Joshua 9
יהושע פרק ט׳
Section: נביאים · נביאים ראשונים | Book: Joshua | Chapter: 9 of 24 | Day: 9 of 742
Date: February 20, 2026
קלאוד על הנ״ך
Joshua chapter 9 introduces a very different kind of challenge: not military combat but diplomatic deception. While the Canaanite kings form a military coalition against Israel (verses 1-2), the Gibeonites take a radically different approach. Recognizing that fighting Israel means fighting God, they resort to cunning.
The Gibeonites disguise themselves as travelers from a distant land, arriving at the Israelite camp at Gilgal with worn-out sacks, cracked and mended wineskins, dry and crumbly bread, and tattered sandals and clothing. They tell Joshua: “We have come from a very distant land; now make a treaty with us.” When the Israelites express suspicion—“Perhaps you live among us; how then can we make a treaty with you?”—the Gibeonites spin an elaborate story about hearing of God’s great deeds in Egypt and against the Amorite kings east of the Jordan. Notably, they mention only events from before the Jordan crossing, carefully omitting Jericho and Ai to maintain their fiction of being from far away.
The text delivers a crucial editorial comment: “The men [of Israel] took of their provisions, but they did not inquire of God” (וְאֶת־פִּי יְהֹוָה לֹא שָׁאָלוּ). Joshua and the leaders made peace with the Gibeonites and swore a binding oath—without consulting God through the Urim and Thummim. Three days later, the truth is discovered: the Gibeonites are actually neighbors, living nearby in cities including Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim.
The Israelite community grumbles against the leaders for the treaty, but the leaders insist the oath must be honored: “We have sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel, and we cannot touch them.” The sanctity of an oath, even one obtained through deception, is inviolable. This principle becomes central in Jewish law—an oath binds regardless of the circumstances of its making. As a compromise, the Gibeonites are assigned as woodcutters and water-drawers for the community and for God’s altar. When confronted, the Gibeonites explain their deception simply: “We were told that the LORD your God had commanded Moses to give you the whole land and to destroy all its inhabitants. We were in great fear for our lives.”
The chapter raises timeless questions about the tension between justice and mercy, the binding nature of commitments, and the consequences of acting without seeking divine guidance. The Gibeonites’ survival—through cleverness rather than combat—presents an alternative path for those who recognize God’s power and choose submission over resistance.
פרק ט׳ · Chapter 9
פסוק א׳ · Verse 1
Hebrew:
וַיְהִ֣י כִשְׁמֹ֣עַ כׇּֽל־הַמְּלָכִ֡ים אֲשֶׁר֩ בְּעֵ֨בֶר הַיַּרְדֵּ֜ן בָּהָ֣ר וּבַשְּׁפֵלָ֗ה וּבְכֹל֙ ח֚וֹף הַיָּ֣ם הַגָּד֔וֹל אֶל־מ֖וּל הַלְּבָנ֑וֹן הַֽחִתִּי֙ וְהָ֣אֱמֹרִ֔י הַֽכְּנַעֲנִי֙ הַפְּרִזִּ֔י הַחִוִּ֖י וְהַיְבוּסִֽי׃
English:
When all the kings west ofawest of Lit. “across.” the Jordan—in the hill country, in the Shephelah, and along the entire coast of the Mediterranean Sea up to the vicinity of Lebanon, the [land of the] Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—learned of this,
פסוק ב׳ · Verse 2
Hebrew:
וַיִּֽתְקַבְּצ֣וּ יַחְדָּ֔ו לְהִלָּחֵ֥ם עִם־יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ וְעִם־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל פֶּ֖ה אֶחָֽד׃ {פ}
English:
they gathered with one accord to fight against Joshua and Israel.
פסוק ג׳ · Verse 3
Hebrew:
וְיֹשְׁבֵ֨י גִבְע֜וֹן שָׁמְע֗וּ אֵת֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשָׂ֧ה יְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַ לִירִיח֖וֹ וְלָעָֽי׃
English:
But when the inhabitants of Gibeon learned how Joshua had treated Jericho and Ai,
פסוק ד׳ · Verse 4
Hebrew:
וַיַּֽעֲשׂ֤וּ גַם־הֵ֙מָּה֙ בְּעׇרְמָ֔ה וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ וַיִּצְטַיָּ֑רוּ וַיִּקְח֞וּ שַׂקִּ֤ים בָּלִים֙ לַחֲמ֣וֹרֵיהֶ֔ם וְנֹאד֥וֹת יַ֙יִן֙ בָּלִ֔ים וּמְבֻקָּעִ֖ים וּמְצֹרָרִֽים׃
English:
they for their part resorted to cunning. They set out in disguise:bin disguise Meaning of Heb. uncertain. they took worn-out sacks for their donkeys, and worn-out waterskins that were cracked and patched;
פסוק ה׳ · Verse 5
Hebrew:
וּנְעָל֨וֹת בָּל֤וֹת וּמְטֻלָּאוֹת֙ בְּרַגְלֵיהֶ֔ם וּשְׂלָמ֥וֹת בָּל֖וֹת עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם וְכֹל֙ לֶ֣חֶם צֵידָ֔ם יָבֵ֖שׁ הָיָ֥ה נִקֻּדִֽים׃
English:
they had worn-out, patched sandals on their feet, and threadbare clothes on their bodies; and all the bread they took as provision was dry and crumbly.
פסוק ו׳ · Verse 6
Hebrew:
וַיֵּלְכ֧וּ אֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַ אֶל־הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֖ה הַגִּלְגָּ֑ל וַיֹּאמְר֨וּ אֵלָ֜יו וְאֶל־אִ֣ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל מֵאֶ֤רֶץ רְחוֹקָה֙ בָּ֔אנוּ וְעַתָּ֖ה כִּרְתוּ־לָ֥נוּ בְרִֽית׃
English:
And so they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and [in a parley] said to him and to the rest of Israel’s side, “We come from a distant land; we propose that you make a pact with us.”
פסוק ז׳ · Verse 7
Hebrew:
(ויאמרו) [וַיֹּ֥אמֶר] אִֽישׁ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֶל־הַחִוִּ֑י אוּלַ֗י בְּקִרְבִּי֙ אַתָּ֣ה יוֹשֵׁ֔ב וְאֵ֖יךְ (אכרות) [אֶֽכְרׇת־]לְךָ֥ בְרִֽית׃
English:
Israel’s side replied to the Hivites, “But perhaps you live among us; how then can we make a pact with you?”chow then can we make a pact with you Cf. Deut. 7.2.
פסוק ח׳ · Verse 8
Hebrew:
וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ אֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ עֲבָדֶ֣יךָֽ אֲנָ֑חְנוּ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֧ם יְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַ מִ֥י אַתֶּ֖ם וּמֵאַ֥יִן תָּבֹֽאוּ׃
English:
They said to Joshua, “We will be your subjects.” But Joshua asked them, “Who are you and where do you come from?”
פסוק ט׳ · Verse 9
Hebrew:
וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ אֵלָ֗יו מֵאֶ֨רֶץ רְחוֹקָ֤ה מְאֹד֙ בָּ֣אוּ ��ֲבָדֶ֔יךָ לְשֵׁ֖ם יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ כִּי־שָׁמַ֣עְנוּ שׇׁמְע֔וֹ וְאֵ֛ת כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָׂ֖ה בְּמִצְרָֽיִם׃
English:
They replied, “Your servants have come from a very distant country, because of the fame of the ETERNAL your God. For we heard the report of alldthe report of all Lit. “the report of Him: of all.” that [your God] did in Egypt,
פסוק י״ · Verse 10
Hebrew:
וְאֵ֣ת ׀ כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֗ה לִשְׁנֵי֙ מַלְכֵ֣י הָאֱמֹרִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּעֵ֣בֶר הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן לְסִיחוֹן֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ חֶשְׁבּ֔וֹן וּלְע֥וֹג מֶלֶךְ־הַבָּשָׁ֖ן אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּעַשְׁתָּרֽוֹת׃
English:
and of all that [your God] did to the two Amorite kings on the other side of the Jordan, King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan who lived in Ashtaroth.
פסוק י״א · Verse 11
Hebrew:
וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ אֵלֵ֡ינוּ זְֽקֵינֵ֩ינוּ֩ וְכׇל־יֹשְׁבֵ֨י אַרְצֵ֜נוּ לֵאמֹ֗ר קְח֨וּ בְיֶדְכֶ֤ם צֵידָה֙ לַדֶּ֔רֶךְ וּלְכ֖וּ לִקְרָאתָ֑ם וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֤ם אֲלֵיהֶם֙ עַבְדֵיכֶ֣ם אֲנַ֔חְנוּ וְעַתָּ֖ה כִּרְתוּ־לָ֥נוּ בְרִֽית׃
English:
So our elders and all the inhabitants of our country instructed us as follows, ‘Take along provisions for a trip, and go to them and say: We will be your subjects; come make a pact with us.’
פסוק י״ב · Verse 12
Hebrew:
זֶ֣ה ׀ לַחְמֵ֗נוּ חָ֞ם הִצְטַיַּ֤דְנוּ אֹתוֹ֙ מִבָּ֣תֵּ֔ינוּ בְּי֥וֹם צֵאתֵ֖נוּ לָלֶ֣כֶת אֲלֵיכֶ֑ם וְעַתָּה֙ הִנֵּ֣ה יָבֵ֔שׁ וְהָיָ֖ה נִקֻּדִֽים׃
English:
This bread of ours, which we took from our houses as provision, was still hot when we set out to come to you; and see how dry and crumbly it has become.
פסוק י״ג · Verse 13
Hebrew:
וְאֵ֨לֶּה נֹאד֤וֹת הַיַּ֙יִן֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר מִלֵּ֣אנוּ חֲדָשִׁ֔ים וְהִנֵּ֖ה הִתְבַּקָּ֑עוּ וְאֵ֤לֶּה שַׂלְמוֹתֵ֙ינוּ֙ וּנְעָלֵ֔ינוּ בָּל֕וּ מֵרֹ֥ב הַדֶּ֖רֶךְ מְאֹֽד׃
English:
These wineskins were new when we filled them, and see how they have cracked. These clothes and sandals of ours are worn out from the very long journey.”
פסוק י״ד · Verse 14
Hebrew:
וַיִּקְח֥וּ הָאֲנָשִׁ֖ים מִצֵּידָ֑ם וְאֶת־פִּ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה לֹ֥א שָׁאָֽלוּ׃
English:
Those involved took [their word for it] because ofetook [their word for it] because of Meaning of Heb. uncertain. their provisions, and did not inquire of GOD.
פסוק ט״ו · Verse 15
Hebrew:
וַיַּ֨עַשׂ לָהֶ֤ם יְהוֹשֻׁ֙עַ֙ שָׁל֔וֹם וַיִּכְרֹ֥ת לָהֶ֛ם בְּרִ֖ית לְחַיּוֹתָ֑ם וַיִּשָּׁבְע֣וּ לָהֶ֔ם נְשִׂיאֵ֖י הָעֵדָֽה׃
English:
Joshua established friendship with them; he made a pact with them to spare their lives, and the chieftains of the community gave them their oath.
פסוק ט״ז · Verse 16
Hebrew:
וַיְהִ֗י מִקְצֵה֙ שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת יָמִ֔ים אַחֲרֵ֕י אֲשֶׁר־כָּרְת֥וּ לָהֶ֖ם בְּרִ֑ית וַֽיִּשְׁמְע֗וּ כִּֽי־קְרֹבִ֥ים הֵם֙ אֵלָ֔יו וּבְקִרְבּ֖וֹ הֵ֥ם יֹשְׁבִֽים׃
English:
But when three days had passed after they made this pact with them, they learned that they were neighbors, living among them.
פסוק י״ז · Verse 17
Hebrew:
וַיִּסְע֣וּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וַיָּבֹ֛אוּ אֶל־עָרֵיהֶ֖ם בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֑י וְעָֽרֵיהֶם֙ גִּבְע֣וֹן וְהַכְּפִירָ֔ה וּבְאֵר֖וֹת וְקִרְיַ֥ת יְעָרִֽים׃
English:
So the Israelites set out, and on the third day they came to their towns; these towns were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim.
פסוק י״ח · Verse 18
Hebrew:
וְלֹ֤א הִכּוּם֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כִּֽי־נִשְׁבְּע֤וּ לָהֶם֙ נְשִׂיאֵ֣י הָעֵדָ֔ה בַּֽיהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיִּלֹּ֥נוּ כׇל־הָעֵדָ֖ה עַל־הַנְּשִׂיאִֽים׃
English:
But the Israelites did not attack them, since the chieftains of the community had sworn to them by the ETERNAL, the God of Israel. The whole community muttered against the chieftains,
פסוק י״ט · Verse 19
Hebrew:
וַיֹּאמְר֤וּ כׇל־הַנְּשִׂיאִים֙ אֶל־כׇּל־הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה אֲנַ֙חְנוּ֙ נִשְׁבַּ֣עְנוּ לָהֶ֔ם בַּיהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְעַתּ��֕ה לֹ֥א נוּכַ֖ל לִנְגֹּ֥עַ בָּהֶֽם׃
English:
but all the chieftains answered the whole community, “We swore to them by the ETERNAL, the God of Israel; therefore we cannot touch them.
פסוק כ׳ · Verse 20
Hebrew:
זֹ֛את נַעֲשֶׂ֥ה לָהֶ֖ם וְהַחֲיֵ֣ה אוֹתָ֑ם וְלֹֽא־יִֽהְיֶ֤ה עָלֵ֙ינוּ֙ קֶ֔צֶף עַל־הַשְּׁבוּעָ֖ה אֲשֶׁר־נִשְׁבַּ֥עְנוּ לָהֶֽם׃
English:
This is what we will do to them: We will spare their lives, so that there may be no wrath against us because of the oath that we swore to them.”
פסוק כ״א · Verse 21
Hebrew:
וַיֹּאמְר֧וּ אֲלֵיהֶ֛ם הַנְּשִׂיאִ֖ים יִֽחְי֑וּ וַ֠יִּֽהְי֠וּ חֹטְבֵ֨י עֵצִ֤ים וְשֹׁאֲבֵי־מַ֙יִם֙ לְכׇל־הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר דִּבְּר֥וּ לָהֶ֖ם הַנְּשִׂיאִֽים׃
English:
And the chieftains declared concerning them, “They shall live!” And they became hewers of wood and drawers of water for the whole community, as the chieftains had decreed concerning them.
פסוק כ״ב · Verse 22
Hebrew:
וַיִּקְרָ֤א לָהֶם֙ יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר לָ֩מָּה֩ רִמִּיתֶ֨ם אֹתָ֜נוּ לֵאמֹ֗ר רְחוֹקִ֨ים אֲנַ֤חְנוּ מִכֶּם֙ מְאֹ֔ד וְאַתֶּ֖ם בְּקִרְבֵּ֥נוּ יֹשְׁבִֽים׃
English:
Joshua summoned them and spoke to them thus: “Why did you deceive us and tell us you lived very far from us, when in fact you live among us?
פסוק כ״ג · Verse 23
Hebrew:
וְעַתָּ֖ה אֲרוּרִ֣ים אַתֶּ֑ם וְלֹא־יִכָּרֵ֨ת מִכֶּ֜ם עֶ֗בֶד וְחֹטְבֵ֥י עֵצִ֛ים וְשֹׁ֥אֲבֵי מַ֖יִם לְבֵ֥ית אֱלֹהָֽי׃
English:
Therefore, be accursed! Never shall your descendants cease to be slaves: hewers of wood and drawers of water for the House of my God.”
פסוק כ״ד · Verse 24
Hebrew:
וַיַּעֲנ֨וּ אֶת־יְהוֹשֻׁ֜עַ וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ כִּי֩ הֻגֵּ֨ד הֻגַּ֤ד לַעֲבָדֶ֙יךָ֙ אֵת֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר צִוָּ֜ה יְהֹ��ָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ אֶת־מֹשֶׁ֣ה עַבְדּ֔וֹ לָתֵ֤ת לָכֶם֙ אֶת־כׇּל־הָאָ֔רֶץ וּלְהַשְׁמִ֛יד אֶת־כׇּל־יֹשְׁבֵ֥י הָאָ֖רֶץ מִפְּנֵיכֶ֑ם וַנִּירָ֨א מְאֹ֤ד לְנַפְשֹׁתֵ֙ינוּ֙ מִפְּנֵיכֶ֔ם וַֽנַּעֲשֵׂ֖ה אֶת־הַדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּֽה׃
English:
But they replied to Joshua, “You see, your servants had heard that the ETERNAL your God had promised Moses—[God’s] servant—to give you the whole land and to wipe out all the inhabitants of the country on your account; so we were in great fear for our lives on your account. That is why we did this thing.
פסוק כ״ה · Verse 25
Hebrew:
וְעַתָּ֖ה הִנְנ֣וּ בְיָדֶ֑ךָ כַּטּ֨וֹב וְכַיָּשָׁ֧ר בְּעֵינֶ֛יךָ לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת לָ֖נוּ עֲשֵֽׂה׃
English:
And now we are at your mercy; do with us what you consider right and proper.”
פסוק כ״ו · Verse 26
Hebrew:
וַיַּ֥עַשׂ לָהֶ֖ם כֵּ֑ן וַיַּצֵּ֥ל אוֹתָ֛ם מִיַּ֥ד בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וְלֹ֥א הֲרָגֽוּם׃
English:
And he did so; he saved them from being killed by the Israelites.
פסוק כ״ז · Verse 27
Hebrew:
וַיִּתְּנֵ֨ם יְהוֹשֻׁ֜עַ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא חֹטְבֵ֥י עֵצִ֛ים וְשֹׁ֥אֲבֵי מַ֖יִם לָֽעֵדָ֑ה וּלְמִזְבַּ֤ח יְהֹוָה֙ עַד־הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה אֶל־הַמָּק֖וֹם אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִבְחָֽר׃ {פ}
English:
That day Joshua made them hewers of wood and drawers of water—as they still are—for the community and for GOD’s altar, in the place that [God] would choose.