King James Version

What Does Joshua 9:10 Mean?

Joshua 9:10 in the King James Version says “And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king ... — study this verse from Joshua chapter 9 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which was at Ashtaroth.

Joshua 9:10 · KJV


Context

8

And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye?

9

And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the LORD thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt,

10

And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which was at Ashtaroth.

11

Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants: therefore now make ye a league with us. with you: Heb. in your hand

12

This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is mouldy:


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The Gibeonites continue: 'Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants: therefore now make ye a league with us.' The fabricated narrative includes elders' counsel and communal decision—adding layers of fictitious detail that sound authentic. The instruction to 'take victuals for the journey' explains their provisions' presence, while 'for the journey' reinforces the distance claim. The coached speech 'We are your servants: therefore make ye a league' positions them as humble petitioners seeking protective covenant. The phrase 'we are your servants' uses ancient Near Eastern diplomatic language indicating vassalage—not equality but subordinate treaty relationship. The detail and coherence of the story show sophisticated planning. They didn't just dress the part; they created comprehensive false narrative including motivations, decision processes, and instructions. The passage warns against accepting plausible narratives without verification.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Ancient Near Eastern treaty-making typically involved hierarchical relationships—suzerain (overlord) and vassal (subordinate). The Gibeonites' offer of servanthood invoked this framework, proposing vassal status under Israel's protection. Such relationships involved obligations: vassals paid tribute and provided military support; suzerains provided protection and aid. The mention of 'elders and all the inhabitants' deciding together reflects ancient community decision-making processes where leadership and populace both participated in major decisions affecting the city. This detail added authenticity—it's how such decisions actually were made. The instruction to take provisions for the journey was practical advice travelers would receive. Every element of the story reflected real practices, making it believable. The sophistication suggests careful preparation, possibly including coaching envoys on their script. Ancient diplomatic missions prepared thoroughly, but Gibeon's preparation served deception. The lesson: plausible details don't guarantee truth; verification requires independent investigation or divine guidance.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do detailed, coherent narratives create illusion of truthfulness even when fabricated?
  2. What role does checking claims against independent sources play in discerning truth?
  3. When have you been deceived by a story that 'sounded right' but wasn't verified?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 18 words
וְאֵ֣ת׀1 of 18
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

כָּל2 of 18
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

אֲשֶׁ֣ר3 of 18
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

עָשָׂ֗ה4 of 18

And all that he did

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

לִשְׁנֵי֙5 of 18

to the two

H8147

two; also (as ordinal) twofold

מֶֽלֶךְ6 of 18

king

H4428

a king

הָֽאֱמֹרִ֔י7 of 18

of the Amorites

H567

an emorite, one of the canaanitish tribes

אֲשֶׁ֖ר8 of 18
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

בְּעֵ֣בֶר9 of 18

that were beyond

H5676

properly, a region across; but used only adverbially (with or without a preposition) on the opposite side (especially of the jordan; ususally meaning

הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן10 of 18

Jordan

H3383

jarden, the principal river of palestine

לְסִיחוֹן֙11 of 18

to Sihon

H5511

sichon, an amoritish king

מֶֽלֶךְ12 of 18

king

H4428

a king

חֶשְׁבּ֔וֹן13 of 18

of Heshbon

H2809

cheshbon, a place east of the jordan

וּלְע֥וֹג14 of 18

and to Og

H5747

og, a king of bashan

מֶֽלֶךְ15 of 18

king

H4428

a king

הַבָּשָׁ֖ן16 of 18

of Bashan

H1316

bashan (often with the article), a region east of the jordan

אֲשֶׁ֥ר17 of 18
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

בְּעַשְׁתָּרֽוֹת׃18 of 18

which was at Ashtaroth

H6252

ashtaroth, the name of a sidonian deity, and of a place east of the jordan


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Joshua. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Joshua 9:10 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Joshua 9:10 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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