Focused Passage

Joshua 9:3-6

The Gibeonite Deception and Israel’s Covenant Oath

The surrounding kings prepare for war, the Gibeonites deceive Israel into making a covenant, Israel fails to inquire of the LORD, and Joshua preserves the oath while assigning Gibeon to servant labor for the LORD’s house.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

3But the people of Gibeon, having heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,

4acted deceptively and set out as envoys, carrying on their donkeys worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended.

5They put worn, patched sandals on their feet and threadbare clothing on their bodies, and their whole supply of bread was dry and moldy.

6They went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant land; please make a treaty with us.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 3

Original words

But the peopleוְיֹשְׁבֵ֨יH3427Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural constructof Gibeonגִבְע֜וֹןH1391Noun - proper - feminine singularhaving heardשָׁמְע֗וּH8085Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural-אֵת֩H853Direct object markerwhatאֲשֶׁ֨רH834Pronoun - relativeJoshuaיְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַH3091Noun - proper - masculine singularhad doneעָשָׂ֧הH6213Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularto Jerichoלִֽירִיח֖וֹH3405Preposition-l | Noun - proper - feminine singularand Aiוְלָעָֽי׃H5857Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 4

Original words

acted deceptivelyוַיַּעֲשׂ֤וּH6213Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural. . .גַם־H1571Conjunction. . .הֵ֙מָּה֙H1992Pronoun - third person masculine plural. . .בְּעָרְמָ֔הH6195Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singularand set outוַיֵּלְכ֖וּH1980Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralas envoysוַיִּצְטַיָּ֑רוּH6737Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralcarryingוַיִּקְח֞וּH3947Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralon their donkeysלַחֲמ֣וֹרֵיהֶ֔םH2543Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluralworn-outבָּלִים֙H1087Adjective - masculine pluralsacksשַׂקִּ֤יםH8242Noun - masculine pluraland oldבָּלִ֔יםH1087Adjective - masculine pluralwineskinsוְנֹאד֥וֹתH4997Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct. . .יַ֙יִן֙H3196Noun - masculine singularcrackedוּמְבֻקָּעִ֖יםH1234Conjunctive waw | Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine pluraland mendedוּמְצֹרָרִֽים׃H6887Conjunctive waw | Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine plural

BSB notes

  • Or set out with provisions
Verse 5

Original words

They put wornבָּל֤וֹתH1087Adjective - feminine pluralpatchedוּמְטֻלָּאוֹת֙H2921Conjunctive waw | Verb - Pual - Participle - feminine pluralsandalsוּנְעָל֨וֹתH5275Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine pluralon their feetבְּרַגְלֵיהֶ֔םH7272Preposition-b | Noun - feminine dual construct | third person masculine pluraland threadbareבָּל֖וֹתH1087Adjective - feminine pluralclothingוּשְׂלָמ֥וֹתH8008Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine pluralon [their bodies]עֲלֵיהֶ֑םH5921Preposition | third person masculine pluraland their wholeוְכֹל֙H3605Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructsupplyצֵידָ֔םH6718Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine pluralof breadלֶ֣חֶםH3899Noun - masculine singular constructwas dryיָבֵ֖שׁH3001Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular. . .הָיָ֥הH1961Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular[and] moldyנִקֻּדִֽים׃H5350Noun - masculine plural
Verse 6

Original words

They wentוַיֵּלְכ֧וּH1980Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluraltoאֶל־H413PrepositionJoshuaיְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַH3091Noun - proper - masculine singularinאֶל־H413Prepositionthe campהַֽמַּחֲנֶ֖הH4264Article | Noun - common singularat Gilgalהַגִּלְגָּ֑לH1537Article | Noun - proper - feminine singularand saidוַיֹּאמְר֨וּH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralto himאֵלָ֜יוH413Preposition | third person masculine singularandוְאֶל־H413Conjunctive waw | Prepositionthe menאִ֣ישׁH376Noun - masculine singular constructof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֗לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singularWe have comeבָּ֔אנוּH935Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural. . .וְעַתָּ֖הH6258Conjunctive waw | Adverbfrom a distantרְחוֹקָה֙H7350Adjective - feminine singularlandמֵאֶ֤רֶץH776Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singularplease makeכִּרְתוּ־H3772Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plurala treatyבְרִֽית׃H1285Noun - feminine singularwith usלָ֥נוּPreposition | first person common plural

BSB notes

  • Forms of the Hebrew berit are translated in most passages as covenant; also in verses 7, 11, 15, and 16.

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.