Even a moment’s neglect of God’s guidance can lead to lifelong consequences.
So the men of Israel took some of their provisions, and did not ask for the counsel of the LORD. (v.14) This verse occurs after the people of Gibeon—who were actually Hivites living in a nearby region—deceived Joshua and the Israelite leaders into believing they had traveled from a far country. By wearing worn-out garments and carrying moldy bread, they appeared pitiful and seemingly in need of protection. Though Israel’s leader, Joshua, lived during the late fifteenth century to early fourteenth century BC, this event is estimated to have taken place shortly after the conquest victories in Jericho and Ai, as the Israelites were moving to take possession of the land of Canaan. The Hivites (the inhabitants of Gibeon) resided in what would eventually be part of Benjamin’s territory, just north of Jerusalem.
Because the men of Israel took some of their provisions, they were fully convinced by the Gibeonites’ appearance. The critical misstep was that they did not ask for the counsel of the LORD. Instead of seeking the Lord’s wisdom—an act New Testament believers are urged to do (James 1:5)—Israel’s leaders proceeded on human assumption. This oversight set off a longstanding covenant between Israel and the Gibeonites, which God expected them to keep. Indeed, even centuries later, King Saul’s violation of this covenant provoked divine judgment (2 Samuel 21:1-2).
When we depend on our own impressions rather than consulting the Lord, we risk stepping outside His will. God’s people discovered that even when uninformed promises are made, they are still binding before God. By not seeking Him first, something that seemed trivial brought lasting implications, requiring Israel to honor an uneasy alliance for generations to come.
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Joshua 9:14 meaning
So the men of Israel took some of their provisions, and did not ask for the counsel of the LORD. (v.14) This verse occurs after the people of Gibeon—who were actually Hivites living in a nearby region—deceived Joshua and the Israelite leaders into believing they had traveled from a far country. By wearing worn-out garments and carrying moldy bread, they appeared pitiful and seemingly in need of protection. Though Israel’s leader, Joshua, lived during the late fifteenth century to early fourteenth century BC, this event is estimated to have taken place shortly after the conquest victories in Jericho and Ai, as the Israelites were moving to take possession of the land of Canaan. The Hivites (the inhabitants of Gibeon) resided in what would eventually be part of Benjamin’s territory, just north of Jerusalem.
Because the men of Israel took some of their provisions, they were fully convinced by the Gibeonites’ appearance. The critical misstep was that they did not ask for the counsel of the LORD. Instead of seeking the Lord’s wisdom—an act New Testament believers are urged to do (James 1:5)—Israel’s leaders proceeded on human assumption. This oversight set off a longstanding covenant between Israel and the Gibeonites, which God expected them to keep. Indeed, even centuries later, King Saul’s violation of this covenant provoked divine judgment (2 Samuel 21:1-2).
When we depend on our own impressions rather than consulting the Lord, we risk stepping outside His will. God’s people discovered that even when uninformed promises are made, they are still binding before God. By not seeking Him first, something that seemed trivial brought lasting implications, requiring Israel to honor an uneasy alliance for generations to come.