King James Version

What Does Joshua 9:14 Mean?

Joshua 9:14 in the King James Version says “And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD. the men: or, they received the men b...” — study this verse from Joshua chapter 9 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD. the men: or, they received the men by reason of their victuals”

Joshua 9:14 · KJV

Context

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:

13

And these bottles of wine, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey.

14

And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD. the men: or, they received the men by reason of their victuals

15

And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.

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.

Read Joshua 9 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD. And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.

This verse identifies the critical failure that led to covenant compromise: "asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD." The Hebrew phrase lo sha'alu befi Yahweh (לֹא שָׁאֲלוּ בְּפִי יְהוָה) indicates a deliberate decision-making process conducted without divine consultation. Israel possessed multiple means of seeking God's will—the Urim and Thummim through the high priest (Numbers 27:21), prophetic inquiry, or direct divine revelation—yet Joshua proceeded based solely on empirical evidence and human judgment.

The phrase "the men took of their victuals" likely means they examined the provisions or shared a meal, a common ancient Near Eastern practice for ratifying agreements. However, physical inspection, no matter how thorough, cannot discern spiritual reality or divine will. This episode demonstrates the insufficiency of human wisdom apart from divine revelation, a theme prominent in Reformed epistemology: natural reason, though God-given and useful, remains inadequate for discerning God's specific purposes without special revelation.

Joshua's covenant with the Gibeonites—"made peace... made a league... sware unto them"—employed the most binding forms of ancient Near Eastern diplomacy. The Hebrew vayikrot lahem berit (וַיִּכְרֹת לָהֶם בְּרִית, "made a covenant with them") uses terminology identical to God's covenants with humanity, indicating solemn, unbreakable obligation. The swearing by the princes made the entire nation complicit. This illustrates how leadership decisions, made without proper spiritual discernment, can bind entire communities to unintended consequences for generations.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The practice of examining provisions to verify travelers' claims was standard procedure in the ancient world, where inn networks and modern verification systems did not exist. Distance was measured by travel time, with provisions' condition serving as evidence. The Gibeonites' counterfeit evidence—moldy bread, cracked wineskins, worn sandals—would normally provide reasonable proof of long journeys, as such items would not deteriorate significantly over short distances during the dry season.

The Urim and Thummim, kept by the high priest, provided divinely ordained means of determining God's will (Exodus 28:30; Numbers 27:21). The exact mechanism remains uncertain—possibly sacred lots or stones that gave yes/no answers to specific questions. Archaeological evidence suggests similar divination practices throughout the ancient Near East, but Israel's method uniquely involved Yahweh's direct guidance rather than manipulation of impersonal forces or consultation of false deities.

The binding nature of oaths in ancient culture cannot be overstated. To break a sworn covenant, even one obtained through deception, brought divine curse upon the oath-breaker. Later, when Saul violated this treaty by attempting to exterminate the Gibeonites, God brought famine on Israel (2 Samuel 21:1-14). This demonstrates that while the treaty was improperly made, God held Israel accountable to their word, teaching that rash vows have lasting consequences (Ecclesiastes 5:4-6).

Reflection Questions

  1. In what areas of life are you most tempted to make decisions based on circumstances rather than seeking God's specific guidance?
  2. How does this passage challenge contemporary pragmatism that values efficiency over seeking God's will through prayer and Scripture?
  3. What safeguards can Christian leaders establish to ensure major decisions are made with proper spiritual discernment rather than mere human wisdom?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 8 words
וַיִּקְח֥וּ1 of 8

“took”

H3947

to take (in the widest variety of applications)

הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֖ים2 of 8

“And the men”

H582

properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the more dignified h0120); hence, a man in general (singly or collectively)

מִצֵּידָ֑ם3 of 8

“of their victuals”

H6718

(generally) lunch (especially for a journey)

וְאֶת4 of 8
H853

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

פִּ֥י5 of 8

“not counsel at the mouth”

H6310

the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with prepos

יְהוָ֖ה6 of 8

“of the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

לֹ֥א7 of 8
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

שָׁאָֽלוּ׃8 of 8

“and asked”

H7592

to inquire; by implication, to request; by extension, to demand

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 9:14 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 9:14 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Proverbs 3:5-6Numbers 27:211 Chronicles 10:13-142 Samuel 5:19Isaiah 30:1-21 Samuel 23:9-12

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