Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Adam Clarke Commentary

Peradventure ye dwell among us - It is strange they should have had such a suspicion, as the Gibeonites had acted so artfully; and it is as strange that, having such a suspicion, they acted with so little caution.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

Compare the marginal references.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites,.... Though they did not know them to be such, but as they afterwards appeared to be the Hivites, as the Gibeonites were, they are here so called, see Joshua 11:19. The name signifies "serpents"; according to a Derash, or mystical exposition, mentioned by Kimchi, the Gibeonites are so called, because they did the work of the serpent; that is to say, they deceived the Israelites, as the serpent deceived Eve:

peradventure ye dwell among us; of which they had some suspicion:

and how shall we make a league with you? which they were forbid to do with any of the seven nations, Deuteronomy 7:2.

Geneva Study Bible

(d) For the Gibeonites and the Hivites were all one people.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us — The answer of the Israelites implied that they had no discretion, that their orders were imperative, and that if the strangers belonged to any of the native tribes, the idea of an alliance with them was unlawful since God had forbidden it (Exodus 23:32; Exodus 34:12; Deuteronomy 7:2).

Wesley's Explanatory Notes

And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you?

The Hivites — That is, the Gibeonites who were Hivites, Joshua 11:19.

Among us — That is, in this land, and so are of that people with whom we are forbidden to make any league or covenant.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

Joshua 9:7 And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you?

Ver. 7. Peradventure ye dwell among us.] Certe qui caret ne decipiatur, vi cavet dum etiam caret.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

The Hivites, i.e. the Gibeonites, who were Hivites, Joshua 11:19.

Among us, i.e. in this land, and so are of that people with whom we are forbidden to make any league or covenant, Exodus 23:32,33 Deu 7:2 20:15,16.

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

‘And the men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps it may be that you dwell among us, and how shall we make a covenant-treaty with you?”

The elders of Israel were not fools. They were suspicious. They wanted proof that these men were what they said they were and not inhabitants of the land. But they did not know that they were Hivites. The fact is pointed out to bring out the folly of what they did. A covenant-treaty with the Hivites was forbidden (Deuteronomy 7:1-2). The Bible tells us that we must be as wise as serpents, and that the elders of Israel in this case were not.

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

7.Said unto the Hivites — The inhabitants of Gibeon were Hivites. See Joshua 11:19.

Peradventure ye dwell among us — The suspicions of the Hebrews are awakened, as they well might have been, Their Canaanitish speech must have betrayed them.

How shall we make a league with you? — This question strongly implies the impossibility of such an act, because it had been expressly forbidden, (Exodus 23:32; Exodus 34:12; Deuteronomy 7:2,) on the ground of the ensnaring and corrupting influence of pagan allies.

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

You. The Gabaonites addressed themselves to the first whom they met in the camp; and these made this remark to them before they were brought into the presence of Josue. The Israelites could make no league with the Chanaanites, as with equals, but only on condition that the latter should embrace the true religion, and acknowledge the dominion of the former. (Grotius) (Exodus xxiii. 32., and Deuteronomy vii. 2.)

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged

And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you?

Peradventure ye dwell among us. The answer of the Israelites implied that they had no discretion, that their orders were imperative, and that if the strangers belonged to any of the native tribes, the idea of an alliance with them was unlawful, since God had forbidden it (Exodus 23:32; Exodus 34:12; Deuteronomy 7:2).

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(7) Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you?—Literally, Peradventure thou art a dweller in the midst of me; and how shall I make a covenant with thee? The Israelites assume the ownership of Canaan as already theirs.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Hivites

11:19; Genesis 10:17; 34:2; Exodus 3:8

how shall

Exodus 23:31-33; 34:12; Numbers 33:52; Deuteronomy 7:2,3; 20:16; Judges 2:2