Bible Strands
Joshua 9:2
they came together to wage war against Joshua and Israel.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator reports the coordinated military response of the western kings immediately after they learn of Israel’s victories at Jericho and Ai. This event occurs chronologically between the kings’ awareness in Joshua 9:1 and the Gibeonites’ reaction in Joshua 9:3.
The words — The verb וַ/יִּֽתְקַבְּצ֣וּ (va/i.yit.ka.be.Tzu) indicates a deliberate gathering, while לְ/הִלָּחֵ֥ם (le./hi.la.Chem) specifies the intent to engage in battle. Together they describe a formal coalition assembly rather than a scattered raid.
The thread — The pattern of opposing forces mobilizing against God’s appointed leader recurs in 2 Chronicles 20:1, where Moabites and Ammonites unite against Jehoshaphat. The Psalms later reference this same motif of hostile nations rallying in Psalms 2:1 and Psalms 83:2.
Why it lands — The passage records a factual historical alignment that sets the stage for the Gibeonites’ tactical deception. It requires the reader to recognize how external threats emerge sequentially in the conquest narrative.
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
King James Version
That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.
Cross-references
- 2 Chronicles 20:1 After this, the Moabites and Ammonites, together with some of the Meunites, came to make war against Jehoshaphat.
- Psalms 2:1 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
- Psalms 83:2 See how Your enemies rage, how Your foes have reared their heads.
- Proverbs 11:21 Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will escape.
- Isaiah 8:9 Huddle together, O peoples, and be shattered; pay attention, all you distant lands; prepare for battle, and be shattered; prepare for battle, and be shattered!
- Isaiah 8:12 “Do not call conspiracy everything these people regard as conspiracy. Do not fear what they fear; do not live in dread.
- Isaiah 54:15 If anyone attacks you, it is not from Me; whoever assails you will fall before you.
- Joel 3:9 Proclaim this among the nations: “Prepare for war; rouse the mighty men; let all the men of war advance and attack!
- Acts 4:26 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against His Anointed One.’
- Revelation 16:14 These are demonic spirits that perform signs and go out to all the kings of the earth, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty.