Joshua 9:27
New International Version
That day he made the Gibeonites woodcutters and water carriers for the assembly, to provide for the needs of the altar of the LORD at the place the LORD would choose. And that is what they are to this day.

New Living Translation
But that day he made the Gibeonites the woodcutters and water carriers for the community of Israel and for the altar of the LORD—wherever the LORD would choose to build it. And that is what they do to this day.

English Standard Version
But Joshua made them that day cutters of wood and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD, to this day, in the place that he should choose.

Berean Standard Bible
On that day he made them woodcutters and water carriers, as they are to this day for the congregation of the LORD and for the altar at the place He would choose.

King James Bible
And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose.

New King James Version
And that day Joshua made them woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD, in the place which He would choose, even to this day.

New American Standard Bible
But on that day Joshua made them gatherers of firewood and labor to draw water for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD, to this day, in the place which He would choose.

NASB 1995
But Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD, to this day, in the place which He would choose.

NASB 1977
But Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD, to this day, in the place which He would choose.

Legacy Standard Bible
But Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of Yahweh, to this day, in the place which He would choose.

Amplified Bible
Now on that day Joshua made them cutters and gatherers of firewood and water carriers for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD, to this day, in the place which He would choose.

Christian Standard Bible
On that day he made them woodcutters and water carriers—as they are today—for the community and for the LORD’s altar at the place he would choose.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
On that day he made them woodcutters and water carriers—as they are today—for the community and for the LORD’s altar at the place He would choose.

American Standard Version
And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of Jehovah, unto this day, in the place which he should choose.

Contemporary English Version
but he did tell the Gibeonites that they would have to be servants of the nation of Israel. They would have to cut firewood and bring it for the priests to use for burning sacrifices on the LORD's altar, wherever the LORD decided the altar would be. The Gibeonites would also have to carry water for the priests. And that is still the work of the Gibeonites.

English Revised Version
And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, unto this day, in the place which he should choose.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But that day Joshua made them woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation. They served the LORD's altar, wherever he chose to put it. They still serve today.

Good News Translation
But at the same time he made them slaves, to cut wood and carry water for the people of Israel and for the LORD's altar. To this day they have continued to do this work in the place where the LORD has chosen to be worshiped.

International Standard Version
However, on that very day Joshua made them become wood cutters and water carriers for the congregation and for the LORD's altar in the place that he should choose, and this tradition continues to this day.

Majority Standard Bible
On that day he made them woodcutters and water carriers, as they are to this day for the congregation of the LORD and for the altar at the place He would choose.

NET Bible
and that day made them woodcutters and water carriers for the community and for the altar of the LORD at the divinely chosen site. (They continue in that capacity to this very day.)

New Heart English Bible
That day Joshua made them wood cutters and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD, to this day, in the place which he should choose.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, even to this day, in the place which he should choose.

World English Bible
That day Joshua made them wood cutters and drawers of water for the congregation and for Yahweh’s altar to this day, in the place which he should choose.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and on that day Joshua makes them hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of YHWH, to this day, at the place which He chooses.

Young's Literal Translation
and Joshua maketh them on that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the company, and for the altar of Jehovah, unto this day, at the place which He doth choose.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Joshua will give them in that day hewing wood and drawing water for the assembly and for the altar of Jehovah till this day, to the place which he shall choose.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he gave orders in that day that they should be in the service of all the people, and of the altar of the Lord, hewing wood and carrying water, until this present time, in the place which the Lord hath chosen.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he decreed on that day, that they would be in the ministry of all the people and of the altar of the Lord, cutting wood and carrying water, even until this present time, in the place which the Lord had chosen.

New American Bible
on that day he made them, as they still are, hewers of wood and drawers of water for the community and for the altar of the LORD, in the place the LORD would choose.

New Revised Standard Version
But on that day Joshua made them hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD, to continue to this day, in the place that he should choose.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Joshua made them that day gatherers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD, even to this day, in the place which he should choose.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And that day Yeshua made them gatherers of wood and they filled the water for the assembly and for the altar of LORD JEHOVAH until today, in the place that LORD JEHOVAH pleased
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, unto this day, in the place which He should choose.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Joshua made them in that day hewers of wood and drawers of water to the whole congregation, and for the altar of God: therefore the inhabitants of Gabaon became hewers of wood and drawers of water for the altar of God until this day, even for the place which the Lord should choose.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Deceit of the Gibeonites
26So Joshua did this and delivered them from the hands of the Israelites, and they did not kill the Gibeonites. 27On that day he made them woodcutters and water carriers, as they are to this day for the congregation of the LORD and for the altar at the place He would choose.

Cross References
Deuteronomy 29:11
your children and wives, and the foreigners in your camps who cut your wood and draw your water—

1 Kings 9:21
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.

2 Chronicles 8:7-8
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.

Exodus 27:19
All the utensils of the tabernacle for every use, including all its tent pegs and the tent pegs of the courtyard, shall be made of bronze.

Exodus 30:17-21
And the LORD said to Moses, / “You are to make a bronze basin with a bronze stand for washing. Set it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water in it, / with which Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet. ...

Leviticus 24:1-4
Then the LORD said to Moses, / “Command the Israelites to bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to keep the lamps burning continually. / Outside the veil of the Testimony in the Tent of Meeting, Aaron is to tend the lamps continually before the LORD from evening until morning. This is to be a permanent statute for the generations to come. ...

Numbers 4:23-24
from thirty to fifty years old, counting everyone who comes to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting. / This is the service of the Gershonite clans regarding work and transport:

1 Samuel 2:18
Now Samuel was ministering before the LORD—a boy wearing a linen ephod.

1 Chronicles 9:2
Now the first to resettle their own property in their cities were Israelites, priests, Levites, and temple servants.

Nehemiah 3:26
and the temple servants living on the hill of Ophel made repairs opposite the Water Gate toward the east and the tower that juts out.

Nehemiah 11:21
The temple servants lived on the hill of Ophel, with Ziha and Gishpa over them.

Matthew 11:29-30
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. / For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Matthew 20:26-28
It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, / and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave— / just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

Mark 10:43-45
But it shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, / and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all. / For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

Luke 22:26-27
But you shall not be like them. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who leads like the one who serves. / For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines? But I am among you as one who serves.


Treasury of Scripture

And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, even to this day, in the place which he should choose.

Joshua 9:21,23
And the princes said unto them, Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had promised them…

1 Chronicles 9:2
Now the first inhabitants that dwelt in their possessions in their cities were, the Israelites, the priests, Levites, and the Nethinims.

Ezra 2:43
The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,

Nethinim

Joshua 18:1
And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued before them.

Deuteronomy 12:5
But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come:

Deuteronomy 16:2,6,16
Thou shalt therefore sacrifice the passover unto the LORD thy God, of the flock and the herd, in the place which the LORD shall choose to place his name there…

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Joshua 9
1. The kings combine against Israel
3. The Gibeonites by craft obtain a league
22. They are condemned to perpetual bondage














On that day
This phrase marks a specific moment in time, emphasizing the immediacy and decisiveness of Joshua's actions. In the Hebrew context, "that day" often signifies a pivotal event in the narrative of Israel's history. It underscores the transition from deception to servitude for the Gibeonites, highlighting the swift execution of justice and mercy.

he made them
The Hebrew root here implies a transformation of status. Joshua, as the leader of Israel, exercises his authority to assign a new role to the Gibeonites. This act of making them servants reflects both a judgment for their deceit and a merciful inclusion into the community of Israel, demonstrating God's sovereignty and grace.

woodcutters and water carriers
These roles were menial and labor-intensive, often assigned to the lowest social classes. In the ancient Near Eastern context, such tasks were essential for daily life and religious practices. By assigning these roles, Joshua integrates the Gibeonites into the life of Israel, ensuring their survival while maintaining their subservient status. This reflects the biblical theme of servitude as a means of inclusion and redemption.

for the congregation
The term "congregation" refers to the assembly of Israel, the people chosen by God. The Gibeonites' service to the congregation signifies their incorporation into the community, albeit in a humble capacity. This inclusion serves as a reminder of God's covenantal relationship with Israel and His willingness to extend grace to outsiders.

and for the altar of the LORD
The altar represents the center of Israel's worship and sacrificial system. By serving the altar, the Gibeonites are brought into close proximity with the sacred, participating indirectly in the worship of Yahweh. This service underscores the holiness of their new role and the mercy extended to them despite their initial deception.

at the place He would choose
This phrase points to the future establishment of a central place of worship, which would later be Jerusalem. It reflects the divine prerogative in determining the location of His presence among His people. The Gibeonites' service is thus tied to God's unfolding plan for Israel, highlighting His sovereign guidance.

even to this day
This expression indicates the enduring nature of the Gibeonites' role within Israel. It serves as a testament to the lasting impact of Joshua's decision and God's faithfulness in maintaining His covenant. The phrase also invites readers to reflect on the continuity of God's purposes throughout history.

Verse 27. - And for the altar (see note on ver. 21). In the place which he should choose. This phrase, and especially the use of the imperfect tense, implies that Solomon's temple was not yet built. The ark of God, and the tabernacle which contained it, had several resting places before its final deposition in the temple (see note on Joshua 24:1). And the grammatical construction just referred to also implies that there was more than one place. It is also clear, from the language of 2 Samuel 21:1-6, that this narrative was already in existence when that chapter was penned. It is equally clear that the author of this passage knew nothing of that (see Introduction).



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
On that
הַה֗וּא (ha·hū)
Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

day
בַּיּ֣וֹם (bay·yō·wm)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

he
יְהוֹשֻׁ֜עַ (yə·hō·wō·šu·a‘)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3091: Joshua -- 'the LORD is salvation', Moses' successor, also the name of a number of Israelites

made
וַיִּתְּנֵ֨ם (way·yit·tə·nêm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

them woodcutters
חֹטְבֵ֥י (ḥō·ṭə·ḇê)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 2404: To cut or gather wood

and water
מַ֖יִם (ma·yim)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen

carriers,
וְשֹׁ֥אֲבֵי (wə·šō·’ă·ḇê)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 7579: To bale up water

as they are to this day,
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

for the congregation
לָֽעֵדָ֑ה (lā·‘ê·ḏāh)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5712: A stated assemblage

of the LORD
יְהוָה֙ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

and for the altar
וּלְמִזְבַּ֤ח (ū·lə·miz·baḥ)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4196: An altar

at
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the place
הַמָּק֖וֹם (ham·mā·qō·wm)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4725: A standing, a spot, a condition

He would choose.
יִבְחָֽר׃ (yiḇ·ḥār)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 977: To try, select


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OT History: Joshua 9:27 That day Joshua made them wood cutters (Josh. Jos)
Joshua 9:26
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