Joshua 9 26

Joshua 9:26 kjv

And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not.

Joshua 9:26 nkjv

So he did to them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, so that they did not kill them.

Joshua 9:26 niv

So Joshua saved them from the Israelites, and they did not kill them.

Joshua 9:26 esv

So he did this to them and delivered them out of the hand of the people of Israel, and they did not kill them.

Joshua 9:26 nlt

So Joshua did not allow the people of Israel to kill them.

Joshua 9 verses

Joshua 9 26 Meaning

Joshua 9:26 records the faithful execution of the oath Joshua and the leaders of Israel made to the Gibeonites. Despite realizing they had been deceived, Joshua protected the Gibeonites from being slaughtered by the Israelite community, affirming their status as perpetual woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation. This action demonstrated Israel's commitment to upholding sworn covenants, even under adverse circumstances.

Joshua 9 26 Context

Joshua chapter 9 describes a crucial episode following Israel's victories at Jericho and Ai. While other Canaanite nations united to fight Israel, the Hivite inhabitants of Gibeon resorted to deception. They disguised themselves as travelers from a distant land and approached Joshua and the leaders of Israel, requesting a peace treaty. Despite their general command from God to destroy all the inhabitants of Canaan, the Israelites failed to seek God's counsel before making an oath of peace with the Gibeonites (Josh 9:14-15). Three days later, the deception was discovered when Israel came upon the Gibeonite cities (Josh 9:16-17). The congregation of Israel was angry and wanted to slay the Gibeonites for their trickery (Josh 9:18). However, the leaders, including Joshua, upheld their oath, recognizing its binding nature because it was sworn by the Lord (Josh 9:19). To maintain the covenant and prevent divine wrath (Josh 9:20), they condemned the Gibeonites to perpetual servitude as woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation and the altar of the Lord. Verse 26 records Joshua's decisive action to implement this decision, physically preventing the angry Israelites from massacring the Gibeonites.

Joshua 9 26 Word analysis

• And so he did to them,: This phrase marks the decisive fulfillment of the agreement. "He did" (וַיַּעַשׂ, vayya‘as) signifies Joshua's direct action and the execution of the judicial decision made by the leaders regarding the Gibeonites. It implies authority and determination in enforcing the agreed-upon outcome. The Gibeonites were assigned to roles of perpetual servitude, specifically as gatherers of wood and drawers of water, functions typically associated with menial labor, thus integrating them into Israelite society as its lowest caste, fulfilling part of the covenant terms and, indirectly, a divine judgment against Canaan.
• and delivered them: The Hebrew word for "delivered" is וַיַּצִּלֵם (vayyatztzilem), from the root נָצַל (natsal), meaning to snatch away, rescue, or save from danger. This word emphasizes Joshua's active intervention and protection of the Gibeonites from potential death. It portrays a scene where immediate danger was present, likely from the angry Israelites, and Joshua acted swiftly to remove the Gibeonites from harm. This protection was crucial as it preserved the oath Israel had sworn.
• out of the hand: This is a common Hebrew idiom, "מיַּד" (miyyad), which literally means "from the hand" but conveys the sense of "from the power of" or "from the control of." It suggests that the Gibeonites were vulnerable and under the imminent threat of violent action by the Israelite populace. Joshua’s act was a removal from the Israelites’ capacity to harm them.
• of the people of Israel,: This specifies the immediate threat. The "people of Israel" (בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, b’nei Yisra’el) refers to the general populace, the common Israelites, who were enraged by the Gibeonites' deception. They desired vengeance and were inclined to kill the Gibeonites, despite the oath made by their leaders. This highlights the tension between the anger of the multitude and the leaders' obligation to uphold the covenant.
• that they should not slay them. : This phrase explicitly states the primary purpose and successful outcome of Joshua’s intervention. "Slay" (לְהָרְגָם, l’hargam) signifies killing, particularly violent or deliberate killing. Joshua's actions ensured the Gibeonites were not put to death. This preserved the integrity of Israel's oath and prevented God's wrath, as an oath sworn in the Lord’s name, even deceitfully obtained, carried immense spiritual weight. The life of the Gibeonites was spared, but their freedom was lost.

Joshua 9 26 Bonus section

• Theological Implications of Oath-Keeping: The narrative serves as a powerful biblical example that an oath made before God, even under duress or deception, carries significant weight and must be upheld. This emphasizes God's holiness and His demand for integrity, not just from His people, but also in dealings that invoke His name. The potential divine retribution for oath-breaking (as seen in 2 Sam 21) was a major deterrent and guided Joshua's decision.
• The Gibeonites' Fate as a Unique Exception: While God commanded the utter destruction of the Canaanites, the Gibeonite exception reveals a nuanced divine providence. Though deceived, the Gibeonites sought life under Israel, a unique case among the local nations. Their eventual servitude at the altar of the Lord (later Nethinim) highlights God's ability to incorporate even those acquired through error into His greater plan, potentially even demonstrating a foreshadowing of gentile inclusion in worship.
• Leadership Model: Joshua’s role here is crucial. He not only made the covenant, but also enforced it when it became inconvenient. This portrays leadership as upholding justice and responsibility even when facing popular disapproval, reminding believers of the necessity of maintaining one’s word given before God and people.

Joshua 9 26 Commentary

Joshua 9:26 succinctly articulates the solemn resolve of Joshua to honor a covenant, even one procured by deceit and contrary to prior divine commands concerning the Canaanites. It demonstrates the profound sanctity of an oath sworn "by the Lord God of Israel" in ancient Near Eastern and Israelite culture, where such an oath invoked divine witness and potential judgment for violation. Joshua's swift action to deliver the Gibeonites from the immediate, vengeful anger of the Israelite community highlights responsible leadership that prioritizes covenant fidelity over popular sentiment. This decision, born from Israel's error in not consulting God (Josh 9:14), nevertheless averted God's potential judgment for oath-breaking. Thus, the Gibeonites' lives were preserved, though at the cost of their freedom, becoming perpetual servants—a compromise that maintained the sanctity of the oath while imposing a consequence for their deception.