Joshua 9:22
20 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.
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?
23 Now therefore you are under a curse and will perpetually serve as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”
24 The Gibeonites answered, “Your servants were told clearly that the LORD your God had commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land and wipe out all its inhabitants before you. So we greatly feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we have done this.
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
- 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?
- KJV
- And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, We are very far from you; when ye dwell among us?
- WEB
- Joshua called for them, and he spoke to them, saying, “Why have you deceived us, saying, ‘We are very far from you,’ when you live among us?
- ASV
- And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, We are very far from you; when ye dwell among us?
- DARBY
- And Joshua called for them, and he spoke to them, saying, Why have ye deceived us, saying, We are very far from you; whereas ye dwell in our midst?
- BLB
- And Joshua called for them and he spoke to them, saying, “Why have you⁺ deceived us, saying, ‘We [are] very far from you⁺’, and you⁺ dwell among us’?
- ÅB
- Da kalte Josva dem for seg og sa til dem: Hvorfor narret dere oss og sa: Vi bor langt, langt borte fra dere, og så bor dere midt iblant oss?
- OTB
- Så kalte Josva gibeonittene til seg og sa: “Hvorfor lurte dere oss ved å hevde, ‘Vi bor langt fra dere,’ når dere faktisk bor blant oss?
- B1930
- Da kalte Josva dem for sig og sa til dem: Hvorfor narret I oss og sa: Vi bor langt, langt borte fra eder, og så bor I midt iblandt oss?
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Joshua 9:6
They went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant land; please make a treaty with us.”
Read in contextJoshua 9:16
Three days after they had made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites learned that they were neighbors, living among them.
Read in contextGenesis 27:41–45
Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. And Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”
Read in contextGenesis 29:25
When morning came, there was Leah! “What have you done to me?” Jacob said to Laban. “Wasn’t it for Rachel that I served you? Why have you deceived me?”
Read in contextGenesis 3:13–14
Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” “The serpent deceived me,” she replied, “and I ate.”
Read in contextJoshua 9:9–10
“Your servants have come from a very distant land,” they replied, “because of the fame of the LORD your God. For we have heard the reports about Him: all that He did in Egypt,
Read in contextGenesis 27:35–36
But Isaac replied, “Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing.”
Read in context2 Corinthians 11:3
I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ.
Read in context