Joshua 9:25
in Joshua 9Now we are in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And now, behold, we are in thy hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do.
KJV
And now, behold, we are in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do.
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This verse in Joshua 9
Commentary
9 notes on this verseAnd thus the ransom of their lives is paid; dominion is acquired by the preservation of a life that lies at mercy ( servus dicitur a servando--a servant is so called from the act of saving ); they owe their service to those to whom they owe their lives. Observe how the judgment is given against them.
This site's exposition
Your servants were told clearly
on Joshua 9:24-25
Their answer is Rahab’s: they heard what the LORD commanded Moses, and they believed it. Deuteronomy 7:1-2 is the command they quote back, and fear of it drove the whole performance, admitted without excuse. The words “we are in your hands” put them where Rahab put herself at 2:12-13.
This site's exposition
good and right
Adam Clarke hears two appeals in whatever seems good and right. Justice they had earned by the fraud, and mercy they asked because fear had driven them to it. John Gill adds a third ground, the league and the oath, which Joshua was bound to weigh as well.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
Those of the very meanest and most despicable condition are described to be hewers of wood and drawers of water, Deut. xxix. But skin for skin, liberty, and labour, and all that a man has, will he give for his life, and no ill bargain. Accordingly the matter was determined.
In thine hand - That is, in thy power to use us as thou wilt. Unto thee - We refer ourselves to thee and thy own piety, and probity, and faithfulness to thy word and oath; if thou wilt destroy thy humble suppliants, we submit. Let us in like manner submit to our Lord Jesus, and refer ourselves to him; saying, We are in thy hand; do unto us as seemeth right unto thee.
And now, behold, we are in thine hand,.... In thy power, and at thy disposal, and are ready to submit to whatsoever may be enjoined us: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do; do what is consistent with the laws of kindness, and with the rules of justice, and particularly with the league made, and oath taken; all which they left with him to consider of, and to do as in his wisdom and goodness he should see fit.
But here the kings of Canaan are in consultation to attack Israel, and concert matters for a vigorous effort of their united forces to check the progress of their victorious arms. It was strange they did not do this sooner. They had notice long since of their approach;
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
We are in thine hand - Entirely in thy power. As it seemeth good and right unto thee - do - Whatever justice and mercy dictate to thee to do to us, that perform. They expect justice, because they deceived the Israelites; but they expect mercy also, because they were driven to use this expedient for fear of losing their lives. The appeal to Joshua is full of delicacy and cogent argument.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
We are in thine hand - Entirely in thy power. As it seemeth good and right unto thee - do - Whatever justice and mercy dictate to thee to do to us, that perform. They expect justice, because they deceived the Israelites; but they expect mercy also, because they were driven to use this expedient for fear of losing their lives. The appeal to Joshua is full of delicacy and cogent argument.
The words behind it
9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְעַתָּ֖ה | veatah | and therefore | H6258 → | 433 times |
| הִנְנ֣וּ | hinu | here we | H2005 → | |
| בְיָדֶ֑ךָ | veyadekha | [are] in hand your | H3027 → | 1618 times |
| כַּטּ֨וֹב | katov | according to the good | H2896 → | 538 times |
| וְכַיָּשָׁ֧ר | vekhaiyashar | and according to the right | H3477 → | |
| בְּעֵינֶ֛יךָ | beeineikha | in view your | H5869 → | 887 times |
| לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת | laasot | to do | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| לָ֖נוּ | lanu | to <the> us | ||
| עֲשֵֽׂה׃ | ʾaseh | do | H6213 → | 2628 times |
וְעַתָּ֖הand therefore
veatahH6258 →433 times
הִנְנ֣וּhere we
hinuH2005 →
בְיָדֶ֑ךָ[are] in hand your
veyadekhaH3027 →1618 times
כַּטּ֨וֹבaccording to the good
katovH2896 →538 times
וְכַיָּשָׁ֧רand according to the right
vekhaiyasharH3477 →
בְּעֵינֶ֛יךָin view your
beeineikhaH5869 →887 times
לַעֲשׂ֥וֹתto do
laasotH6213 →2628 times
לָ֖נוּto <the> us
lanu
עֲשֵֽׂה׃do
ʾasehH6213 →2628 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
Judges 10:15“We have sinned,” the Israelites said to the LORD. “Deal with us as You see fit; but please deliver us today!”
it leads to
- 2 Samuel 15:26
But if He should say, ‘I do not delight in you,’ then here I am; let Him do to me whatever seems good to Him.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Samuel 3:18
So Samuel told him everything and did not hide a thing from him. “He is the LORD,” replied Eli. “Let Him do what is good in His eyes.”
- Proverbs 28:13
He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.
- 2 Samuel 24:14
David answered Gad, “I am deeply distressed. Please, let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men.”
- 2 Samuel 15:26
Through
Jeremiah 26:14As for me, here I am in your hands; do to me what you think is good and right.
it leads to
- Jeremiah 38:5
“Here he is,” replied King Zedekiah. “He is in your hands, since the king can do nothing to stop you.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Jeremiah 38:5
Through
1 Samuel 3:18So Samuel told him everything and did not hide a thing from him. “He is the LORD,” replied Eli. “Let Him do what is good in His eyes.”
it leads to
- Isaiah 39:8
But Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “At least there will be peace and security in my lifetime.”
- Job 2:10
“You speak as a foolish woman speaks,” he told her. “Should we accept from God only good and not adversity?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
- Judges 10:15
“We have sinned,” the Israelites said to the LORD. “Deal with us as You see fit; but please deliver us today!”
- Isaiah 39:8
Where this verse is studied
About Joshua
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.