And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, that they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt among them.

JOSHUA 9:16KJV
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Joshua 9:16 (KJV)

What does Joshua 9:16 mean?

Joshua 9:16 reports that three days after the Israelites made a treaty with a group of people, they discovered that these people were actually their close neighbors living nearby. This verse marks the moment when the Israelites realized they had been deceived into making an agreement with people they were supposed to drive out.

The setting is during Israel’s conquest of Canaan, with Joshua leading the people. The Gibeonites, fearing for their safety, had disguised themselves and pretended to be from a distant land to secure a peace treaty. Joshua 9:16 reveals the turning point when the Israelites learn the truth about the Gibeonites’ real identity and proximity.

The Hebrew behind Joshua 9:16

  • "league" (בְּרִית, berit): This word means a covenant or binding agreement. Its use here highlights the seriousness of the promise Israel made, which was not easily broken even after discovering the deception.
  • "neighbours" (קָרוֹב, qarov): This word means someone who is near or close by. The verse emphasizes the shock that the supposed distant travelers were actually immediate neighbors.
  • "dwelt" (יָשַׁב, yashav): This word means to live or settle. It clarifies that the Gibeonites were not just passing through but had established homes among the Israelites.

Why Joshua 9:16 matters

  • Joshua 9:16 explains how the Israelites came to realize they had been tricked, which sets up the moral and practical dilemma in the following verses about how to handle the treaty.
  • The verse underscores the importance and binding nature of oaths in ancient Israel, even when made under false pretenses.
  • This moment connects to the broader narrative about discernment, leadership, and the consequences of decisions made without seeking God’s guidance, as seen in the earlier verses of the chapter.

Where else these words appear

“neighbours” Hebrew H7138 · used in 76 verses

  • Genesis 19:20 Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither,( is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.
  • 1 Chronicles 12:40 Moreover they that were nigh them, even unto Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, and meat, meal, cakes of figs, and bunches of raisins, and wine, and oil, and oxen, and sheep abundantly: for there was joy in Israel.
  • Isaiah 55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

“end” Hebrew H7097 · used in 87 verses

  • Genesis 8:3 And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated.
  • Joshua 3:15 And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water,(for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,)
  • Psalms 46:9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.