Joshua:9

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* Verse 1 ,2 - Hitherto the Canaanites had defended themselves , but here they consult to attack Israel . Their minds were blinded , and their hearts hardened to their destruction . Though often at enmity with each other , yet they united against Israel . Oh that Israel would learn of Canaanites , to sacrifice private interests to the public welfare , and to lay aside all quarrels among themselves , that they may unite against the enemies of God 's kingdom ! * Verse 3-13 - Other people heard these tidings , and were driven thereby to make war upon Israel ; but the Gibeonites were led to make peace with them . Thus the discovery of the glory and the grace of God in the gospel , is to some a savour of life unto life , but to others a savour of death unto death , 2Corinthians strkjv @2:16 . The same sun softens wax and hardens clay . The falsehood of the Gibeonites cannot be justified . We must not do evil that good may themselves to the God of Israel , we have reason to think Joshua would have been directed by the oracle of God to spare their lives . But when they had once said , "We are come from a far country ," they were led to say it made of skins , and their clothes : one lie brings on another , and that a third , and so on . The way of that sin is especially down-hill . Yet their faith and prudence are to be commended . In submitting to Israel they submitted to the God of Israel , which implied forsaking their idolatries . And how can we do better than cast ourselves upon the mercy of a God of all goodness ? The way to avoid judgment is to meet it by repentance . Let us do like these Gibeonites , seek peace with God in the rags of abasement , and godly sorrow ; so our sin shall not be our ruin . Let us be servants to Jesus , our blessed Joshua , and we shall live . * Verse 14-21 - The Israelites , having examined the provisions of the Gibeonites , hastily concluded that they confirmed their account . We make more haste than good speed , when we stay not to take God with us , and do not consult him by the word and prayer . The fraud was soon found out . A lying tongue is but for a moment . Had the oath been in itself unlawful , it would not have been binding ; for no obligation can render it our duty to commit a sin . But it was not unlawful to spare the Canaanites who submitted , and left idolatry , desiring only that their lives might be spared . A citizen of Zion swears to his own hurt , and changes not , Psalms strkjv @15:4 . Joshua and the princes , when they found that they had been deceived , did not apply to Eleazar the high priest to be freed from their engagement , much less did they pretend that no faith is to be kept with those to whom they had sworn . Let this convince us how we ought to keep our promises , and make good our bargains ; and what conscience we ought to make of our words . * Verse 22-27 - The Gibeonites do not justify their lie , but plead that they did it to save their lives . And the fear was not merely of the power of man ; one might flee from that to the Divine protection ; but of the power of God himself , which they saw engaged against them . Joshua sentences them to perpetual bondage . They must be servants , but any work becomes honourable , when it is done for the house of the Lord , and the offices thereof . Let us , in like manner , submit to our Lord Jesus , saying , We are in thy hand , do unto us as seemeth good and right unto thee , only save our souls ; and we shall not repent it . If He appoints us to bear his cross , and serve him , that shall be neither shame nor grief to us , while the meanest office in God 's service will entitle us to a dwelling in the house of the Lord all the days of our life . And in coming to the Saviour , we do not proceed upon a peradventure . We are invited to draw nigh , and are assured that him that cometh to Him , he will in nowise cast out . Even those things which sound harsh , and are humbling , and form sharp trials of our sincerity , will prove of real advantage . **** Matthew Henry 's Commentary ****

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