The Meaning of Joshua 9:18 Explained

Joshua 9:18

KJV: 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.

YLT: and the sons of Israel have not smitten them, for sworn to them have the princes of the company by Jehovah God of Israel, and all the company murmur against the princes.

Darby: And the children of Israel did not smite them, because the princes of the assembly had sworn unto them by Jehovah the God of Israel. Then all the assembly murmured against the princes.

ASV: And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by Jehovah, the God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Joshua 9:18 Mean?

Context Summary

Joshua 9:16-27 - "hewers Of Wood And Drawers Of Water"
The faith of these people was so far rewarded that, while their deception was punished by their reduction to the most menial tasks, yet their lives were spared; and, to a certain degree, they were incorporated with Israel and associated with the service of God's house. This position made them as unlikely as possible to seduce Israel from loyalty to Jehovah.
The Gibeonites were afterward known as Nethinim-that is, given. See 1 Chronicles 9:2; Ezra 2:43; Ezra 8:20. If in the earlier part of your life you have made some great mistake which threatens to limit your influence for good, do not sit down in despair, but get service out of it. Let it hew your wood and draw your water! [source]

Chapter Summary: Joshua 9

1  The kings combine against Israel
3  The Gibeonites by craft obtain a league
22  They are condemned to perpetual bondage

What do the individual words in Joshua 9:18 mean?

But not did attack them the sons of Israel because had sworn to them the rulers of the congregation by Yahweh God of Israel And complained all the congregation against the rulers
וְלֹ֤א הִכּוּם֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כִּֽי־ נִשְׁבְּע֤וּ לָהֶם֙ נְשִׂיאֵ֣י הָֽעֵדָ֔ה בַּֽיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיִּלֹּ֥נוּ כָל־ הָעֵדָ֖ה עַל־ הַנְּשִׂיאִֽים

וְלֹ֤א  But  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
הִכּוּם֙  did  attack  them 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person common plural, third person masculine plural
Root: נָכָה  
Sense: to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill.
בְּנֵ֣י  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
כִּֽי־  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
נִשְׁבְּע֤וּ  had  sworn 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: שָׁבַע  
Sense: to swear, adjure.
לָהֶם֙  to  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
נְשִׂיאֵ֣י  the  rulers 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: נָשִׂיא 
Sense: one lifted up, chief, prince, captain, leader.
הָֽעֵדָ֔ה  of  the  congregation 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: עֵדָה  
Sense: congregation, gathering.
בַּֽיהוָ֖ה  by  Yahweh 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֱלֹהֵ֣י  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
וַיִּלֹּ֥נוּ  And  complained 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: לוּן 
Sense: to lodge, stop over, pass the night, abide.
הָעֵדָ֖ה  the  congregation 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: עֵדָה  
Sense: congregation, gathering.
עַל־  against 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
הַנְּשִׂיאִֽים  the  rulers 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: נָשִׂיא 
Sense: one lifted up, chief, prince, captain, leader.