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.