And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjathjearim.

JOSHUA 9:17KJV
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Joshua 9:17 (KJV)

What does Joshua 9:17 mean?

Joshua 9:17 describes how the Israelites traveled and arrived at the cities of the Gibeonites on the third day, specifically naming Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kirjathjearim as those cities. This verse marks the moment when the Israelites reached the towns of the people who had tricked them into making a peace treaty.

The setting is after the Gibeonites deceived Joshua and the leaders of Israel into making a covenant by pretending to be from a distant land. Joshua and the Israelites now discover that these people actually lived nearby, in these four named cities. This verse helps set up the confrontation and the consequences that follow in the next part of the story.

Where else these words appear

“Chephirah” Hebrew H3716 · used in 4 verses

  • Joshua 18:26 And Mizpeh, and Chephirah, and Mozah,
  • Ezra 2:25 The children of Kirjatharim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred and forty and three.
  • Nehemiah 7:29 The men of Kirjathjearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty and three.

“Beeroth” Hebrew H881 · used in 5 verses

  • Joshua 18:25 Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth,
  • 2 Samuel 4:2 And Saul's son had two men that were captains of bands: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin:(for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin:
  • Ezra 2:25 The children of Kirjatharim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred and forty and three.

“Kirjathjearim” Hebrew H7157 · used in 19 verses

  • Joshua 15:9 And the border was drawn from the top of the hill unto the fountain of the water of Nephtoah, and went out to the cities of mount Ephron; and the border was drawn to Baalah, which is Kirjathjearim:
  • 1 Samuel 6:21 And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjathjearim, saying, The Philistines have brought again the ark of the LORD; come ye down, and fetch it up to you.
  • 1 Chronicles 13:5 So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor of Egypt even unto the entering of Hemath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjathjearim.

“Gibeon” Hebrew H1391 · used in 35 verses

  • Joshua 9:3 And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,
  • Joshua 21:17 And out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with her suburbs, Geba with her suburbs,
  • 1 Chronicles 9:35 And in Gibeon dwelt the father of Gibeon, Jehiel, whose wife's name was Maachah: