They cunningly sought protection through deception while acknowledging the might of Israel’s God.
“They said to him, ‘Your servants have come from a very far country because of the fame of the LORD your God; for we have heard the report of Him and all that He did in Egypt’” (v.9). The speakers here are the Gibeonites, who lived in the region of Canaan during the time of Joshua, around 1400 BC. Their words reveal their strategy to deceive the Israelites into making a treaty with them. By claiming distance, they seek to hide the fact that they actually reside nearby. The mention of “the LORD your God” draws upon Israel’s reputation for having a mighty, protecting God—which had already spread far beyond Egypt in antiquity. The reference to Egypt points geographically toward a major center of ancient civilization in northeast Africa, known for its powerful kingdom and its pivotal role in Israel’s formative history (Exodus 1-14).
The Gibeonites’ statement also alludes to past mighty acts of God: “for we have heard the report of Him and all that He did in Egypt” (v.9). This recollection of the Exodus events points back to how the LORD miraculously freed the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. Historically, about forty years prior to this moment, God demonstrated His power by sending plagues on Pharaoh’s kingdom, parting the Red Sea, and guiding the Israelites through the wilderness (Exodus 7-14). Their reputation, fueled by such miracles, has now led the Gibeonites to approach the Israelites under false pretenses, hoping to preserve themselves from the same fate as the other nations that encountered God’s people. In this way, the biblical narrative reminds us of how God’s power and faithfulness draw those who fear Him—some in sincerity, others in manipulation.
This verse exemplifies how knowledge of God can inspire both reverence and scheming. The Gibeonites’ strategy to disguise themselves as travelers from “a very far country” underscores how fear can move people to cunning, rather than honest submission to the LORD. In the larger biblical story, God ultimately redeems such complexities by demonstrating mercy to those who humble themselves. Looking forward, this resonates with the New Testament theme that Jesus Himself draws individuals from all nations, inviting them into God’s covenant (Matthew 28:19-20). What initially appears deceitful can later become part of the grand story of redemption if responded to with genuine trust in the LORD.
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Joshua 9:9 meaning
“They said to him, ‘Your servants have come from a very far country because of the fame of the LORD your God; for we have heard the report of Him and all that He did in Egypt’” (v.9). The speakers here are the Gibeonites, who lived in the region of Canaan during the time of Joshua, around 1400 BC. Their words reveal their strategy to deceive the Israelites into making a treaty with them. By claiming distance, they seek to hide the fact that they actually reside nearby. The mention of “the LORD your God” draws upon Israel’s reputation for having a mighty, protecting God—which had already spread far beyond Egypt in antiquity. The reference to Egypt points geographically toward a major center of ancient civilization in northeast Africa, known for its powerful kingdom and its pivotal role in Israel’s formative history (Exodus 1-14).
The Gibeonites’ statement also alludes to past mighty acts of God: “for we have heard the report of Him and all that He did in Egypt” (v.9). This recollection of the Exodus events points back to how the LORD miraculously freed the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. Historically, about forty years prior to this moment, God demonstrated His power by sending plagues on Pharaoh’s kingdom, parting the Red Sea, and guiding the Israelites through the wilderness (Exodus 7-14). Their reputation, fueled by such miracles, has now led the Gibeonites to approach the Israelites under false pretenses, hoping to preserve themselves from the same fate as the other nations that encountered God’s people. In this way, the biblical narrative reminds us of how God’s power and faithfulness draw those who fear Him—some in sincerity, others in manipulation.
This verse exemplifies how knowledge of God can inspire both reverence and scheming. The Gibeonites’ strategy to disguise themselves as travelers from “a very far country” underscores how fear can move people to cunning, rather than honest submission to the LORD. In the larger biblical story, God ultimately redeems such complexities by demonstrating mercy to those who humble themselves. Looking forward, this resonates with the New Testament theme that Jesus Himself draws individuals from all nations, inviting them into God’s covenant (Matthew 28:19-20). What initially appears deceitful can later become part of the grand story of redemption if responded to with genuine trust in the LORD.