Joshua 9:19 - But all the princes said to all the congregation, “We have sworn to them by Yahweh, the God of Israel. Now therefore we may not touch them.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Joshua 9:19" mean?
This verse from Joshua 9:19 refers to a situation where the Israelites were tricked into making a covenant with the Gibeonites. Here's a breakdown of what the verse means:
Context: The Israelites, under Joshua's leadership, were conquering the land of Canaan. The Gibeonites, knowing they couldn't defeat the Israelites in battle, devised a plan to deceive them. They disguised themselves as travelers from a distant land and requested a peace treaty.
The Oath: The Israelite leaders (princes or chieftains) did not consult God before entering into this agreement. They rashly made a treaty and swore an oath to the Gibeonites in the name of Yahweh (God of Israel). This oath was a sacred promise.
"We have sworn to them by Yahweh, the God of Israel": This is the crux of the verse. The princes are acknowledging that they made a solemn oath in God's name. Swearing an oath in God's name was considered extremely serious in ancient Israelite culture. It invoked divine judgment if the oath was broken.
"Now therefore we may not touch them": This means that because they had sworn an oath to the Gibeonites in the name of God, they were bound to honor the treaty. To "touch them" in this context means to harm, attack, or kill them – to violate the agreement of peace and protection.
In summary, the verse highlights the dilemma the Israelite leaders faced. They realized they had been tricked, but because they had sworn an oath in God's name, they felt obligated to uphold it, even though it was based on deception. It reflects the importance placed on honoring oaths and the consequences of making agreements without seeking divine guidance.
This event has several implications:
Importance of Seeking God's Will: It serves as a cautionary tale about making decisions without seeking God's counsel first.
Honoring Commitments: It demonstrates the weight of oaths and the importance of keeping one's word, even when it's inconvenient.
God's Sovereignty: Although the Israelites made a mistake, God ultimately used this situation for His purposes. The Gibeonites, while spared from destruction, were made servants of the Israelites (specifically, they became woodcutters and water carriers for the sanctuary).
The verse encapsulates a critical moment of ethical decision-making in the Israelites' early history.
Joshua 9:19 - But all the princes said to all the congregation, “We have sworn to them by Yahweh, the God of Israel. Now therefore we may not touch them.
What does "Joshua 9:19" mean?
This verse from Joshua 9:19 refers to a situation where the Israelites were tricked into making a covenant with the Gibeonites. Here's a breakdown of what the verse means:
Context: The Israelites, under Joshua's leadership, were conquering the land of Canaan. The Gibeonites, knowing they couldn't defeat the Israelites in battle, devised a plan to deceive them. They disguised themselves as travelers from a distant land and requested a peace treaty.
The Oath: The Israelite leaders (princes or chieftains) did not consult God before entering into this agreement. They rashly made a treaty and swore an oath to the Gibeonites in the name of Yahweh (God of Israel). This oath was a sacred promise.
"We have sworn to them by Yahweh, the God of Israel": This is the crux of the verse. The princes are acknowledging that they made a solemn oath in God's name. Swearing an oath in God's name was considered extremely serious in ancient Israelite culture. It invoked divine judgment if the oath was broken.
"Now therefore we may not touch them": This means that because they had sworn an oath to the Gibeonites in the name of God, they were bound to honor the treaty. To "touch them" in this context means to harm, attack, or kill them – to violate the agreement of peace and protection.
In summary, the verse highlights the dilemma the Israelite leaders faced. They realized they had been tricked, but because they had sworn an oath in God's name, they felt obligated to uphold it, even though it was based on deception. It reflects the importance placed on honoring oaths and the consequences of making agreements without seeking divine guidance.
This event has several implications:
Importance of Seeking God's Will: It serves as a cautionary tale about making decisions without seeking God's counsel first.
Honoring Commitments: It demonstrates the weight of oaths and the importance of keeping one's word, even when it's inconvenient.
God's Sovereignty: Although the Israelites made a mistake, God ultimately used this situation for His purposes. The Gibeonites, while spared from destruction, were made servants of the Israelites (specifically, they became woodcutters and water carriers for the sanctuary).
The verse encapsulates a critical moment of ethical decision-making in the Israelites' early history.