emphasis is on preserving life, which holds great significance in the biblical narrative even in contexts of war.
  • "so that wrath may not fall on us": This reveals the core motivation: a fear of divine retribution. The leaders understood that breaking an oath was a serious offense against God, and such an act would inevitably lead to national punishment. This theological reasoning indicates a proper understanding of God's justice and His demand for integrity among His people. It points to a deep-seated respect, and fear, for the covenant God.
  • "because of the oath we swore to them": This phrase highlights the sanctity of oaths in the biblical worldview. Despite the Gibeonites' deception and Israel's error in not consulting God (Josh 9:14), the oath, once made, was considered binding by God because an oath, even if not explicitly invoked in His name, ultimately appeals to Him as the supreme witness and guarantor.

Joshua 9 20 Bonus section

The Gibeonite incident demonstrates a significant tension within the Torah between two divine principles: the command to utterly destroy (herem) the Canaanites to prevent idolatry (Deut 7:1-6; 20:16-18) and the absolute sacredness of an oath (shvu'ah) made by God's people (Lev 19:12; Num 30:2). Here, the sanctity of the oath, once sworn, takes precedence in application over the direct command for destruction. This teaches that when human error (Israel not consulting the Lord, Josh 9:14) leads to a conflict of divine commands, God's nature demands faithfulness to the spoken word. The Gibeonites, while spared destruction, were reduced to perpetual servants for the congregation (woodcutters and water carriers, Josh 9:21-27), fulfilling the promise of life while also asserting Israel's dominance and preventing them from becoming an idolatrous snare. This situation contrasts sharply with the narrative of Achan (Joshua 7), where an individual's transgression brought severe divine wrath upon the entire community. Here, a national predicament stemming from imprudence is navigated by strict adherence to an oath to avoid broader divine qeṣef. The fact that centuries later, a national famine in the time of David was explicitly attributed to King Saul breaking this same covenant with the Gibeonites (2 Sam 21:1-6) underscores the enduring seriousness with which God views sworn vows.

Joshua 9 20 Commentary

Joshua 9:20 stands as a profound testament to the sanctity of an oath within the biblical framework, even when made under duress or deception. The Israelite leaders, despite their immediate congregational pressure and their failure to inquire of God, prioritize the fulfillment of their vow. Their motive, clearly articulated as averting divine "wrath" (qeṣef), emphasizes God's uncompromising commitment to the integrity of pledged words. To violate an oath was to invite His just judgment upon the whole community. This situation highlights that God honors human covenants and expects His people to do the same, particularly because such promises are ultimately made under His ultimate oversight. This narrative, therefore, serves as a powerful reminder of accountability before God, showcasing that the consequences of impetuous decisions (not consulting God) can lead to enduring, challenging commitments that nonetheless must be honored to avoid graver divine repercussions. The incident prefigures how divine justice would uphold the sacred nature of such vows in later history, such as Saul's demise generations later directly tied to the breach of this Gibeonite oath.