Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath. New Living Translation Then Joshua made a peace treaty with them and guaranteed their safety, and the leaders of the community ratified their agreement with a binding oath. English Standard Version And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore to them. Berean Standard Bible And Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them. Berean Literal Bible And Joshua made peace with them, and he cut a covenant with them to let them live, and the rulers of the congregation swore to them. King James Bible And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them. New King James Version So Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them to let them live; and the rulers of the congregation swore to them. New American Standard Bible And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live; and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them. NASB 1995 Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live; and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them. NASB 1977 And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live; and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them. Legacy Standard Bible And Joshua made peace with them and cut a covenant with them, to let them live; and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them. Amplified Bible Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant (treaty) with them, to let them live; and the leaders of the congregation [of Israel] swore an oath to them. Berean Annotated Bible And Joshua (YHWH saves) made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them. Christian Standard Bible So Joshua established peace with them and made a treaty to let them live, and the leaders of the community swore an oath to them. Holman Christian Standard Bible So Joshua established peace with them and made a treaty to let them live, and the leaders of the community swore an oath to them. American Standard Version And Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them. Contemporary English Version So Joshua made a peace treaty with the messengers and promised that Israel would not kill their people. Israel's leaders swore that Israel would keep this promise. English Revised Version And Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them. GOD'S WORD® Translation So Joshua made peace with them by making a treaty which allowed them to live. The leaders of the congregation swore to it with an oath. Good News Translation Joshua made a treaty of friendship with the people of Gibeon and allowed them to live. The leaders of the community of Israel gave their solemn promise to keep the treaty. International Standard Version They made a treaty with them, guaranteeing their lives with a covenant, and the leaders of the congregation confirmed it with an oath to them. NET Bible Joshua made a peace treaty with them and agreed to let them live. The leaders of the community sealed it with an oath. New Heart English Bible Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them, to let them live. The leaders of the congregation swore to them. Webster's Bible Translation And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation swore to them. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleAnd Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them. World English Bible Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them, to let them live. The princes of the congregation swore to them. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand Joshua makes peace with them, and makes a covenant with them, to keep them alive; and the princes of the congregation swear to them. Berean Literal Bible And Joshua made peace with them, and he cut a covenant with them to let them live, and the rulers of the congregation swore to them. Young's Literal Translation and Joshua maketh with them peace, and maketh with them a covenant, to keep them alive; and swear to them do the princes of the company. Smith's Literal Translation And Joshua will make peace to them, and will cut out to them a covenant to preserve them alive: and the chiefs of the assembly sware to them. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd Josue made peace with them, and entering into a league promised that they should not be slain: the princes also of the multitude swore to them. Catholic Public Domain Version And Joshua made peace with them, and entering into a pact, he promised that they would not be put to death. The leaders of the multitude also swore to them. New American Bible So Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant to let them live, which the leaders of the community sealed with an oath. New Revised Standard Version And Joshua made peace with them, guaranteeing their lives by a treaty; and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd Joshua made peace with them, and he made a treaty with them to let them live; and the princes of the congregation swore to them. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And Yeshua made peace with them and he gave them the right hand for their lives and the Princes of the assembly swore to them OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them, to let them live; and the princes of the congregation swore unto them. Brenton Septuagint Translation And Joshua made peace with them, and they made a covenant with them to preserve them; and the princes of the congregation sware to them. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Deceit of the Gibeonites…14Then the men of Israel sampled their provisions, but did not seek the counsel of the LORD. 15And Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them. 16Three days after they had made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites learned that they were neighbors, living among them.… Cross References And Joshua made a treaty of peace with them 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. 1 Kings 5:12 And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as He had promised him. There was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty. Genesis 21:27 So Abraham brought sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelech, and the two men made a covenant. to let them live, 1 Kings 20:34 Ben-hadad said to him, “I will restore the cities my father took from your father; you may set up your own marketplaces in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.” “By this treaty I release you,” Ahab replied. So he made a treaty with him and sent him away. 2 Samuel 21:1-3 During the reign of David there was a famine for three successive years, and David sought the face of the LORD. And the LORD said, “It is because of the blood shed by Saul and his family, because he killed the Gibeonites.” / 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.) / So David asked the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? How can I make amends so that you may bless the inheritance of the LORD?” Psalm 15:4 who despises the vile but honors those who fear the LORD, who does not revise a costly oath, and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them. Numbers 30:2 If a man makes a vow to the LORD or swears an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word; he must do everything he has promised. Deuteronomy 23:21-23 If you make a vow to the LORD your God, do not be slow to keep it, because He will surely require it of you, and you will be guilty of sin. / But if you refrain from making a vow, you will not be guilty of sin. / Be careful to follow through on what comes from your lips, because you have freely vowed to the LORD your God with your own mouth. Leviticus 19:12 You must not swear falsely by My name and so profane the name of your God. I am the LORD. 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 21:7 Now the king spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath before the LORD between David and Jonathan son of Saul. 2 Samuel 21:14 And they buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in Zela in the land of Benjamin, in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish. After they had done everything the king had commanded, God answered their prayers for the land. 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. 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. Psalm 24:4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear deceitfully. Treasury of Scripture And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation swore to them. made peace Joshua 2:12-19 Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token: … Joshua 6:22-25 But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot's house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her… Joshua 11:19 There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, save the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibeon: all other they took in battle. and the 2 Samuel 21:2 And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them; (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah.) Jump to Previous Agreement Alive Assembly Chiefs Company Congregation Covenant Death Joshua Live Maketh Oath Peace Princes Ratified Sware Swear Swore TreatyJump to Next Agreement Alive Assembly Chiefs Company Congregation Covenant Death Joshua Live Maketh Oath Peace Princes Ratified Sware Swear Swore TreatyJoshua 9 1. The kings combine against Israel3. The Gibeonites by craft obtain a league 22. They are condemned to perpetual bondage And Joshua made a treaty of peace with them Joshua, as the leader of Israel, entered into a covenant with the Gibeonites. This action is significant because it demonstrates a moment of human error, as Joshua and the Israelites did not seek God's counsel before making this decision (Joshua 9:14). The treaty was made under the guise of deception, as the Gibeonites pretended to be from a distant land. This reflects the importance of discernment and reliance on divine guidance. Theologically, it underscores the theme of God's sovereignty and the consequences of acting independently of His will. to let them live and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them Persons / Places / Events 1. JoshuaThe leader of the Israelites, successor to Moses, tasked with leading the people into the Promised Land. He is central to the account as the one who makes the treaty. 2. Gibeonites A group of people from the city of Gibeon who deceived the Israelites into making a peace treaty with them by pretending to be from a distant land. 3. Israelite Leaders The elders and leaders of the Israelite congregation who, along with Joshua, swore an oath to the Gibeonites, binding them to the treaty. 4. The Treaty A formal agreement made between Joshua and the Gibeonites, allowing them to live in peace among the Israelites. 5. The Oath A solemn promise made by the leaders of Israel, which was binding and made before God, emphasizing the seriousness of their commitment. Teaching Points The Importance of Seeking God's GuidanceJoshua and the leaders failed to seek God's counsel before making the treaty. This teaches us the importance of seeking divine guidance in our decisions. The Consequences of Deception The Gibeonites' deception led to unintended consequences for both parties. This reminds us of the destructive nature of deceit and the importance of honesty. The Binding Nature of Oaths The Israelites' oath to the Gibeonites was binding, even though it was made under false pretenses. This underscores the seriousness of our commitments and the need to honor our word. God's Sovereignty in Human Affairs Despite the mistake, God used the situation for His purposes. This reassures us that God can work through our errors to fulfill His plans. The Role of Leadership and Accountability The leaders' decision affected the entire community, highlighting the responsibility of leaders to act wisely and the importance of accountability. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Joshua 9:15?2. How does Joshua 9:15 demonstrate the importance of seeking God's guidance in decisions? 3. What consequences arose from Joshua's covenant with the Gibeonites in Joshua 9:15? 4. How can Joshua 9:15 teach us about the dangers of deception in life? 5. In what ways does Joshua 9:15 connect to Proverbs 3:5-6 about trusting God? 6. How can we apply the lesson from Joshua 9:15 in our daily commitments? 7. Why did Joshua make a treaty with the Gibeonites without consulting God in Joshua 9:15? 8. How does Joshua 9:15 illustrate the consequences of failing to seek divine guidance? 9. What does Joshua 9:15 teach about the importance of discernment in leadership? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Joshua 9? 11. What is the identity of the Gibeonites? 12. How does sparing the Gibeonites (Joshua 9:15) align with instructions to destroy all Canaanite inhabitants (Deuteronomy 20:16–17)? 13. What is Gibeon's significance in the Bible? 14. In 2 Samuel 21:5–6, why does David permit the execution of Saul’s descendants if Deuteronomy 24:16 forbids punishing children for a parent’s wrongdoing? What Does Joshua 9:15 Mean And Joshua made a treaty of peace with themJoshua, fresh from decisive victories at Jericho and Ai, responds to the Gibeonites’ plea with a formal covenant of shalom. Despite Israel’s clear mandate in Deuteronomy 7:2 to “make no covenant with them,” the leaders act without first seeking the LORD (Joshua 9:14). Yet Scripture records the act plainly, underscoring two truths: •The Word faithfully reports even the missteps of God’s people, showing us both their frailty and His faithfulness (1 Corinthians 10:11). •Once spoken, a covenant carries weight before the LORD, as later affirmed when King Saul’s breach of this very treaty brings famine on the land (2 Samuel 21:1–2). We are reminded that zeal or apparent prudence must never substitute for prayerful dependence on God (Proverbs 3:5–6). to let them live The core purpose of the treaty is preservation of life. While the Gibeonites deserved judgment under the ban (Joshua 6:17), they receive mercy—foreshadowing God’s heart to spare those who seek refuge (Joshua 9:25). This does not negate justice; the Gibeonites become “hewers of wood and drawers of water” (Joshua 9:27), servants to the sanctuary. Mercy and consequence coexist, reflecting the balance seen when cities outside Canaan could be spared upon surrender (Deuteronomy 20:10–11). In the larger storyline, God’s grace always finds a way to rescue the undeserving—ultimately fulfilled in Christ, who offers life to all who come (John 3:16). and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them The public oath elevates the agreement from personal promise to covenant before God. Numbers 30:2 warns that “a man... shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth,” and Psalm 15:4 commends the one “who keeps his oath even when it hurts.” Centuries later, Israel honors this covenant despite national cost, proving that words spoken in God’s name are binding (Ecclesiastes 5:4–5). The episode teaches: •Leadership is accountable for its words; rash vows carry lasting consequences. •God expects His people to reflect His integrity, modeling fidelity in a culture where promises are easily broken (Matthew 5:37). summary Joshua 9:15 captures the tension between human error and divine expectation. The leaders, neglecting to inquire of the LORD, enter a binding covenant, yet God upholds the sanctity of their word. Through this single verse we see the high value Scripture places on integrity, the surprising reach of mercy, and the sober call to seek God first in every decision. Verse 15. - The princes of the congregation. Literally, the exalted ones, נְשִׂיאֵי of the congregation, "Die obersten der gemeine" (Luther); that is, the heads of the various tribes (see Numbers 1:44; and note on Joshua 7:14).Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew And Joshuaיְהוֹשֻׁ֙עַ֙ (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 וַיַּ֨עַשׂ (way·ya·‘aś) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 6213: To do, make a treaty בְּרִ֖ית (bə·rîṯ) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 1285: A covenant of peace שָׁל֔וֹם (šā·lō·wm) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 7965: Safe, well, happy, friendly, welfare, health, prosperity, peace with them לָהֶ֛ם (lā·hem) Preposition | third person masculine plural Strong's Hebrew to let them live, לְחַיּוֹתָ֑ם (lə·ḥay·yō·w·ṯām) Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 2421: To live, to revive and the leaders נְשִׂיאֵ֖י (nə·śî·’ê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 5387: An exalted one, a king, sheik, a rising mist of the congregation הָעֵדָֽה׃ (hā·‘ê·ḏāh) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 5712: A stated assemblage swore an oath to them. וַיִּשָּׁבְע֣וּ (way·yiš·šā·ḇə·‘ū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 7650: To seven oneself, swear Links Joshua 9:15 NIVJoshua 9:15 NLT Joshua 9:15 ESV Joshua 9:15 NASB Joshua 9:15 KJV Joshua 9:15 BibleApps.com Joshua 9:15 Biblia Paralela Joshua 9:15 Chinese Bible Joshua 9:15 French Bible Joshua 9:15 Catholic Bible OT History: Joshua 9:15 Joshua made peace with them and made (Josh. 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