Joshua 9:16 - At the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, they heard that they were their neighbors, and that they lived among them.

Generated Verse: Joshua 9:16

What does "Joshua 9:16" mean?


This verse, Joshua 9:16, refers to a situation where the Israelites were tricked into making a covenant (a binding agreement) with the Gibeonites. Here's a breakdown of the verse's meaning:

"At the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them...": This indicates that a few days had passed since the Israelites entered into an agreement with the Gibeonites. The covenant likely involved promising not to attack or destroy the Gibeonites.

"...they heard that they were their neighbors, and that they lived among them.": This is the crucial part. The Israelites discovered that the Gibeonites weren't distant foreigners, as they had claimed during the negotiation. Instead, they were actually local people who lived nearby and were part of the Canaanite population that the Israelites were commanded to drive out.

In essence, the verse reveals the deception. The Gibeonites had lied about their origin to avoid being killed by the Israelites. The Israelites realized they had been manipulated into making a promise they would not have made if they had known the truth about the Gibeonites' identity and location.

The significance of this verse lies in:

The consequences of deception: The Gibeonites' lie had far-reaching consequences.
The dilemma faced by the Israelites: They were bound by their oath, even though it was made under false pretenses. This created a moral and legal conflict.
The potential ramifications for the Israelite conquest: The Gibeonites, now protected by the covenant, became a presence within the Israelite territory, potentially hindering the complete conquest of Canaan.