Antiguo Testamento

Joshua — Capítulo 9

THE KINGS COMBINE AGAINST ISRAEL. (Jos. 9:1-27) all the kings which were on this side--that is, the western side of Jordan. in the hills, and in ther valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea--This threefold dis…

Versión

Texto — Reina-Valera 1960

1Cuando oyeron estas cosas todos los reyes que estaban a este lado del Jordán, así en las montañas como en los llanos, y en toda la costa del Mar Grande delante del Líbano, los heteos, amorreos, cananeos, ferezeos, heveos y jebuseos,

2se concertaron para pelear contra Josué e Israel.

3Mas los moradores de Gabaón, cuando oyeron lo que Josué había hecho a Jericó y a Hai,

4usaron de astucia; pues fueron y se fingieron embajadores, y tomaron sacos viejos sobre sus asnos, y cueros viejos de vino, rotos y remendados,

5y zapatos viejos y recosidos en sus pies, con vestidos viejos sobre sí; y todo el pan que traían para el camino era seco y mohoso.

6Y vinieron a Josué al campamento en Gilgal, y le dijeron a él y a los de Israel: Nosotros venimos de tierra muy lejana; haced, pues, ahora alianza con nosotros.

7Y los de Israel respondieron a los heveos: Quizá habitáis en medio de nosotros. ¿Cómo, pues, podremos hacer alianza con vosotros?

8Ellos respondieron a Josué: Nosotros somos tus siervos. Y Josué les dijo: ¿Quiénes sois vosotros, y de dónde venís?

9Y ellos respondieron: Tus siervos han venido de tierra muy lejana, por causa del nombre de Jehová tu Dios; porque hemos oído su fama, y todo lo que hizo en Egipto,

10y todo lo que hizo a los dos reyes de los amorreos que estaban al otro lado del Jordán: a Sehón rey de Hesbón, y a Og rey de Basán, que estaba en Astarot.

11Por lo cual nuestros ancianos y todos los moradores de nuestra tierra nos dijeron: Tomad en vuestras manos provisión para el camino, e id al encuentro de ellos, y decidles: Nosotros somos vuestros siervos; haced ahora alianza con nosotros.

12Este nuestro pan lo tomamos caliente de nuestras casas para el camino el día que salimos para venir a vosotros; y helo aquí ahora ya seco y mohoso.

13Estos cueros de vino también los llenamos nuevos; helos aquí ya rotos; también estos nuestros vestidos y nuestros zapatos están ya viejos a causa de lo muy largo del camino.

14Y los hombres de Israel tomaron de las provisiones de ellos, y no consultaron a Jehová.

15Y Josué hizo paz con ellos, y celebró con ellos alianza concediéndoles la vida; y también lo juraron los príncipes de la congregación.

16Pasados tres días después que hicieron alianza con ellos, oyeron que eran sus vecinos, y que habitaban en medio de ellos.

17Y salieron los hijos de Israel, y al tercer día llegaron a las ciudades de ellos; y sus ciudades eran Gabaón, Cafira, Beerot y Quiriat-jearim.

18Y no los mataron los hijos de Israel, por cuanto los príncipes de la congregación les habían jurado por Jehová el Dios de Israel. Y toda la congregación murmuraba contra los príncipes.

19Mas todos los príncipes respondieron a toda la congregación: Nosotros les hemos jurado por Jehová Dios de Israel; por tanto, ahora no les podemos tocar.

20Esto haremos con ellos: les dejaremos vivir, para que no venga ira sobre nosotros por causa del juramento que les hemos hecho.

21Dijeron, pues, de ellos los príncipes: Dejadlos vivir; y fueron constituidos leñadores y aguadores para toda la congregación, concediéndoles la vida, según les habían prometido los príncipes.

22Y llamándolos Josué, les habló diciendo: ¿Por qué nos habéis engañado, diciendo: Habitamos muy lejos de vosotros, siendo así que moráis en medio de nosotros?

23Ahora, pues, malditos sois, y no dejará de haber de entre vosotros siervos, y quien corte la leña y saque el agua para la casa de mi Dios.

24Y ellos respondieron a Josué y dijeron: Como fue dado a entender a tus siervos que Jehová tu Dios había mandado a Moisés su siervo que os había de dar toda la tierra, y que había de destruir a todos los moradores de la tierra delante de vosotros, por esto temimos en gran manera por nuestras vidas a causa de vosotros, e hicimos esto.

25Ahora, pues, henos aquí en tu mano; lo que te pareciere bueno y recto hacer de nosotros, hazlo.

26Y él lo hizo así con ellos; pues los libró de la mano de los hijos de Israel, y no los mataron.

27Y Josué los destinó aquel día a ser leñadores y aguadores para la congregación, y para el altar de Jehová en el lugar que Jehová eligiese, lo que son hasta hoy.

JAMIESON-FAUSSET-BROWN BIBLE COMMENTARY

Versículo 2

I. they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord--Althoug…

they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord--Although divided by separate interests and often at war with each other, a sense of common danger prompted them to suspend their mutual animosities, that by their united forces they might prevent the land from falling into the hands of foreign masters.

Versículo 3

II. THE GIBEONITES OBTAIN A LEAGUE BY CRAFT. (Jos 9:3-15)

THE GIBEONITES OBTAIN A LEAGUE BY CRAFT. (Jos 9:3-15) when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard--This town, as its name imports, was situated on a rocky eminence, about six miles northwest from Jerusalem, where the modern village of El Jib now stands. It was the capital of the Hivites, and a large important city (Jos 10:2). It seems to have formed, in union with a few other towns in the neighborhood, a free independent state (Jos 9:17) and to have enjoyed a republican government (Jos 9:11).

Versículo 4

III. They did work wilily--They acted with dexterous policy, seeking the means of self-preservation, n…

They did work wilily--They acted with dexterous policy, seeking the means of self-preservation, not by force, which they were convinced would be unavailing, but by artful diplomacy. took old sacks upon their asses--Travellers in the East transport their luggage on beasts of burden; the poorer sort stow all their necessaries, food, clothes, utensils together, in a woollen or hair-cloth sack, laid across the shoulders of the beast they ride upon. wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up--Goat-skins, which are better adapted for carrying liquor of any kind fresh and good, than either earthenware, which is porous, or metallic vessels, which are soon heated by the sun. These skin bottles are liable to be rent when old and much used; and there are various ways of mending them--by inserting a new piece of leather, or by gathering together the edges of the rent and sewing them in the form of a purse, or by putting a round flat splinter of wood into the hole.

Versículo 5

IV. old shoes and clouted--Those who have but one ass or mule for themselves and baggage frequently d…

old shoes and clouted--Those who have but one ass or mule for themselves and baggage frequently dismount and walk--a circumstance which may account for the worn shoes of the pretended travellers. bread . . . dry and mouldy--This must have been that commonly used by travellers--a sort of biscuit made in the form of large rings, about an inch thick, and four or five inches in diameter. Not being so well baked as our biscuits, it becomes hard and mouldy from the moisture left in the dough. It is usually soaked in water previous to being used.

Versículo 6

V. they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal--Arrived at the Israelitish headquarters, the strange…

they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal--Arrived at the Israelitish headquarters, the strangers obtained an interview with Joshua and the elders, to whom they opened their business.

Versículo 7

VI. the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us--The answer of the Israel…

the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us--The answer of the Israelites implied that they had no discretion, that their orders were imperative, and that if the strangers belonged to any of the native tribes, the idea of an alliance with them was unlawful since God had forbidden it (Exo 23:32; Exo 34:12; Deu 7:2).

Versículo 9

VII. From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the Lord thy God--They prete…

From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the Lord thy God--They pretended to be actuated by religious motives in seeking to be allied with His people. But their studied address is worthy of notice in appealing to instances of God's miraculous doings at a distance, while they pass by those done in Canaan, as if the report of these had not yet reached their ears.

Versículo 14

VIII. the men took of their victuals and asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord--The mouldy appeara…

the men took of their victuals and asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord--The mouldy appearance of their bread was, after examination, accepted as guaranteeing the truth of the story. In this precipitate conclusion the Israelites were guilty of excessive credulity and culpable negligence, in not asking by the high priest's Urim and Thummim the mind of God, before entering into the alliance. It is not clear, however, that had they applied for divine direction they would have been forbidden to spare and connect themselves with any of the Canaanite tribes who renounced idolatry and embraced and worshipped the true God. At least, no fault was found with them for making a covenant with the Gibeonites; while, on the other hand, the violation of it was severely punished (Sa2 21:1; and Jos 11:19-20).

Versículo 16

IX. at the end of three days . . . they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt am…

at the end of three days . . . they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt among them--This information was obtained in their further progress through the country; for as Jos 9:17 should be rendered, "when the children of Israel journeyed, they came to their cities." Gibeon was about eighteen or twenty miles from Gilgal.

Versículo 17

X. Chephirah-- (Jos 18:26; Ezr 2:25; Neh 7:29).

Chephirah-- (Jos 18:26; Ezr 2:25; Neh 7:29). Beeroth-- (Sa2 4:2), now El Berich, about twenty minutes' distance from El Jib (Gibeon). Kirjath-jearim--"the city of forests," now Kuryet-el-Enab [ROBINSON].

Versículo 18

XI. the children of Israel smote them not--The moral character of the Gibeonites' stratagem was bad. …

the children of Israel smote them not--The moral character of the Gibeonites' stratagem was bad. The princes of the congregation did not vindicate either the expediency or the lawfulness of the connection they had formed; but they felt the solemn obligations of their oath; and, although the popular clamor was loud against them, caused either by disappointment at losing the spoils of Gibeon, or by displeasure at the apparent breach of the divine commandment, they determined to adhere to their pledge, "because they had sworn by the Lord God of Israel." The Israelitish princes acted conscientiously; they felt themselves bound by their solemn promise; but to prevent the disastrous consequences of their imprudent haste, they resolved to degrade the Gibeonites to a servile condition as a means of preventing their people from being ensnared into idolatry, and thus acted up, as they thought, to the true spirit and end of the law.

Versículo 27

XII. hewers of wood and drawers of water--The menials who performed the lowest offices and drudgery in…

hewers of wood and drawers of water--The menials who performed the lowest offices and drudgery in the sanctuary; whence they were called Nethinims (Ch1 9:2; Ezr 2:43; Ezr 8:20); that is, given, appropriated. Their chastisement thus brought them into the possession of great religious privileges (Psa 84:10). Next: Joshua Chapter 10

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