Joshua 9:6 - They went to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal, and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a far country. Now therefore make a covenant with us.”
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What does "Joshua 9:6" mean?
This verse from Joshua 9:6 sets the stage for the deception by the Gibeonites. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"They went to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal": This establishes the location. Joshua and the Israelite army were encamped at Gilgal, their base of operations after crossing the Jordan River.
"and said to him and to the men of Israel": The Gibeonites are directly addressing Joshua, the leader of Israel, as well as the Israelite soldiers. They are making a formal request to the entire nation.
"We have come from a far country": This is the crucial part of their lie. They are claiming to be foreigners from a distant land. This claim is designed to evoke a specific response from the Israelites.
"Now therefore make a covenant with us": This is their ultimate goal. They want to establish a formal treaty of peace and protection with Israel. Covenants in that time were very serious and binding agreements.
Why is this significant?
The Law and God's Command: God had commanded the Israelites to utterly destroy the inhabitants of Canaan (including the Gibeonites). However, Deuteronomy 20:15 states that when Israel approached a city "that is very far from you, which is not of the cities of these nations," they could offer terms of peace. If the city accepted, the people would become tributaries.
The Deception: The Gibeonites knew the Israelites were commanded to destroy the Canaanites. By claiming to be from a distant land, they were hoping to circumvent this commandment and trick the Israelites into making a covenant with them.
The Consequences: As the story unfolds, the Israelites will make a covenant based on this lie. When they discover the truth, they are bound by their oath, but are still angry and impose a harsh servitude on the Gibeonites.
In summary, Joshua 9:6 introduces the Gibeonites' deceptive plea for a covenant, relying on a false claim of being from a distant land to avoid the Israelites' divinely mandated destruction of Canaanite populations. This sets in motion a series of events that will test the Israelites' obedience, integrity, and the consequences of making decisions based on incomplete information.
Joshua 9:6 - They went to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal, and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a far country. Now therefore make a covenant with us.”
What does "Joshua 9:6" mean?
This verse from Joshua 9:6 sets the stage for the deception by the Gibeonites. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"They went to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal": This establishes the location. Joshua and the Israelite army were encamped at Gilgal, their base of operations after crossing the Jordan River.
"and said to him and to the men of Israel": The Gibeonites are directly addressing Joshua, the leader of Israel, as well as the Israelite soldiers. They are making a formal request to the entire nation.
"We have come from a far country": This is the crucial part of their lie. They are claiming to be foreigners from a distant land. This claim is designed to evoke a specific response from the Israelites.
"Now therefore make a covenant with us": This is their ultimate goal. They want to establish a formal treaty of peace and protection with Israel. Covenants in that time were very serious and binding agreements.
Why is this significant?
The Law and God's Command: God had commanded the Israelites to utterly destroy the inhabitants of Canaan (including the Gibeonites). However, Deuteronomy 20:15 states that when Israel approached a city "that is very far from you, which is not of the cities of these nations," they could offer terms of peace. If the city accepted, the people would become tributaries.
The Deception: The Gibeonites knew the Israelites were commanded to destroy the Canaanites. By claiming to be from a distant land, they were hoping to circumvent this commandment and trick the Israelites into making a covenant with them.
The Consequences: As the story unfolds, the Israelites will make a covenant based on this lie. When they discover the truth, they are bound by their oath, but are still angry and impose a harsh servitude on the Gibeonites.
In summary, Joshua 9:6 introduces the Gibeonites' deceptive plea for a covenant, relying on a false claim of being from a distant land to avoid the Israelites' divinely mandated destruction of Canaanite populations. This sets in motion a series of events that will test the Israelites' obedience, integrity, and the consequences of making decisions based on incomplete information.