Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Adam Clarke Commentary

And so did he unto them - That is, he acted according to justice and mercy: he delivered them out of the hands of the people, so that they slew them not - here was mercy; and he made them hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and to the altar of God - here was justice. Thus Joshua did nothing but what was good and right, not only in his own eyes, but also in the eyes of the Lord. How long the Gibeonites were preserved as a distinct people after this, we know not. That they existed in the time of David, is evident from the circumstance mentioned on Joshua 9:19. They are not mentioned after the captivity; and it is probable that they were nearly annihilated by the persecution raised up against them by Saul. Some suppose that the Gibeonites existed under the appellation of Nethinim; but of this there is no decisive proof; the Nethinim were probably slaves of a different race.

On what we meet with in this chapter, we may make the following observations.

1. The Gibeonites told lies, in order to save their lives. No expediency can justify this, nor are we called to attempt it. The Gibeonites were heathens, and we can expect nothing better from them. See note at the end of Joshua 2:24; (note).

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

And so did he unto them,.... What was good and right, he showed them favour, and did them justice:

and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not; who were so incensed against them for imposing on them in the manner they did, that they were ready many of them to draw their swords and slay them; and would have done it, had it not been for the interposition of Joshua, and the orders he gave to the contrary.

Geneva Study Bible

(m) Who were minded to put them to death for fear of God's wrath.

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary

Here, surely, I behold my Jesus, delivering me from the hand of every enemy, and rebuking Satan, who stands to accuse me. Zechariah 3:1-2.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

Joshua 9:26 And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not.

Ver. 26. And delivered them out of the hands of the children of Israel.] Whose fingers even itched, as they say, after the pillage of those great cities: but Joshua staved them off.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

So as was said Joshua 9:23, and so as here follows.

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

26.And delivered them — The people were clamorous for their blood. Joshua shows his great courage and fidelity to his convictions by resisting the pressure of the outraged and excited populace, who in mobocratic madness would have swept away a weaker ruler.