Joshua 9:14
in Joshua 9Then the men of Israel sampled their provisions, but did not seek the counsel of the LORD.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And the men took of their provision, and asked not counsel at the mouth of Jehovah.
KJV
And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord.
⋯
This verse in Joshua 9
Commentary
8 notes on this verseAnd he, being as yet ignorant of localities and not knowing anything of the inhabitants, did not see through their deceit, nor did he enquire of God but readily believed them. So sacred was one's promised word held in those days that no one would believe that others could try to deceive. Who could find fault with the saints in this, namely, that they should consider others to have the same feelings as themselves and suppose no one would lie because truth was their own companion?
This site's exposition
but did not seek the counsel of the LORD
One clause carries the chapter: they “did not seek the counsel of the LORD”. Numbers 27:21 had appointed Eleazar to ask by the Urim for Joshua by name. Readers divide over the sampling of the provisions, some reading a meal that sealed a treaty and others an inspection.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
And the men took of their victuals,.... That is, the princes of Israel took thereof; not to eat of them, for it cannot be thought that such personages would eat of such dry and mouldy bread, and especially as they were now in a plentiful country, and possessed of the fruits of it; but to see whether it was in such a plight and condition as they said, whereby they might judge of the truth of what they said; and they learned and knew, as R.
For though it is probable, if God had been consulted, he would have consented to the sparing of the Gibeonites; yet it should have been done with more caution, and an obligation upon them to embrace the true religion. In every business of importance, we should stay to take God along with us, and by the word and prayer consult him.
How the matter was adjusted to the satisfaction of all sides, by giving these Gibeonites their lives because they had covenanted with them, yet depriving them of their liberties because the covenant was not fairly obtained,
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
The men took of their victuals - This was done in all probability in the way of friendship; for, from time immemorial to the present day, eating together, in the Asiatic countries, is considered a token of unalterable friendship; and those who eat even salt together, feel themselves bound thereby in a perpetual covenant. But the marginal reading of this clause should not be hastily rejected.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard--This town, as its name imports, was situated on a rocky eminence, about six miles northwest from Jerusalem, where the modern village of El Jib now stands. It was the capital of the Hivites, and a large important city (Jos 10:2).
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
The elders of Israel Jos 9:18, tasting what was offered them by the Gibeonites, pledged themselves according to the usage of Eastern nations to peace and friendship with them. They credited the story at once, instead of seeking the direction of God in the matter. The rendering of the margin is not to be preferred to that of the text. At the mouth of the Lord - i. e. by the Urim and Thummim Exo 28:30.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
And the men took of their provisions. They accepted their words. They trapped them with their mouths, 10 The men of Yisroel were taken in by their trick. as it is said, “But if he did not set an ambush.” 11 Shemos:13.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 7 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
8 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיִּקְח֥וּ | vaiyikchu | and they took | H3947 → | 966 times |
| הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֖ים | haanashim | the men | H582 → | 566 times |
| מִצֵּידָ֑ם | mitzeidam | some of provision[s] their | H6718 → | |
| וְאֶת־ | veet | and <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| פִּ֥י | pi | [the] mouth of | H6310 → | 498 times |
| יְהוָ֖ה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| לֹ֥א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| שָׁאָֽלוּ׃ | shaalu | they asked | H7592 → | 171 times |
וַיִּקְח֥וּand they took
vaiyikchuH3947 →966 times
הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֖יםthe men
haanashimH582 →566 times
מִצֵּידָ֑םsome of provision[s] their
mitzeidamH6718 →
וְאֶת־and <obj.>
veetH853 →10935 times
פִּ֥י[the] mouth of
piH6310 →498 times
יְהוָ֖הYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
לֹ֥אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
שָׁאָֽלוּ׃they asked
shaaluH7592 →171 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
2 Samuel 5:19So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” “Go,” replied the LORD, “for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hand.”
it leads to
- 2 Samuel 2:1
Some time later, David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” “Go up,” the LORD answered. Then David asked, “Where should I go?” “To Hebron,” replied…
- 1 Samuel 23:2
So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go and attack these Philistines?” And the LORD said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah.”
- 2 Samuel 5:23
So David inquired of the LORD, who answered, “Do not march straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees.
- Proverbs 3:6
in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
- Judges 20:28
and Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, served before it.) The Israelites asked, “Should we again go out to battle against our brothers the Benjamites, or should we stop?” The LORD answered,…
- 2 Samuel 2:1
Through
Numbers 27:21He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who will seek counsel for him before the LORD by the judgment of the Urim. At his command, he and all the Israelites with him—the entire congregation—will…
it leads to
- 1 Samuel 28:6
He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.
- Exodus 28:30
And place the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece of judgment, so that they will also be over Aaron’s heart whenever he comes before the LORD. Aaron will continually carry the judgment of the…
- Numbers 27:17
who will go out and come in before them, and who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the LORD will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”
- 1 Samuel 28:6
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies2
On this verse
On this chapter
About Joshua
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrose of Milan, On the Duties of the Clergy 3.10.67-68; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament: Joshua, Judges, Ruth and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.