Joshua 9:11

So the elders and inhabitants of our land told us, ‘Take provisions for your journey; go to meet them and say to them: We are your servants. Please make a treaty with us.’

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The Gibeonite delegation addresses Joshua and the Israelite commanders, relaying instructions from their local elders and residents. They deliver this message after hearing of Israel’s victories over Sihon and Og.

The words — קְח֨וּ (ke.Chu) means “take,” commanding the travelers to gather supplies for the journey. זְֽקֵינֵי/נוּ֩ (ze.kei.nei./Nu) translates to “our elders,” identifying the domestic authority behind the fabricated instructions.

The thread — The phrase “We are your servants” directly parallels the Gibeonites’ opening address in Joshua 9:8. The pattern of a single decree triggering widespread regional reaction mirrors the joy described in Esther 8:17.

Why it lands — The text requires readers to verify claims that rely on circumstantial evidence rather than direct revelation. It demands discernment when survival strategies mimic genuine submission.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַיֹּאמְר֣וּva/i.yo.me.Ruand/ they said אֵלֵ֡ינוּ'e.Lei./nuto/ us זְֽקֵינֵינוּ֩ze.kei.nei./Nuelders/ our וְכָל־ve./kholand/ all יֹשְׁבֵ֨יyo.she.Vei[the] inhabitants of אַרְצֵ֜נוּ'ar.Tze./nuland/ our לֵאמֹ֗רle./Mor<to>/ saying קְח֨וּke.Chutake בְיֶדְכֶ֤םve./yed./Khemin/ hand/ your צֵידָה֙tzei.Dahprovision[s]לַדֶּ֔רֶךְla./De.rekhfor the/ journey וּלְכ֖וּu./le.Khuand/ go לִקְרָאתָ֑םli/k.ra.Ta/mto/ meet/ them וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֤םva./'a.mar.Temand/ you will say אֲלֵיהֶם֙'a.lei./Hemto/ them עַבְדֵיכֶ֣ם'av.dei./Khem[are] servants/ your אֲנַ֔חְנוּ'a.Nach.nuwe וְעַתָּ֖הve./'a.Tahand/ therefore כִּרְתוּ־kir.tu-makeלָ֥נוּLa./nuto <the>/ usבְרִֽית׃ve.Rita covenant

King James Version

Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants: therefore now make ye a league with us.

Cross-references

Joshua 9:8 “We are your servants,” they said to Joshua. Then Joshua asked them, “Who are you and where have you come from?”
Esther 8:17 In every province and every city, wherever the king’s edict and decree reached, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many of the people of the land themselves became Jews, because the fear of the Jews had fallen upon them.
Genesis 43:12 Take double the silver with you so that you may return the silver that was put back into the mouths of your sacks. Perhaps it was a mistake.
Joshua 1:11 “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Prepare your provisions, for within three days you will cross the Jordan to go in and take possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess.’”
Matthew 10:9 Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts.
Luke 9:3 “Take nothing for the journey,” He told them, “no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no second tunic.