In this passage, we learn that “They went to Joshua to the camp at Gilgal and said to him and to the men of Israel, ‘We have come from a far country; now therefore, make a covenant with us.’” (v.6). Gilgal was an encampment located near the Jordan River, just northeast of the historically significant city of Jericho. It became the base of operations for the Israelites during the conquest of Canaan, which scholars often place around the late 15th century BC. Joshua, who led the Israelites at this time, was the successor of Moses, guiding the nation to occupy the Promised Land after the Exodus from Egypt (which is frequently dated around 1446 BC). This location symbolized a transition for God’s people into the new land, and it served as a setting for key decisions and interactions—like the one described here—between the Israelites and the inhabitants of Canaan.
When it says, “We have come from a far country; now therefore, make a covenant with us,” the verse shows how the Gibeonites approached Joshua and the rest of Israel with a plea for a treaty (v.6). These Gibeonites, whose city was located a few miles northwest of Jerusalem, used this claim of being from “a far country” to convince Israel that they were not local adversaries. By invoking the idea of distance, the Gibeonites were seeking to secure their safety. Historically, this moment underscores how foreign groups navigated and negotiated with the conquering Israelites, and it demonstrates Joshua’s leadership within God’s unfolding plan of establishing the nation in Canaan.
This event also highlights the broader biblical theme of discernment and dependence on God’s guidance rather than trusting in appearances. The fact that Israel was asked to enter a covenant through apparently sincere but deceptive means is a reminder of the need for spiritual wisdom, something that resonates throughout the Scriptures and finds its ultimate expression in the New Testament’s encouragement to seek divine truth and leadership through Jesus Christ (see John 14:6 only).
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Joshua 9:6 meaning
In this passage, we learn that “They went to Joshua to the camp at Gilgal and said to him and to the men of Israel, ‘We have come from a far country; now therefore, make a covenant with us.’” (v.6). Gilgal was an encampment located near the Jordan River, just northeast of the historically significant city of Jericho. It became the base of operations for the Israelites during the conquest of Canaan, which scholars often place around the late 15th century BC. Joshua, who led the Israelites at this time, was the successor of Moses, guiding the nation to occupy the Promised Land after the Exodus from Egypt (which is frequently dated around 1446 BC). This location symbolized a transition for God’s people into the new land, and it served as a setting for key decisions and interactions—like the one described here—between the Israelites and the inhabitants of Canaan.
When it says, “We have come from a far country; now therefore, make a covenant with us,” the verse shows how the Gibeonites approached Joshua and the rest of Israel with a plea for a treaty (v.6). These Gibeonites, whose city was located a few miles northwest of Jerusalem, used this claim of being from “a far country” to convince Israel that they were not local adversaries. By invoking the idea of distance, the Gibeonites were seeking to secure their safety. Historically, this moment underscores how foreign groups navigated and negotiated with the conquering Israelites, and it demonstrates Joshua’s leadership within God’s unfolding plan of establishing the nation in Canaan.
This event also highlights the broader biblical theme of discernment and dependence on God’s guidance rather than trusting in appearances. The fact that Israel was asked to enter a covenant through apparently sincere but deceptive means is a reminder of the need for spiritual wisdom, something that resonates throughout the Scriptures and finds its ultimate expression in the New Testament’s encouragement to seek divine truth and leadership through Jesus Christ (see John 14:6 only).