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Then Joshua asked them, Who are you and where have you come from?" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/joshua/9-8.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/joshua/9-8.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/joshua/">Joshua</a> > <a href="/joshua/9.htm">Chapter 9</a> > Verse 8</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad8.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/joshua/9-7.htm" title="Joshua 9:7">◄</a> Joshua 9:8 <a href="/joshua/9-9.htm" title="Joshua 9:9">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/joshua/9.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/joshua/9.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />&#8220We are your servants,&#8221 they said to Joshua. But Joshua asked, &#8220Who are you and where do you come from?&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/joshua/9.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />They replied, “We are your servants.” “But who are you?” Joshua demanded. “Where do you come from?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/joshua/9.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />They said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” And Joshua said to them, “Who are you? And where do you come from?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/joshua/9.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />“We are your servants,” they said to Joshua. Then Joshua asked them, “Who are you and where have you come from?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/joshua/9.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And they said unto Joshua, We <i>are</i> thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who <i>are</i> ye? and from whence come ye?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/joshua/9.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />But they said to Joshua, “We <i>are</i> your servants.” And Joshua said to them, “Who <i>are</i> you, and where do you come from?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/joshua/9.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />So they said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” Then Joshua said to them, “Who are you and where do you come from?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/joshua/9.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />But they said to Joshua, &#8220We are your servants.&#8221 Then Joshua said to them, &#8220Who are you and where do you come from?&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/joshua/9.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />But they said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” Then Joshua said to them, “Who are you, and where do you come from?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/joshua/9.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />But they said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” Then Joshua said to them, “Who are you and where do you come from?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/joshua/9.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />They said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” Then Joshua said to them, “Who are you, and where do you come from?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/joshua/9.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />They said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” Then Joshua asked them, “Who are you and where do you come from? ”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/joshua/9.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />They said to Joshua, &#8220We are your servants.&#8221 Then Joshua asked them, &#8220Who are you and where do you come from?&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/joshua/9.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/joshua/9.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/joshua/9.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />They responded to Joshua, "We're at your mercy." Joshua asked them, "Who are you, and where did you come from?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/joshua/9.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />They said to Joshua, "We are at your service." Joshua asked them, "Who are you? Where do you come from?" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/joshua/9.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />So they responded to Joshua, "We are your servants." Joshua asked them, "Who are you? And where did you come from?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/joshua/9.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />?We are your servants,? they said to Joshua. Then Joshua asked them, ?Who are you and where have you come from??<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/joshua/9.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />But they said to Joshua, "We are willing to be your subjects." So Joshua said to them, "Who are you and where do you come from?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/joshua/9.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />They said to Joshua, "We are your servants." Joshua said to them, "Who are you? Where do you come from?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/joshua/9.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And they said to Joshua, we are thy servants. And Joshua said to them, Who are ye? and whence come ye?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/joshua/9.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />They said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” Joshua said to them, “Who are you? Where do you come from?” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/joshua/9.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And they say to Joshua, “We [are] your servants.” And Joshua says to them, “Who [are] you? And where do you come from?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/joshua/9.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and they say unto Joshua, 'Thy servants we are.' And Joshua saith unto them, 'Who are ye? and whence come ye?'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/joshua/9.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And they will say to Joshua, We thy servants. And Joshua will say to them, Who are ye? and from whence will ye come?<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/joshua/9.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />But they said to Josue: We are thy servants. Josue said to them: Who are you? and whence came you? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/joshua/9.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />But they said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” And Joshua said to them: “But who are you? And where are you from?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/joshua/9.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />But they answered Joshua, “We are your servants.” Then Joshua asked them, “Who are you? Where do you come from?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/joshua/9.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />They said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” And Joshua said to them, “Who are you? And where do you come from?”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/joshua/9.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And they said to Joshua, We are your servants. And Joshua said to them, Who are you? And where do you come from?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/joshua/9.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And they said to Yeshua: “We are your Servants.” Yeshua said to them, “From where are you and from where have you come?”<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/joshua/9.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And they said unto Joshua: 'We are thy servants.' And Joshua said unto them: 'Who are ye? and from whence come ye?'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/joshua/9.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And they said to Joshua, We are thy servants: and Joshua said to them, Whence are ye, and whence have ye come?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/joshua/9-8.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/p91zXIGB0Rk?start=2177" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/joshua/9.htm">The Deceit of the Gibeonites</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">7</span>But the men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you dwell near us. How can we make a treaty with you?” <span class="reftext">8</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/587.htm" title="587: ’ă·nā·ḥə·nū (Pro-1cp) -- We. Apparently from 'anokiy; we.">“We</a> <a href="/hebrew/5650.htm" title="5650: ‘ă·ḇā·ḏe·ḵā (N-mpc:: 2ms) -- Slave, servant. From abad; a servant.">are your servants,”</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mə·rū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">they said</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">to</a> <a href="/hebrew/3091.htm" title="3091: yə·hō·wō·šu·a‘ (N-proper-ms) -- Or Yhowshua; from Yhovah and yasha'; Jehovah-saved; Jehoshua, the Jewish leader.">Joshua.</a> <a href="/hebrew/3091.htm" title="3091: yə·hō·wō·šu·a‘ (N-proper-ms) -- Or Yhowshua; from Yhovah and yasha'; Jehovah-saved; Jehoshua, the Jewish leader.">Then Joshua</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">asked them,</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’ă·lê·hem (Prep:: 3mp) -- To, into, towards. "></a> <a href="/hebrew/4310.htm" title="4310: mî (Interrog) -- An interrogative pronoun of persons, as mah is of things, who?; also whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix.">“Who</a> <a href="/hebrew/859.htm" title="859: ’at·tem (Pro-2mp) -- You (masc. sing.). ">are you</a> <a href="/hebrew/370.htm" title="370: ū·mê·’a·yin (Conj-w, Prep-m:: Adv) -- Whence?. Probably identical with 'ayin in the sense of query.">and where</a> <a href="/hebrew/935.htm" title="935: tā·ḇō·’ū (V-Qal-Imperf-2mp) -- To come in, come, go in, go. A primitive root; to go or come.">have you come from?”</a> </span><span class="reftext">9</span>“Your servants have come from a very distant land,” they replied, “because of the fame of the LORD your God. For we have heard the reports about Him: all that He did in Egypt,…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/20-10.htm">Deuteronomy 20:10-11</a></span><br />When you approach a city to fight against it, you are to make an offer of peace. / If they accept your offer of peace and open their gates, all the people there will become forced laborers to serve you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/23-32.htm">Exodus 23:32</a></span><br />You shall make no covenant with them or with their gods.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/7-2.htm">Deuteronomy 7:2</a></span><br />and when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you to defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. Make no treaty with them and show them no mercy.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/21-2.htm">2 Samuel 21:2</a></span><br />At this, David summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not Israelites, but a remnant of the Amorites. The Israelites had taken an oath concerning them, but in his zeal for Israel and Judah, Saul had sought to kill them.)<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/9-20.htm">1 Kings 9:20-21</a></span><br />As for all the people who remained of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites (the people who were not Israelites)— / their descendants who remained in the land, those whom the Israelites were unable to devote to destruction—Solomon conscripted these people to be forced laborers, as they are to this day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/2-2.htm">Judges 2:2</a></span><br />and you are not to make a covenant with the people of this land, but you shall tear down their altars.’ Yet you have not obeyed My voice. What is this you have done?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/8-7.htm">2 Chronicles 8:7-8</a></span><br />As for all the people who remained of the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites (these people were not Israelites)— / their descendants who remained in the land, those whom the Israelites had not destroyed—Solomon conscripted these people to be forced laborers, as they are to this day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/9-24.htm">Nehemiah 9:24-25</a></span><br />So their descendants went in and possessed the land; You subdued before them the Canaanites dwelling in the land. You delivered into their hands the kings and peoples of the land, to do with them as they wished. / They captured fortified cities and fertile land and took houses full of all goods, wells already dug, vineyards, olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were filled; they grew fat and delighted in Your great goodness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/106-34.htm">Psalm 106:34-36</a></span><br />They did not destroy the peoples as the LORD had commanded them, / but they mingled with the nations and adopted their customs. / They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/2-3.htm">Isaiah 2:3</a></span><br />And many peoples will come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways so that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/5-44.htm">Matthew 5:44</a></span><br />But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/6-27.htm">Luke 6:27</a></span><br />But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/12-20.htm">Romans 12:20</a></span><br />On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/9-19.htm">1 Corinthians 9:19</a></span><br />Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/6-14.htm">2 Corinthians 6:14-15</a></span><br />Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? / What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And they said to Joshua, We are your servants. And Joshua said to them, Who are you? and from from where come you?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/joshua/8-11.htm">Joshua 8:11,23,25,27</a></b></br> And all the people, <i>even the people</i> of war that <i>were</i> with him, went up, and drew nigh, and came before the city, and pitched on the north side of Ai: now <i>there was</i> a valley between them and Ai… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/9-25.htm">Genesis 9:25,26</a></b></br> And he said, Cursed <i>be</i> Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/20-11.htm">Deuteronomy 20:11</a></b></br> And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be, <i>that</i> all the people <i>that is</i> found therein shall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/joshua/9-6.htm">Joshua</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/34-11.htm">Servants</a> <a href="/joshua/2-4.htm">Whence</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/joshua/9-15.htm">Joshua</a> <a href="/joshua/9-9.htm">Servants</a> <a href="/joshua/20-6.htm">Whence</a><div class="vheading2">Joshua 9</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/joshua/9-1.htm">The kings combine against Israel</a></span><br><span class="reftext">3. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/joshua/9-3.htm">The Gibeonites by craft obtain a league</a></span><br><span class="reftext">22. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/joshua/9-22.htm">They are condemned to perpetual bondage</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/joshua/9.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/joshua/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/joshua/9.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>“We are your servants,” they said to Joshua.</b><br>This phrase reflects the deceptive approach of the Gibeonites, who sought to make a treaty with Israel by pretending to be from a distant land. In the ancient Near Eastern context, declaring oneself as a servant was a common way to express submission and seek protection or alliance. The Gibeonites' strategy was to avoid the fate of other Canaanite cities that were being conquered by Israel. This act of deception highlights the fear and recognition of Israel's God-given power among the surrounding nations. The Gibeonites' submission can be seen as a type of the Gentiles coming to Christ, acknowledging His authority and seeking peace.<p><b>Then Joshua asked them,</b><br>Joshua's response shows his leadership and discernment in questioning the motives and origins of those who approached him. This reflects a common biblical theme where leaders are called to test the spirits and discern truth from deception. Joshua's inquiry is reminiscent of the need for spiritual vigilance, as seen in 1 <a href="/john/4.htm">John 4:1</a>, which advises believers to test the spirits to see whether they are from God.<p><b>“Who are you and where have you come from?”</b><br>Joshua's questions aim to uncover the true identity and intentions of the Gibeonites. This reflects the importance of understanding the background and motives of those who seek to join or align with God's people. The question of origin is significant in the biblical narrative, as it often determines one's relationship with Israel and, by extension, with God. This inquiry can be paralleled with the call for believers to examine the foundations of their faith and the influences they allow into their lives. The Gibeonites' response to these questions would ultimately reveal their deceit, yet their eventual integration into Israel serves as a reminder of God's grace and the inclusion of outsiders into His covenant community.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/joshua.htm">Joshua</a></b><br>The leader of the Israelites after Moses, tasked with leading the people into the Promised Land. Known for his military leadership and faithfulness to God.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/g/gibeonites.htm">Gibeonites</a></b><br>A group of people from the city of Gibeon who deceived Joshua and the Israelites into making a peace treaty with them by pretending to be from a distant land.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/i/israelites.htm">Israelites</a></b><br>The chosen people of God, led by Joshua, who were conquering the land of Canaan as God had commanded.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/c/canaan.htm">Canaan</a></b><br>The land promised by God to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, which the Israelites were in the process of conquering.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/d/deception_event.htm">Deception Event</a></b><br>The Gibeonites' ruse to secure a treaty with Israel, which involved disguising themselves and presenting themselves as travelers from a distant land.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/d/discernment_in_leadership.htm">Discernment in Leadership</a></b><br>Leaders must seek God's guidance in all decisions, especially when making covenants or agreements. Joshua's failure to consult God led to unintended consequences.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_seeking_god's_counsel.htm">The Importance of Seeking God’s Counsel</a></b><br>Before making significant decisions, it is crucial to seek God's wisdom and direction. This aligns with the biblical principle of acknowledging God in all our ways (<a href="/proverbs/3-5.htm">Proverbs 3:5-6</a>).<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_deception.htm">The Consequences of Deception</a></b><br>Deception can lead to long-term consequences and complications. The Gibeonites' deception resulted in a binding treaty that affected Israel's future.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_and_grace.htm">God’s Sovereignty and Grace</a></b><br>Despite human errors, God can use situations for His purposes. The Gibeonites became servants, contributing to the work of the tabernacle, showing God's ability to bring good from human mistakes.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/i/integrity_in_relationships.htm">Integrity in Relationships</a></b><br>As believers, we are called to be people of integrity, ensuring our actions and words align with God's truth, avoiding deceit in our interactions.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_joshua_9.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Joshua 9</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_joshua_11_12-15_align_with_sparing.htm">How does the absolute obedience in Joshua 11:12-15 align with prior instructions about sparing certain peoples?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_levi's_landlessness_align_biblically.htm">How does Deuteronomy 10:8's statement that Levi had no land inheritance align with inherited lands described in other biblical texts?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_job_9_8's_sea-walking_metaphorical.htm">Job 9:8 portrays God walking on the sea, yet there is no historical or scientific evidence of such a literal phenomenon--should this be seen as metaphorical?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/where's_the_evidence_of_ai's_destruction.htm">Where is the archaeological evidence supporting the complete destruction of Ai (Joshua 8:28)?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/joshua/9.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 8.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">We are thy servants.</span> This does not mean altogether, as ver. 9 shows, that the Gibeonites intended by this embassy to reduce themselves to servitude. Their object, as Grotius remarks, was rather to form an alliance on terms of something like equality. The phrase was one common in the East as a token of respect (<span class="accented">e.g.</span>, <a href="/genesis/32-4.htm">Genesis 32:4, 18</a>; <a href="/genesis/50-18.htm">Genesis 50:18</a>; <a href="/2_kings/10-5.htm">2 Kings 10:5</a>; <a href="/2_kings/16-7.htm">2 Kings 16:7</a>). But no doubt the Gibeonites (see ver. 11) expected to have a tribute laid on them. And they would willingly accept such an impost, for, as Ewald remarks ( 'History of Israel,' 4:3), their object was "to secure the peace which a mercantile inland city especially requires" (see also note on Joshua 3:10). <span class="cmt_word">From whence come ye?</span> Joshua uses the imperfect, not the perfect, tense here. Commentators are divided about its meaning. Some suppose that the perfect, "from whence have ye come?" is mere direct and abrupt than "from whence may you have come?" or, "from whence were you coming?" and certainly an indirect question is in most languages considered more respectful than a direct one (see <a href="/genesis/42-7.htm">Genesis 42:7</a>). But perhaps with Ewald we may regard it simply as implying that their mission was still in progress. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/joshua/9-8.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">“We</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲנָ֑חְנוּ</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·nā·ḥə·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - first person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_587.htm">Strong's 587: </a> </span><span class="str2">We</span><br /><br /><span class="word">are your servants,”</span><br /><span class="heb">עֲבָדֶ֣יךָ</span> <span class="translit">(‘ă·ḇā·ḏe·ḵā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5650.htm">Strong's 5650: </a> </span><span class="str2">Slave, servant</span><br /><br /><span class="word">they said</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ</span> <span class="translit">(way·yō·mə·rū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶל־</span> <span class="translit">(’el-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Joshua.</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ</span> <span class="translit">(yə·hō·wō·šu·a‘)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3091.htm">Strong's 3091: </a> </span><span class="str2">Joshua -- 'the LORD is salvation', Moses' successor, also the name of a number of Israelites</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Then Joshua</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַ</span> <span class="translit">(yə·hō·wō·šu·a‘)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3091.htm">Strong's 3091: </a> </span><span class="str2">Joshua -- 'the LORD is salvation', Moses' successor, also the name of a number of Israelites</span><br /><br /><span class="word">asked them,</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֹּ֨אמֶר</span> <span class="translit">(way·yō·mer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“Who</span><br /><span class="heb">מִ֥י</span> <span class="translit">(mî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Interrogative<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4310.htm">Strong's 4310: </a> </span><span class="str2">Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix</span><br /><br /><span class="word">are you</span><br /><span class="heb">אַתֶּ֖ם</span> <span class="translit">(’at·tem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_859.htm">Strong's 859: </a> </span><span class="str2">Thou and thee, ye and you</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and from where</span><br /><span class="heb">וּמֵאַ֥יִן</span> <span class="translit">(ū·mê·’a·yin)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_370.htm">Strong's 370: </a> </span><span class="str2">Whence?</span><br /><br /><span class="word">have you come?”</span><br /><span class="heb">תָּבֹֽאוּ׃</span> <span class="translit">(tā·ḇō·’ū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_935.htm">Strong's 935: </a> </span><span class="str2">To come in, come, go in, go</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/joshua/9-8.htm">Joshua 9:8 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/joshua/9-8.htm">Joshua 9:8 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/joshua/9-8.htm">Joshua 9:8 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/joshua/9-8.htm">Joshua 9:8 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/joshua/9-8.htm">Joshua 9:8 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/joshua/9-8.htm">Joshua 9:8 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/joshua/9-8.htm">Joshua 9:8 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/joshua/9-8.htm">Joshua 9:8 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/joshua/9-8.htm">Joshua 9:8 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/joshua/9-8.htm">Joshua 9:8 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/joshua/9-8.htm">OT History: Joshua 9:8 They said to Joshua We are your (Josh. 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