14 And the men take of their provision, and the mouth of Jehovah have not asked;
15 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. 16 And it cometh to pass, at the end of three days after that they have made with them a covenant, that they hear that they 'are' their neighbours—that in their midst they are dwelling. 17 And the sons of Israel journey and come in unto their cities on the third day—and their cities 'are' Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjath-Jearim— 18 and the sons of Israel have not smitten them, for sworn to them have the princes of the company by Jehovah God of Israel, and all the company murmur against the princes. 19 And all the princes say unto all the company, 'We—we have sworn to them by Jehovah, God of Israel; and now, we are not able to come against them; 20 this we do to them, and have kept them alive, and wrath is not upon us, because of the oath which we have sworn to them.' 21 And the princes say unto them, 'They live, and are hewers of wood and drawers of water for all the company, as the princes spake to them.'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Joshua 9:14-21
Commentary on Joshua 9:14-21
(Read Joshua 9:14-21)
The Israelites, having examined the provisions of the Gibeonites, hastily concluded that they confirmed their account. We make more haste than good speed, when we stay not to take God with us, and do not consult him by the word and prayer. The fraud was soon found out. A lying tongue is but for a moment. Had the oath been in itself unlawful, it would not have been binding; for no obligation can render it our duty to commit a sin. But it was not unlawful to spare the Canaanites who submitted, and left idolatry, desiring only that their lives might be spared. A citizen of Zion swears to his own hurt, and changes not, Psalm 15:4. Joshua and the princes, when they found that they had been deceived, did not apply to Eleazar the high priest to be freed from their engagement, much less did they pretend that no faith is to be kept with those to whom they had sworn. Let this convince us how we ought to keep our promises, and make good our bargains; and what conscience we ought to make of our words.