Joshua 9:16-27

Joshua 9:16-27

[16] And it came to pass at the end  of three  days  after  they had made  a league  with them, that they heard  that they were their neighbours,  and that they dwelt  among  them. [17] And the children  of Israel  journeyed,  and came  unto their cities  on the third  day.  Now their cities  were Gibeon,  and Chephirah,  and Beeroth,  and Kirjathjearim.  [18] And the children  of Israel  smote  them not, because the princes  of the congregation  had sworn  unto them by the LORD  God  of Israel.  And all the congregation  murmured  against the princes.  [19] But all the princes  said  unto all the congregation,  We have sworn  unto them by the LORD  God  of Israel:  now therefore we may  not touch  them. [20] This we will do  to them; we will even let them live,  lest wrath  be upon us, because of the oath  which we sware  unto them. [21] And the princes  said  unto them, Let them live;  but let them be hewers  of wood  and drawers  of water  unto all the congregation;  as the princes  had promised  them. [22] 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? [23] Now therefore ye are cursed,  and there shall none of you be freed  from being bondmen,  and hewers  of wood  and drawers  of water  for the house  of my God.  [24] And they answered  Joshua,  and said,  Because it was certainly  thy servants,  how that the LORD  thy God  commanded  his servant  Moses  to give  you all the land,  and to destroy  all the inhabitants  of the land  from before  you, therefore we were sore  afraid  of our lives  because  of you, and have done  this thing.  [25] are in thine hand:  as it seemeth  good  and right  unto thee to do  [26] And so did  he unto them, and delivered  them out of the hand  of the children  of Israel,  that they slew  them not. [27] And Joshua  made  them that day  hewers  of wood  and drawers  of water  for the congregation,  and for the altar  of the LORD,  even unto this day,  in the place  which he should choose. 

What does Joshua 9:16-27 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The leaders of Gibeon controlled four towns ( Joshua 9:17). These towns acted together in many of their dealings, including making the treaty with Israel. The possession of these cities by the Israelites gave God"s people a more secure foothold in central Canaan.
"Here the wilderness motif had been turned upside down, for in the wilderness the leaders were justified, while the congregation was guilty. Here the congregation is justified, while the leaders are at fault." [1]
The Israelites considered their oath to the Gibeonites as binding, especially since it was a promise given in the name of Yahweh ( Joshua 9:19).
"The "oath" was made in the name of the Lord. Consequently fidelity was owed, not to the Gibeonites, but to the Lord. The form of the oath called on the Lord to punish the Israelites if they failed to keep their agreement (cf. Joshua 9:18-20). This explains why Israel felt bound to the treaty even though it had been made under false pretenses (cf. Genesis 27:35; Psalm 15:4)." [2]
Ancient Near Easterners regarded all treaties as sacred agreements. [3] If Israel had violated this oath she would have brought great reproach on herself and her God. Israel"s leaders were wise not to break their promise. [4] Later in Israel"s history King Saul put some of the Gibeonites to death in his misguided zeal, and God sent a famine on Israel as punishment ( 2 Samuel 21:1-2).
The reason God forbade His people from allowing the Canaanites to live and become incorporated into Israel was that they might lead the Israelites into idolatry. The leaders of Israel therefore punished the Gibeonites for their deception in a way designed to minimize the possibility of their doing this. They made them servants in the tabernacle. This plan undoubtedly reinstated the leaders in the good favor of the Israelites. Nevertheless this was not a wise move because the Lord wanted only authorized Israelites to assist in tabernacle worship. By bringing these foreigners into tabernacle service, the leaders of Israel violated the holiness of God (cf. Numbers 3:10; Ezekiel 44:7).
"Servants should be taken in the most pejorative sense here. As woodcutters and water carriers the Gibeonites will perform only menial services (see Deuteronomy 29:11)." [5]
"They are foreigners permitted to live, but their very presence is a living lesson for both Israel and for foreigners. Foreigners learn that they cannot trick their way into the people of Yahweh, even with pious confessions of faith. Israel learns the supreme danger which threatens its life and leadership when decisions are made without consulting Yahweh and when the Mosaic law [6] is not followed." [7]
This action partially fulfilled Noah"s prophecy concerning the Canaanites in Genesis 9:25. The Gibeonites received tasks in the service of the tabernacle where, hopefully, they would have had exposure to the best spiritual influences. The Gibeonites never led the Israelites into idolatry, as far as the text records, but their presence in the tabernacle displeased the Lord ( Ezekiel 44:7).
Some commentators regarded the Gibeonites as sincere converts to Yahweh rather than as enemies of Israel, as the following quotation illustrates.
"So there really are exact parallels between Rahab the individual and the Gibeonites the corporate unit. Rahab (plus her family) was the only individual saved out of Jericho. The Gibeonites were the only people saved out of the land. Rahab believed, left Jericho and came among the people of God. The Gibeonites were the only people in the land who turned to God, and they flowed on through all the years of Jewish history." [8]
Were the Gibeonites genuine converts to Yahweh who were sympathetic with the Israelites" cause or enemies who believed the best way to survive was to yield rather than resist? Most commentators have concluded that they were enemies and that their craftiness ( Joshua 9:4) extended to their profession of the fear of Yahweh. There are no direct statements in Scripture that indicate that the Gibeonites were converts as Rahab was. Their motivation is simply not clear enough for us to make a dogmatic judgment, though I think the majority of interpreters is correct. [9]
Unbelievers usually oppose believers as we seek to carry out God"s purpose for us in the world. They sometimes resort to deception to become part of the fellowship of God"s people for their own selfish advantages. Some of these advantages are a good reputation, business contacts, or finding a spouse.
""This account," as O. v. Gerlach says, "is a warning to the Church of God of all ages against the cunning and dissimulation of the world, which often seeks for a peaceable recognition on the part of the kingdom of God, and even for a reception into it, whenever it may be its advantage to do so."" [10]
If God"s people make covenants with unbelievers, we may end up disobeying God, as Israel did (cf. 2 Corinthians 6:14-18). We need to seek the will of God before we make these commitments. We should look for it in prayer ( James 1:5; James 4:2-3; James 4:15) and in Scripture ( 2 Timothy 3:16-17; cf. Numbers 27:21). We should also consult other godly people who understand God"s ways and can help us avoid overlooking important scriptural revelations that are pertinent ( Proverbs 11:14). If we do make an unwise commitment, we should make the best of the situation, if breaking the covenant would be contrary to God"s will (e.g, marriage to an unbeliever, et al.).