Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joshua 9:27

And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose.

27. made them that day ] It is deserving of notice that the Gibeonites never appear to have betrayed their trust, or enticed Israel into idolatry.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

By which it appears that they were not only to do this service in Gods house, but upon all other occasions, as the congregation needed or required their help.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

27. hewers of wood and drawers ofwaterThe menials who performed the lowest offices and drudgeryin the sanctuary; whence they were called Nethinims (1Ch 9:2;Ezr 2:43; Ezr 8:20);that is, given, appropriated. Their chastisement thus brought theminto the possession of great religious privileges (Ps84:10).

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

And Joshua made them that day,…. Constituted and appointed them, ordered and settled them, in the post and office after mentioned; or “gave” them u; hence some think they had the name Nethinim, persons given to the Levites for the service of the sanctuary: namely, to be

hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the Lord; some think they were employed both for the service of the congregation, when they wanted wood and water, and for the altar, and what belonged to it, that needed both. Abarbinel supposes that they served the congregation while they were engaged in war, and subduing the land, but after the division of the land they only served the sanctuary; [See comments on Jos 9:21];

even unto this day in the place which he should choose; to have the tabernacle pitched, and the altar set up therein, as it was in various places, before the temple built by Solomon at Jerusalem, which was the place the Lord chose; and this shows that the writer of this book lived before the building of the temple, or otherwise it, is highly probable he would have expressly mentioned it; whereas he uses only the phrase that Moses frequently expressed it by in his time; see

De 12:5.

u “deditque eos”, Montanus. Vatablus, Drusius.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

27. [ Joshua made them Rather, as the margin, gave them; that is, appointed them to the service named. Jewish tradition and most commentators agree that these Gibeonites, thus given to perform the menial service of the sanctuary, were the original caste or order who in later times were known as the Nethinim, that is, the given ones. See 1Ch 9:2; Ezr 2:43; Ezr 8:20, notes.]

For the congregation, and for the altar They were never to be required to render personal service, nor to be employed for private purposes.

In the place which he should choose Here is strong incidental evidence that the sanctuary had not, at the time this history was written, been permanently established at Jerusalem.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Ver. 27. And Joshua made them that day hewers, &c. Thenceforward he condemned them for ever to this service, the duties of which they continued to discharge in the time of Nehemiah, under the name of Nethinims; who, as we before observed on ver. 20 are considered by some learned men as having been the posterity of the Gibeonites: others, among whom is Calmet, observe, that the Gibeonites were greatly diminished by the persecution which Saul carried on among them, and that it was evidently this which obliged David and the princes of Israel to contribute slaves to the service of the house of the Lord, who were called Nethinims. The Gibeonites are no more mentioned after the captivity; or, if they are, a passage in Neh 10:34 would incline one to think that they were then discharged from one part of their office; and Josephus, Bell. Jud. lib. ii. c. 7. seems to confirm this opinion.

In the place which he should choose The tabernacle was now at Gilgal, whence it was conveyed to Shiloh, Nob, and Gibeon; in which last two cities it remained for fifty-five year. Patrick. See 1Ki 3:2. Psa 48:1.

REFLECTIONS.The business being thus determined, Joshua called for the chief men of these cities probably, and let them know the resolution.

1. He reproves them for their imposition. A lie deserves rebuke: yet he speaks with mildness, considering their situation, and feeling for their distress. Note; If we considered the violence of others’ temptation, we should be less severe against their sin, considering ourselves, lest we also should be tempted. 2. They confess their fault, and assign their reason; which, though it will by no means excuse their sin, at least may be some alleviation of it. When life is at stake, it requires great grace to dare to speak the truth. 3. Joshua condemns them to perpetual servitude. Though the curse of death was removed, the curse of bondage was upon them. However, in its issue it was to be of service to all parties: To the Gibeonites themselves, who, being thus employed about the sanctuary, would be better taught, and have a peculiar privilege of spiritual improvement: To the priests and Levites, who would be much assisted by the ministry of these strong men, in the very laborious work of drawing so much water as the frequent ablutions required, and cleaving so much wood as the frequent sacrifices would need: To the people, who had a common interest in the altar, that it should be well served, and were probably, before this, themselves assistants in these common services. Note; God can thus over-rule the issue of events, and bring much good out of evil. 4. The Gibeonites readily acquiesce in the determination. They refer themselves entirely to Joshua, to be and do as he pleased; and he saves them, and sets them to work. Their cities were given to the people, and their service employed for the public. Note; (1.) The soul which refers itself wholly to Jesus Christ need not fear being cast away. (2.) If Christ receives us, we need not complain of any cross that he is pleased to lay upon us. (3.) They, who serve the Saviour, will ever have reason to bless the day in which they made the exchange of carnal liberty for spiritual subjection.

Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke

Oh! what an honour were those Gibeonites brought to, in this best of all services. If the Reader will consult the prophecy of Isaiah, he will there discover, that the Lord hath promised to gather all nations to see his glory; and that he will make of the poor heathens, like Gibeon, priests and Levites for his sanctuary: Isa 66:18-21 .

REFLECTIONS

PAUSE, my soul, over this chapter, and in the review of the conduct of Gibeon, behold and see, what an earnest concern this people manifested for the preservation of their lives. And wilt not thou feel a more awakened concern for thine everlasting welfare? Is it not said in God’s most holy word, as it was told the Gibeonites, that the Lord hath given commandment, to destroy all nations that are not his Israel? Is it not a most sure and certain truth, that the hour is hastening when the wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the people that forget God? And wilt not thou arise, and flee for thy life, and seek peace with thy Joshua, in the covenant promises of Israel?

Oh! thou Great and Almighty Joshua, thou sent, and sealed, and anointed of thy Father; behold I am come to thee, and am come from a far country indeed, for who so far from God as the sinner, until brought nigh by the blood of Jesus. My own garments and my own covering are old, like the Gibeonites. They were indeed once new, when my nature in my first parent was erected in God’s image; but now rent and torn, and worse than nothing. Make thou a league with my soul, I desire to be thy servant forever: far better wilt it be to be thy servant in the lowest place, a door keeper in thine house, than to dwell in the tents of ungodliness, though in a royal city, like Gibeon. If I am thy servant, I shall be the Lord’s freeman. And to be but a hewer of wood, or a drawer of water, for the service of thy sanctuary, will I esteem an higher honor than to enjoy all the pleasures of sin for a season. Thy reproach will be greater riches to me, than all the treasures of Egypt.

Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

Jos 9:27 And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose.

Ver. 27. For the congregation. ] To do those works belonging to God’s service, which otherwise the people should have done. Ut lignatores essent et lixae.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)