This verse reminds us that faithfulness in keeping our word reflects God’s own steadfast nature.
In the midst of Israel’s dilemma with the deceptive scheme of the Gibeonites, Scripture states, “This we will do to them, even let them live, so that wrath will not be upon us for the oath which we swore to them.” (v. 20). The leaders of Israel had discovered that the people of Gibeon—who were Hivites (Joshua 9:7) living in the central region of Canaan—had tricked them into a treaty by pretending to be travelers from a far land. Even so, the Israelites had sworn an oath in the name of the LORD to spare them, and this verse reveals their resolution to “let them live” in order to honor their promise and avoid divine wrath. Historically, Gibeon was located not far from Jerusalem, and around 1406 B.C., Joshua, who succeeded Moses after the Exodus, led Israel into Canaan. The Hivites who inhabited Gibeon (Joshua 9:7) were thus brought under Israel’s protection by virtue of the oath Israel made in God’s name, highlighting a sobering lesson on the gravity of vows made before the LORD.
By declaring, “so that wrath will not be upon us for the oath which we swore to them” (v. 20), the Israelite leaders show their awareness that breaking a covenant sworn in God’s name would provoke divine displeasure. In Scripture, oaths are binding and represent a commitment to integrity and uprightness (Numbers 30:2). This passage underscores that following God’s ways sometimes requires trusting His sovereignty in imperfect situations—here, Israel maintains a treaty born of deception rather than risk offending the LORD by violating their promise. The Gibeonites were thus preserved, illustrating how God can use even flawed circumstances to fulfill His larger redemptive plan. Ultimately, the faithfulness Israel displayed in honoring its oath foreshadows how Jesus perfectly fulfills all commitments on our behalf, demonstrating divine faithfulness more excellent than any human vow (2 Timothy 2:13).
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Joshua 9:20 meaning
In the midst of Israel’s dilemma with the deceptive scheme of the Gibeonites, Scripture states, “This we will do to them, even let them live, so that wrath will not be upon us for the oath which we swore to them.” (v. 20). The leaders of Israel had discovered that the people of Gibeon—who were Hivites (Joshua 9:7) living in the central region of Canaan—had tricked them into a treaty by pretending to be travelers from a far land. Even so, the Israelites had sworn an oath in the name of the LORD to spare them, and this verse reveals their resolution to “let them live” in order to honor their promise and avoid divine wrath. Historically, Gibeon was located not far from Jerusalem, and around 1406 B.C., Joshua, who succeeded Moses after the Exodus, led Israel into Canaan. The Hivites who inhabited Gibeon (Joshua 9:7) were thus brought under Israel’s protection by virtue of the oath Israel made in God’s name, highlighting a sobering lesson on the gravity of vows made before the LORD.
By declaring, “so that wrath will not be upon us for the oath which we swore to them” (v. 20), the Israelite leaders show their awareness that breaking a covenant sworn in God’s name would provoke divine displeasure. In Scripture, oaths are binding and represent a commitment to integrity and uprightness (Numbers 30:2). This passage underscores that following God’s ways sometimes requires trusting His sovereignty in imperfect situations—here, Israel maintains a treaty born of deception rather than risk offending the LORD by violating their promise. The Gibeonites were thus preserved, illustrating how God can use even flawed circumstances to fulfill His larger redemptive plan. Ultimately, the faithfulness Israel displayed in honoring its oath foreshadows how Jesus perfectly fulfills all commitments on our behalf, demonstrating divine faithfulness more excellent than any human vow (2 Timothy 2:13).