Joshua Chapter 9

“And it came to pass, when all the kings which [were] on this side Jordan, etc.] On the side Israel now were, and was that in which the land of Canaan lay, and was now governed by many kings, and all that were now remaining, even all but the kings of Jericho and Ai, who were slain: both those in the hills, and in the valleys; that dwelt in the mountainous part of the country, and in the plains of it: and in all the coasts of the great sea, over against Lebanon; who inhabited and governed in that part of the country which lay on the coast of the Mediterranean sea, the country of Phoenicia, in which were Tyre,…”

“THE KINGS COMBINE AGAINST ISRAEL. (Jos. 9:1-27) all the kings which were on this side--that is, the western side of Jordan. in the hills, and in ther valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea--This threefold distinction marks out very clearly a large portion of Canaan. The first designates the hill country, which belonged afterwards to the tribes of Judah and Ephraim: the second, all the low country from Carmel to Gaza; and the third, the shores of the Mediterranean, from the Isthmus of Tyre to the plain of Joppa. (As for the tribes mentioned, see on Num 13:29). heard thereof--that is, of the sacking of…”

“In the hills - See the Numbers 13:17 note. The valleys - Or “the vale” (the Shephelah, Deuteronomy 1:7), which imports the lowland country between the mountains and the sea coast. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Together - They entered into a league to do this. Tho' they were many kings of different nations, and doubtless of different interests, often at variance with each other, yet they are all determined to unite against Israel. O that Israel would learn this of Canaanites, to sacrifice private interests to the public good, and to lay aside all animosities among themselves, that they may cordially unite against the common enemy. Joshua 9:3”

“9:1-27 Joshua once again failed to consult God (9:14; cp. 7:2-4), this time over an unexpected request. Other ancient Near Eastern accounts tell only of a leader’s triumphs; this author also recorded the shortcomings of Joshua and Israel’s elders. The real hero of the story is God, whose accomplishments the author wished to tell. 9:1 Hittites . . . Jebusites: See study note on 3:10. • The fertile region of lower hills between the highlands of Judah and the southern coastal plain was known as the western foothills. • Although not all of the coastal plain of the Mediterranean Sea was occupied during this period,…”

“all the kings: Jos 10:2-5, Jos 10:23, Jos 10:28-39, Jos 11:1-5, Jos 11:10, Jos 11:11, 12:7-24 on this: Jos 1:15, Jos 3:17, Jos 5:1, Jos 22:4, Jos 22:7; Deu 4:49 of the great: Jos 1:4, Jos 15:12, Jos 23:4; Num 34:6 Lebanon: Jos 11:17, Jos 12:7, Jos 13:5; Deu 3:25 Hittite: Jos 24:11; Gen 15:18-21; Exo 3:17, Exo 23:23, Exo 23:31, Exo 34:11; Deu 7:1 Joshua 9:2”

“Jos 9:1, Jos 9:2 form the introduction to chs. 9-11, and correspond to the introduction in Jos 5:1. The news of the miraculous passage of the Israelites through the Jordan had thrown all the kings of Canaan into such despair, that they did not venture to make any attack upon Israel. But they gradually recovered from their first panic, partly, no doubt, in consequence of the failure of the first attack of the Israelites upon Ai, and resolved to join together in making war upon the foreign invaders. The kings of Canaan did this when they heard, sc., what Israel had hitherto undertaken and accomplished, not merely…”