SEV Biblia, Chapter 9:6
Así vinieron a Josué al campamento en Gilgal, y le dijeron a él y a los de Israel: Nosotros venimos de tierra muy lejana; haced pues ahora con nosotros alianza.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Joshua 9:6
Verse 6. Make ye a league with us.] tyrb wnl xtrk kirethu lanu berith, cut, or divide, the covenant sacrifice with us. From this it appears that heathenism at this time had its sacrifices, and covenants were ratified by sacrificing to and invoking the objects of their adoration.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 6. And they went to Joshua, unto the camp at Gilgal , etc.] From whence it appears, that after Jericho and Ai were destroyed, the army of Israel returned to their encampment at Gilgal, ( Joshua 5:10); and here they were when the Gibeonites applied to them: and said unto him, and to the men of Israel ; not to the whole body of the people, but either to the seventy elders, the great council, who were with Joshua, or the princes of the congregation, after mentioned, who are said to swear to them; and so some render the words, “to the chief men of Israel” f145 ; the word “Ish” here used sometimes denotes an eminent person or persons, (see Isaiah 2:9); we be come from a far country ; this lie they told, that they might not be thought to be inhabitants of Canaan, and be destroyed as those of Jericho and Ai were; and as the rest of the inhabitants would be, of which they had intelligence, as the design of the Israelites, and what their orders were; according to Jerom f146 , Gibeon was but four miles from Bethel, unless he means Gibeah; however, it could not be at a much greater distance; and as Gilgal was a mile and a quarter from Jericho, where the Gibeonites now were, and Ai but three miles from Jericho, and Bethel a mile from thence, and Gibeon four miles from Bethel, they were come but little more than nine miles. Bunting makes it twelve miles from Gilgal to Gibeon: now therefore make yea league with us ; offensive and defensive, to help and assist each other against a common enemy.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 3-13 - Other people heard these tidings, and were driven thereby to make wa upon Israel; but the Gibeonites were led to make peace with them. Thu the discovery of the glory and the grace of God in the gospel, is to some a savour of life unto life, but to others a savour of death unt death, 2Co 2:16. The same sun softens wax and hardens clay. The falsehood of the Gibeonites cannot be justified. We must not do evi that good may themselves to the God of Israel, we have reason to thin Joshua would have been directed by the oracle of God to spare their lives. But when they had once said, "We are come from a far country, they were led to say it made of skins, and their clothes: one li brings on another, and that a third, and so on. The way of that sin is especially down-hill. Yet their faith and prudence are to be commended In submitting to Israel they submitted to the God of Israel, whic implied forsaking their idolatries. And how can we do better than cas ourselves upon the mercy of a God of all goodness? The way to avoi judgment is to meet it by repentance. Let us do like these Gibeonites seek peace with God in the rags of abasement, and godly sorrow; so ou sin shall not be our ruin. Let us be servants to Jesus, our blesse Joshua, and we shall live.
Original Hebrew
וילכו 1980 אל 413 יהושׁע 3091 אל 413 המחנה 4264 הגלגל 1537 ויאמרו 559 אליו 413 ואל 413 אישׁ 376 ישׂראל 3478 מארץ 776 רחוקה 7350 באנו 935 ועתה 6258 כרתו 3772 לנו ברית׃ 1285
