Joshua 9:14 - The men sampled their provisions, and didn’t ask counsel from Yahweh’s mouth.
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What does "Joshua 9:14" mean?
This verse from Joshua 9:14 describes a critical mistake made by the Israelites, specifically their leaders, after encountering the Gibeonites. Let's break it down:
"The men sampled their provisions..." This refers to the Israelite leaders taking some of the food and supplies offered by the Gibeonites as a sign of good faith or to test the provisions. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, sharing food was a symbol of establishing a covenant or agreement. By partaking in the Gibeonites' provisions, the Israelites were effectively entering into a pact with them.
"...and didn’t ask counsel from Yahweh’s mouth." This is the crucial point. The Israelites, particularly Joshua and the elders, did not seek divine guidance from God (Yahweh) before making a decision about the Gibeonites. "Asking counsel from Yahweh's mouth" could mean:
Prayer: Seeking guidance through direct prayer.
Urim and Thummim: Consulting sacred lots or devices (Urim and Thummim) used to discern God's will. These were considered a way for God to give yes/no answers.
Prophets: Consulting with a prophet of God who could receive and communicate God's will.
In essence, the verse means:
The Israelite leaders, trusting in their own judgment based on the outward appearance of the Gibeonites and their seemingly genuine story, made a covenant with them without first seeking God's direction. They relied on their own senses and reasoning rather than consulting God's wisdom.
The Significance:
This was a grave error because:
God had commanded the Israelites to destroy all the inhabitants of Canaan: The Gibeonites were inhabitants of Canaan, and therefore should have been destroyed according to God's command (see Deuteronomy 7:1-2).
It demonstrated a lack of faith and obedience: The Israelites showed a lack of trust in God's wisdom and guidance.
It had significant consequences: The covenant with the Gibeonites bound the Israelites to protect them, which later caused conflict and difficulties.
The story of the Gibeonites serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of seeking God's guidance in all decisions, especially significant ones, and not relying solely on human reasoning or appearances. It highlights the dangers of acting impulsively without consulting God's will.
Joshua 9:14 - The men sampled their provisions, and didn’t ask counsel from Yahweh’s mouth.
What does "Joshua 9:14" mean?
This verse from Joshua 9:14 describes a critical mistake made by the Israelites, specifically their leaders, after encountering the Gibeonites. Let's break it down:
"The men sampled their provisions..." This refers to the Israelite leaders taking some of the food and supplies offered by the Gibeonites as a sign of good faith or to test the provisions. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, sharing food was a symbol of establishing a covenant or agreement. By partaking in the Gibeonites' provisions, the Israelites were effectively entering into a pact with them.
"...and didn’t ask counsel from Yahweh’s mouth." This is the crucial point. The Israelites, particularly Joshua and the elders, did not seek divine guidance from God (Yahweh) before making a decision about the Gibeonites. "Asking counsel from Yahweh's mouth" could mean:
Prayer: Seeking guidance through direct prayer.
Urim and Thummim: Consulting sacred lots or devices (Urim and Thummim) used to discern God's will. These were considered a way for God to give yes/no answers.
Prophets: Consulting with a prophet of God who could receive and communicate God's will.
In essence, the verse means:
The Israelite leaders, trusting in their own judgment based on the outward appearance of the Gibeonites and their seemingly genuine story, made a covenant with them without first seeking God's direction. They relied on their own senses and reasoning rather than consulting God's wisdom.
The Significance:
This was a grave error because:
God had commanded the Israelites to destroy all the inhabitants of Canaan: The Gibeonites were inhabitants of Canaan, and therefore should have been destroyed according to God's command (see Deuteronomy 7:1-2).
It demonstrated a lack of faith and obedience: The Israelites showed a lack of trust in God's wisdom and guidance.
It had significant consequences: The covenant with the Gibeonites bound the Israelites to protect them, which later caused conflict and difficulties.
The story of the Gibeonites serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of seeking God's guidance in all decisions, especially significant ones, and not relying solely on human reasoning or appearances. It highlights the dangers of acting impulsively without consulting God's will.