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John Gill
INTRODUCTION TO Joshua 9 This chapter gives an account of the combination of the several kings of Canaan against Israel, Joshua 9:1; and of the craftiness of the Gibeonites, pretending they were ambassadors from a far country, and desired to enter into a league with Israel, which they obtained, Joshua 9:3; but when it was discovered who they were, it occasioned a murmuring among the people,...
John Gill
And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites,.... Though they did not know them to be such, but as they afterwards appeared to be the Hivites, as the Gibeonites were, they are here so called, see Joshua 11:19. The name signifies "serpents"; according to a Derash, or mystical exposition, mentioned by Kimchi, the Gibeonites are so called, because they did the work of the serpent; that is to say,...
Matthew Henry
Here is in this chapter, I. The impolite confederacy of the kings of Canaan against Israel, ver. 1, 2. II. The polite confederacy of the inhabitants of Gibeon with Israel, 1. How it was subtly proposed and petitioned for by the Gibeonites pretending to come from a far country, ver. 3-13. 2. How it was unwarily consented to by Joshua and the Israelites, to the disgust of the congregation when the...