They pose as foreigners to trick Joshua’s forces into a peace treaty, and they receive a lasting sentence to be woodcutters and water carriers for Israel.
“Now therefore, you are cursed, and you shall never cease being slaves, both hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.” (v.23)
In this verse, Joshua pronounces judgment on the Gibeonites—who had deceitfully secured a treaty with Israel—to become perpetual servants in Israel, saying, “Now therefore, you are cursed, and you shall never cease being slaves, both hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.” (v.23). Joshua, the successor of Moses and leader of Israel in the mid-to-late 14th century BC, had conquered various parts of Canaan under God’s allowance. Finding the Gibeonites had tricked him, he still chose to keep his oath of peace with them, but placed them under servitude to the nation. These tasks, cutting wood and drawing water, were essential for the sacrifices and services conducted at the tabernacle or temple—functions necessary for worship.
The Gibeonites lived in the region of Gibeon, just north of Jerusalem in the land of Canaan. After realizing they had deceived Israel, Joshua maintained the treaty they had forced him into but consigned them to these roles indefinitely as a result of their deceit. In the broader context of Scripture, this event exemplifies both Israel’s requirement to honor covenants (even deceitfully obtained ones) and God’s sovereignty in using that covenant to incorporate outsiders into His service. Centuries later, King Saul broke Israel’s oath to the Gibeonites, and a famine followed, showing divine displeasure over oath-breaking (2 Samuel 21:1). This reminds us that keeping one’s word before God carries significant consequences, and the Gibeonites’ role under Joshua’s curse became an enduring witness to covenant faithfulness.
The spiritual lesson that emerges from Joshua’s action is that God honors even imperfect agreements when His people vow in His name (Numbers 30:2; Matthew 5:37). The Gibeonites remained in service, and Israel had to make room for them, recognizing that God’s protective hand—though allowing their punishment—also sheltered them in the midst of His people. It prefigures how often God draws unexpected groups into His redemptive plan, culminating in Christ’s sacrifice that broke all curses and gave hope for full restoration (Colossians 2:14; Galatians 3:13).
They were judged to become perpetual servants in Israel, exemplifying how God calls His people to keep their word while reminding us of His larger purpose to bring outsiders near through covenant fidelity.
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Joshua 9:23 meaning
“Now therefore, you are cursed, and you shall never cease being slaves, both hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.” (v.23)
In this verse, Joshua pronounces judgment on the Gibeonites—who had deceitfully secured a treaty with Israel—to become perpetual servants in Israel, saying, “Now therefore, you are cursed, and you shall never cease being slaves, both hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.” (v.23). Joshua, the successor of Moses and leader of Israel in the mid-to-late 14th century BC, had conquered various parts of Canaan under God’s allowance. Finding the Gibeonites had tricked him, he still chose to keep his oath of peace with them, but placed them under servitude to the nation. These tasks, cutting wood and drawing water, were essential for the sacrifices and services conducted at the tabernacle or temple—functions necessary for worship.
The Gibeonites lived in the region of Gibeon, just north of Jerusalem in the land of Canaan. After realizing they had deceived Israel, Joshua maintained the treaty they had forced him into but consigned them to these roles indefinitely as a result of their deceit. In the broader context of Scripture, this event exemplifies both Israel’s requirement to honor covenants (even deceitfully obtained ones) and God’s sovereignty in using that covenant to incorporate outsiders into His service. Centuries later, King Saul broke Israel’s oath to the Gibeonites, and a famine followed, showing divine displeasure over oath-breaking (2 Samuel 21:1). This reminds us that keeping one’s word before God carries significant consequences, and the Gibeonites’ role under Joshua’s curse became an enduring witness to covenant faithfulness.
The spiritual lesson that emerges from Joshua’s action is that God honors even imperfect agreements when His people vow in His name (Numbers 30:2; Matthew 5:37). The Gibeonites remained in service, and Israel had to make room for them, recognizing that God’s protective hand—though allowing their punishment—also sheltered them in the midst of His people. It prefigures how often God draws unexpected groups into His redemptive plan, culminating in Christ’s sacrifice that broke all curses and gave hope for full restoration (Colossians 2:14; Galatians 3:13).
They were judged to become perpetual servants in Israel, exemplifying how God calls His people to keep their word while reminding us of His larger purpose to bring outsiders near through covenant fidelity.