Bible Commentaries

Verse 2

accord. Hebrew "mouth" put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for what is said by it: i.e. one consent.

Verse 3

inhabitants. The Gibeonires were Hivites (Joshua 9:7 ), condemned to extermination as mixed with the descendants of the Nephilim ( App-26 ). Exodus 23:32 ; Exodus 34:12-15 .Numbers 33:51-56 . Deuteronomy 7:1 , Deuteronomy 7:2 ; Deuteronomy 20:16 . They were aware of this. Hence their mission; by which they exposed themselves to the enmity of the other nations (Joshua 10:1-4 ).

Gibeon = High place. About six and a half miles from Beth-el, eight miles north-north-west of Jerusalem.

what. Some codices, with Septuagint and Vulgate, read "all that".

Verse 4

They They too.

made as if they had been ambassadors. Some codices, with Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "furnished themselves with provisions", as in Joshua 9:11 and Joshua 9:12 .

bottles = skins i.e. wine-skins.

Verse 5

clouted = patched (Anglo-Saxon, clut.)

mouldy = become crumbly.

Verse 6

men. Heb, 'ish . App-14 .

Verse 9

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 .

God. Hebrew Elobim. App-4 .

Verse 11

with you, Hebrew in your hand,

Verse 12

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. Revelation 6:0; Revelation 6:0 ,

Verse 14

the men. Hebrew, plural of ish or 'enosh. App-14

took of their victuals. Probably tasted, or partook of their food; or, ate with them--a token of friendship.

asked not: i.e. by "Urim and Thummim". Compare Exodus 28:30 , note.

mouth. Put by Figure of speech Melonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for the counsel given by the mouth.

Verse 17

children = sons.

Verse 18

made a league = solemnised a covenant.

Verse 21

be = become.

promised. Compare Joshua 9:15 .

Verse 24

commanded. Compare Deuteronomy 7:1-5 .

our lives = our souls. Hebrew. Nephesh . See App-13 .

LORD. There is an Homoeoteleuton ( App-6 ) here, preserved in the Septuagint; a scribe going back to the former of the two words "Lord"; and reading ' the altar of Jehovah [and the inhabitants of Gibeon became hewers of wood and drawers of water for the altar of Jehovah]", even unto this day, &c.

even . Supply Figure of speech Ellipsis ( App-8 ), thus = "[as they are] even".

in = for.