SEV Biblia, Chapter 9:15
¶ Y Josué hizo paz con ellos, y trató con ellos alianza que les dejaría la vida; también los príncipes de la congregación les juraron.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Joshua 9:15
Verse 15. Joshua made peace with them] Joshua agreed to receive them into a friendly connection with the Israelites, and to respect their lives and properties; and the elders of Israel bound themselves to the observance of it, and confirmed it with an oath. As the same words are used here as in ver. 6, we may suppose that the covenant was made in the ordinary way, a sacrifice being offered on the occasion, and its blood poured out before the Lord. See on Gen. xv. 10, &c.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 15. And Joshua made peace with them , etc.] Upon the report the princes made of having examined what they had said, and which they found to be true, particularly concerning their victuals: and made a league with them, to let them live ; and not destroy them as he did the Canaanites, and was ordered to do; they being supposed not to belong to them by the representation of things they had made: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them ; that they would keep the league and covenant they had made with them inviolable; they ratified it by an oath, which was a sacred solemn thing.
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
ויעשׂ 6213 להם יהושׁע 3091 שׁלום 7965 ויכרת 3772 להם ברית 1285 לחיותם 2421 וישׁבעו 7650 להם נשׂיאי 5387 העדה׃ 5712
