Joshua 9:20

Integrity

¹⁸ But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the congregation had sworn an oath to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. And the whole congregation grumbled against the leaders.

¹⁹ All the leaders answered, “We have sworn an oath to them by the LORD, the God of Israel, and now we cannot touch them.

This is how we will treat them: We will let them live, so that no wrath will fall on us because of the oath we swore to them.”

²¹ They continued, “Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for the whole congregation.” So the leaders kept their promise.

²² Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, “Why did you deceive us by telling us you live far away from us, when in fact you live among us?

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: This is how we will treat them: We will let them live, so that no wrath will fall on us because of the oath we swore to them.”
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.
WEB: We will do this to them, and let them live; lest wrath be on us, because of the oath which we swore to them.”
ASV: This we will do to them, and let them live; lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them.
DARBY: This we will do to them, and let them live, lest wrath come upon us, because of the oath which we swore unto them.
BLB: This we will do to them: We will let them live, and wrath will not be upon us, because of the oath that we have sworn to them.”

ÅB: Slik vil vi gjøre med dem: Vi vil la dem få leve, for at det ikke skal komme vrede over oss for den eds skyld som vi har svoret dem.
OTB: Dette er hva vi vil gjøre: la dem leve, så ikke vrede faller over oss for å bryte eden vi sverget til dem.”
B1930: Således vil vi gjøre med dem: Vi vil la dem få leve, forat det ikke skal komme vrede over oss for den eds skyld som vi har svoret dem.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Proverbs 20:25
It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly, only later to reconsider his vows.
Read in context
Malachi 3:5
“Then I will draw near to you for judgment. And I will be a swift witness against sorcerers and adulterers and perjurers, against oppressors of the widowed and fatherless, and against those who defraud laborers of their wages and deny justice to the foreigner but do not fear Me,” says the LORD of Hosts.
Read in context
Ezekiel 17:12–21
“Now say to this rebellious house: ‘Do you not know what these things mean?’ Tell them, ‘Behold, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, carried off its king and officials, and brought them back with him to Babylon.
Read in context
1 Timothy 1:10
for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave traders and liars and perjurers, and for anyone else who is averse to sound teaching
Read in context
2 Samuel 21:1–6
During the reign of David there was a famine for three successive years, and David sought the face of the LORD. And the LORD said, “It is because of the blood shed by Saul and his family, because he killed the Gibeonites.”
Read in context
2 Chronicles 36:13
He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God. But Zedekiah stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the LORD, the God of Israel.
Read in context
Romans 1:31
They are senseless, faithless, heartless, merciless.
Read in context
Zechariah 5:3–4
Then he told me, “This is the curse that is going out over the face of all the land, for according to one side of the scroll, every thief will be removed; and according to the other side, every perjurer will be removed.
Read in context