Joshua 9:23

“Now therefore ye [are] cursed, etc.] Appear to be the posterity of cursed Canaan, and, notwithstanding the artifice used, should not be exempted from the curse denounced on Canaan: “a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren”, (<010925>Genesis 9:25); as these Gibeonites were; they became the servants of the Levites, who were servants to the priests; and they seemed to be spared in Providence, that that part of the curse on Canaan might be fulfilled: “and Canaan shall be his servant”; the servant of Shem, from whom the Israelites sprang, (<010925>Genesis 9:25,26); though the curse was turned into a blessing to the Gibeonites, since though their post and office was mean, yet they had…”

“Ye are cursed - You shall not escape the curse of God which by divine sentence belongs to all the Canaanites; but only change the quality of it, you shall feel that curse of bondage, which is proper to your race by virtue of that ancient decree, Gen 9:25. Bond - men - The slavery, which is upon you shall be entailed on your posterity. The house of my God - This only service they mention here, because it was their durable servitude, being first in the tabernacle, and then in the temple, whence they were called Nethinim, Ch1 9:2; Ezr 2:43, whereas their servitude to the whole congregation in a great measure ceased when the Israelites were dispersed to their several habitations. Joshua 9:25”

“9:23 The Gibeonites were cursed, meaning they were diminished to the status of servants. • At that time, the house of . . . God was the Tabernacle; later, it was the Temple at Jerusalem.”

“Gen 9:25, Gen 9:26; Lev 27:28, Lev 27:29 cursed: This may refer to the original curse pronounced against the descendants of Canaan. both of them seem to have implied nothing else than perpetual slavery. The Gibeonites were brought, no doubt, under tribute; performed the meanest offices for the Israelites; being in the same condition as the servile class of Hindoos, called the Chetrees; had their national importance annihilated, and yet were never permitted to incorporate themselves with the Israelites. none of you be freed: Heb. not be cut off from you hewers: In the East, collecting wood for fuel, and carrying water, are the peculiar employment of females. The Arab women of Barbary, and the…”