Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Adam Clarke Commentary

We are in thine hand - Entirely in thy power.

As it seemeth good and right unto thee - do - Whatever justice and mercy dictate to thee to do to us, that perform. They expect justice, because they deceived the Israelites; but they expect mercy also, because they were driven to use this expedient for fear of losing their lives. The appeal to Joshua is full of delicacy and cogent argument.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

And now, behold, we are in thine hand,.... In thy power, and at thy disposal, and are ready to submit to whatsoever may be enjoined us:

as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do; do what is consistent with the laws of kindness, and with the rules of justice, and particularly with the league made, and oath taken; all which they left with him to consider of, and to do as in his wisdom and goodness he should see fit.

Wesley's Explanatory Notes

And now, behold, we are in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do.

In thine hand — That is, in thy power to use us as thou wilt.

Unto thee — We refer ourselves to thee and thy own piety, and probity, and faithfulness to thy word and oath; if thou wilt destroy thy humble suppliants, we submit. Let us in like manner submit to our Lord Jesus, and refer ourselves to him; saying, We are in thy hand; do unto us as seemeth right unto thee. Only save our souls: give us our lives for a prey; and let us serve thee, just as thou wilt!

John Trapp Complete Commentary

Joshua 9:25 And now, behold, we [are] in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do.

Ver. 25. And now, behold, we are in thine hand.] These ambassadors were masters of speech, which they here order very prudently and politically to effect that they came for. An orator, saith Quintilian - so, an ambassador - should be Vir bonus, dicendi peritus, a good man, well able to express himself.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

We are in thine hand, i.e. in thy power to use as thou wilt. We refer ourselves to thee and thy own piety and probity, and faithfulness to thy word and oath; if thou wilt destroy thy humble suppliants, we submit.

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

“And now, behold, we are in your hand. As it seems good and right to you to do to us, do.”

Having admitted their reasons they acknowledged that, apart from disobeying the strict treaty-covenant conditions, Joshua was within his rights to do whatever he wished with them. There seems little doubt that one requirement was submission to the tribal covenant, although not as full members but as resident aliens (2 Samuel 21:2). They would be required to abjure their own religion and worship YHWH and submit to His Law. Their presence is referred to in the future and there is never any suggestion that they led Israel astray. They appear to have genuinely become Yahwists. Indeed as slaves they could be required to.

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments

Joshua 9:25. We are in thy hand, &c. — In thy power to use us as thou wilt. We refer ourselves to thee and thy own piety, probity, and faithfulness, to fulfil thy word and oath; if thou wilt destroy thy humble supplicants, we submit. Let us, in like manner, submit to our Lord Jesus, and refer ourselves to him, saying, We are in thy hand, do unto us as it seemeth right unto thee. Only save our souls: give us our lives for a prey, and let us serve thee just as thou wilt!

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

Thee. They acknowledge not only that Josue is too strong for them, but also that he has a right to punish them for their deceit. They accept, therefore, of whatever terms he is pleased to allow them. (Calmet)

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

we are

Genesis 16:6; Judges 8:15; 2 Samuel 24:14; Isaiah 47:6; Jeremiah 26:14; 38:5

as it seemeth

Judges 10:15; 1 Samuel 3:18; Matthew 11:26