SEV Biblia, Chapter 9:14
Y los hombres de Israel tomaron de su provisión del camino, y no preguntaron a la boca del SEÑOR.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Joshua 9:14
Verse 14. The men took of their victuals] This was done in all probability in the way of friendship; for, from time immemorial to the present day, eating together, in the Asiatic countries, is considered a token of unalterable friendship; and those who eat even salt together, feel themselves bound thereby in a perpetual covenant. But the marginal reading of this clause should not be hastily rejected. And asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord.] They made the covenant with the Gibeonites without consulting God by Urim and Thummim, which was highly reprehensible in them, as it was a state transaction in which the interests and honour of God their king were intimately concerned.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 14. And the men took of their victuals , etc.] That is, the princes of Israel took thereof; not to eat of them, for it cannot be thought that such personages would eat of such dry and mouldy bread, and especially as they were now in a plentiful country, and possessed of the fruits of it; but to see whether it was in such a plight and condition as they said, whereby they might judge of the truth of what they said; and they learned and knew, as R. Jonah observes, from the dryness of their food, that it was truth they said; and so the Targum, the men hearkened to their words; and so Jarchi, they believed what they said on sight of their provisions; but, according to Kimchi and Ben Melech, they ate with them, to confirm the covenant they made with them; but had this been the case, as it sometimes was a custom to eat together at making covenants, (see Genesis 26:30); the princes would doubtless have provided a better entertainment for such a purpose: the “margin” of our Bibles leads to the other sense, “they received the men by reason of their victuals:” and asked not [counsel] at the mouth of the Lord ; as they might and should have done, by desiring the high priest to inquire of the Lord by Urim and Thummim; but this they neglected, which, had they attended to, the fraud would have been discovered; or however, they would have had the mind of God about making peace with the Gibeonites, which in all likelihood he would not have disapproved of, they becoming proselytes, and giving up their possessions to Israel; but this did not excuse their neglect.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 14-21 - The Israelites, having examined the provisions of the Gibeonites hastily concluded that they confirmed their account. We make more hast than good speed, when we stay not to take God with us, and do no consult him by the word and prayer. The fraud was soon found out. lying tongue is but for a moment. Had the oath been in itself unlawful it would not have been binding; for no obligation can render it ou duty to commit a sin. But it was not unlawful to spare the Canaanite who submitted, and left idolatry, desiring only that their lives migh be spared. A citizen of Zion swears to his own hurt, and changes not Ps 15:4. Joshua and the princes, when they found that they had bee deceived, did not apply to Eleazar the high priest to be freed from their engagement, much less did they pretend that no faith is to be kept with those to whom they had sworn. Let this convince us how we ought to keep our promises, and make good our bargains; and what conscience we ought to make of our words.
Original Hebrew
ויקחו 3947 האנשׁים 582 מצידם 6718 ואת 853 פי 6310 יהוה 3068 לא 3808 שׁאלו׃ 7592
