Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version “We are your servants,” they said to Joshua. But Joshua asked, “Who are you and where do you come from?” New Living Translation They replied, “We are your servants.” “But who are you?” Joshua demanded. “Where do you come from?” English Standard Version They said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” And Joshua said to them, “Who are you? And where do you come from?” Berean Standard Bible “We are your servants,” they said to Joshua. Then Joshua asked them, “Who are you and where have you come from?” King James Bible And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye? New King James Version But they said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” And Joshua said to them, “Who are you, and where do you come from?” New American Standard Bible So they said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” Then Joshua said to them, “Who are you and where do you come from?” NASB 1995 But they said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” Then Joshua said to them, “Who are you and where do you come from?” NASB 1977 But they said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” Then Joshua said to them, “Who are you, and where do you come from?” Legacy Standard Bible But they said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” Then Joshua said to them, “Who are you and where do you come from?” Amplified Bible They said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” Then Joshua said to them, “Who are you, and where do you come from?” Christian Standard Bible They said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” Then Joshua asked them, “Who are you and where do you come from? ” Holman Christian Standard Bible They said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” Then Joshua asked them, “Who are you and where do you come from?” American Standard Version And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye? English Revised Version And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye? GOD'S WORD® Translation They responded to Joshua, "We're at your mercy." Joshua asked them, "Who are you, and where did you come from?" Good News Translation They said to Joshua, "We are at your service." Joshua asked them, "Who are you? Where do you come from?" International Standard Version So they responded to Joshua, "We are your servants." Joshua asked them, "Who are you? And where did you come from?" Majority Standard Bible ?We are your servants,? they said to Joshua. Then Joshua asked them, ?Who are you and where have you come from?? NET Bible 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?" New Heart English Bible They said to Joshua, "We are your servants." Joshua said to them, "Who are you? Where do you come from?" Webster's Bible Translation And they said to Joshua, we are thy servants. And Joshua said to them, Who are ye? and whence come ye? World English Bible They said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” Joshua said to them, “Who are you? Where do you come from?” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd they say to Joshua, “We [are] your servants.” And Joshua says to them, “Who [are] you? And where do you come from?” Young's Literal Translation and they say unto Joshua, 'Thy servants we are.' And Joshua saith unto them, 'Who are ye? and whence come ye?' Smith's Literal Translation And they will say to Joshua, We thy servants. And Joshua will say to them, Who are ye? and from whence will ye come? Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBut they said to Josue: We are thy servants. Josue said to them: Who are you? and whence came you? Catholic Public Domain Version But they said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” And Joshua said to them: “But who are you? And where are you from?” New American Bible But they answered Joshua, “We are your servants.” Then Joshua asked them, “Who are you? Where do you come from?” New Revised Standard Version They said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” And Joshua said to them, “Who are you? And where do you come from?” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd they said to Joshua, We are your servants. And Joshua said to them, Who are you? And where do you come from? Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And they said to Yeshua: “We are your Servants.” Yeshua said to them, “From where are you and from where have you come?” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And they said unto Joshua: 'We are thy servants.' And Joshua said unto them: 'Who are ye? and from whence come ye?' Brenton Septuagint Translation And they said to Joshua, We are thy servants: and Joshua said to them, Whence are ye, and whence have ye come? Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Deceit of the Gibeonites…7But the men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you dwell near us. How can we make a treaty with you?” 8“We are your servants,” they said to Joshua. Then Joshua asked them, “Who are you and where have you come from?” 9“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,… Cross References Deuteronomy 20:10-11 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. Exodus 23:32 You shall make no covenant with them or with their gods. Deuteronomy 7:2 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. 2 Samuel 21:2 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.) 1 Kings 9:20-21 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. Judges 2:2 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? 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. Nehemiah 9:24-25 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. Psalm 106:34-36 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. Isaiah 2:3 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. Matthew 5:44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Luke 6:27 But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, Romans 12:20 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.” 1 Corinthians 9:19 Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 2 Corinthians 6:14-15 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? Treasury of Scripture And they said to Joshua, We are your servants. And Joshua said to them, Who are you? and from from where come you? Joshua 8:11,23,25,27 And all the people, even the people of war that were with him, went up, and drew nigh, and came before the city, and pitched on the north side of Ai: now there was a valley between them and Ai… Genesis 9:25,26 And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren… Deuteronomy 20:11 And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be, that all the people that is found therein shall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee. Jump to Previous Joshua Servants WhenceJump to Next Joshua Servants WhenceJoshua 9 1. The kings combine against Israel3. The Gibeonites by craft obtain a league 22. They are condemned to perpetual bondage “We are your servants,” they said to Joshua. 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. Then Joshua asked them, “Who are you and where have you come from?” Persons / Places / Events 1. JoshuaThe leader of the Israelites after Moses, tasked with leading the people into the Promised Land. Known for his military leadership and faithfulness to God. 2. Gibeonites 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. 3. Israelites The chosen people of God, led by Joshua, who were conquering the land of Canaan as God had commanded. 4. Canaan The land promised by God to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, which the Israelites were in the process of conquering. 5. Deception Event The Gibeonites' ruse to secure a treaty with Israel, which involved disguising themselves and presenting themselves as travelers from a distant land. Teaching Points Discernment in LeadershipLeaders must seek God's guidance in all decisions, especially when making covenants or agreements. Joshua's failure to consult God led to unintended consequences. The Importance of Seeking God’s Counsel 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 (Proverbs 3:5-6). The Consequences of Deception Deception can lead to long-term consequences and complications. The Gibeonites' deception resulted in a binding treaty that affected Israel's future. God’s Sovereignty and Grace 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. Integrity in Relationships 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.Verse 8. - We are thy servants. 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 (e.g., Genesis 32:4, 18; Genesis 50:18; 2 Kings 10:5; 2 Kings 16:7). 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). From whence come ye? 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 Genesis 42:7). But perhaps with Ewald we may regard it simply as implying that their mission was still in progress. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew “Weאֲנָ֑חְנוּ (’ă·nā·ḥə·nū) Pronoun - first person common plural Strong's 587: We are your servants,” עֲבָדֶ֣יךָ (‘ă·ḇā·ḏe·ḵā) Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 5650: Slave, servant they said וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ (way·yō·mə·rū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 559: To utter, say to אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to Joshua. יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ (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 Then Joshua יְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַ (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 asked them, וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say “Who מִ֥י (mî) Interrogative Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix are you אַתֶּ֖ם (’at·tem) Pronoun - second person masculine plural Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you and from where וּמֵאַ֥יִן (ū·mê·’a·yin) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Adverb Strong's 370: Whence? have you come?” תָּבֹֽאוּ׃ (tā·ḇō·’ū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go Links Joshua 9:8 NIVJoshua 9:8 NLT Joshua 9:8 ESV Joshua 9:8 NASB Joshua 9:8 KJV Joshua 9:8 BibleApps.com Joshua 9:8 Biblia Paralela Joshua 9:8 Chinese Bible Joshua 9:8 French Bible Joshua 9:8 Catholic Bible OT History: Joshua 9:8 They said to Joshua We are your (Josh. 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