Greek Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The Book of Joshua, Chapter 9ΙΗΣΟΥΣ Θ′

Each verse opens with the running Greek, an English translation, and a discourse note (its connective, relation, and role in the argument). Below follows the word-by-word breakdown in six tiers: gloss, case (color), parsing, syntax, semantic force, and a lexical note.

Case Nominative Genitive Dative Accusative Vocative Verb (no case) Indeclinable

Discourse notes head each verse: relation · connective · clause-flow. Indentation marks prominence — flush-left = main line of argument; indented = supporting / subordinate material.

Theme

Gibeon's deception secures peace because Israel judges by appearance without inquiring of the Lord.

Translation & textual notes

The Greek text of Joshua 9 follows the standard critical text of the Septuagint as established in the Rahlfs–Hanhart edition (Septuaginta, rev. ed. 2006), an ancient and public-domain text; the critical apparatus is not reproduced. The chapter is famous for two features. First, its arrangement differs strikingly from the Masoretic Text: the Mount Ebal altar-and-law pericope which the MT places at Joshua 8:30–35 appears in the LXX as an expansion within 9:2 (here marked [a]–[f]), so that the muster of the kings (9:1–2 ἅμα πάντες) is immediately followed by Joshua building an altar of whole, unhewn stones on Mount Γαιβαλ (Gebal/Ebal), offering ὁλοκαυτώματα and a θυσία σωτηρίου, writing 'the Deuteronomy' (τὸ δευτερονόμιον, the LXX's term for the copy of the law) on the stones, and reading all the blessings and curses before the whole ἐκκλησία (cf. Deut 27). Second, and the chapter's theological centre, is the Gibeonite deception. Having heard what the LORD did to Jericho and Ai, the inhabitants of Gibeon act ἐν πανουργίᾳ ('with craftiness', v. 4): dressed in worn-out sacks and old, burst, and bound-up wineskins (ἀσκοὺς οἴνου παλαιοὺς καὶ κατερρωγότας), carrying dry, moldy, gnawed bread (ξηρὸς καὶ εὐρωτιῶν καὶ βεβρωμένος), they pretend to have come ἐκ γῆς μακρόθεν σφόδρα ('from a very far land', v. 9) and so secure a covenant and a sworn oath of peace (vv. 6–15). The hinge of the narrative is the indictment of v. 14: καὶ κύριον οὐκ ἐπηρώτησαν — 'and they did not inquire of the LORD'; Israel's leaders judge by appearance (the moldy bread, the patched sandals) and neglect the oracle, the very failure the chapter exposes. When the deception is discovered after three days (v. 16), the oath sworn κύριον τὸν θεὸν Ισραηλ ('by the LORD the God of Israel', v. 18) is honoured despite the murmuring (διεγόγγυσαν) of the whole congregation — a covenant kept even when fraudulently obtained, whose later violation by Saul brings famine on Israel (cf. 2 Sam 21:1–9). The resolution makes the Gibeonites ξυλοκόποι καὶ ὑδροφόροι ('hewers of wood and drawers of water', vv. 21, 27) for the congregation and for the altar of God ἕως τῆς σήμερον ἡμέρας ('to this present day'). Note the LXX's Χορραῖον ('Horite', v. 7) where the MT reads 'Hivite', and the place-names Γαβαων (Gibeon), Γαλγαλα (Gilgal), Κεφιρα, Βηρωθ, and Ιαριν.

1

ὡς δ᾿ ἤκουσαν οἱ βασιλεῖς τῶν Αμορραίων οἱ ἐν τῷ πέραν τοῦ Ιορδάνου οἱ ἐν τῇ ὀρεινῇ καὶ οἱ ἐν τῇ πεδινῇ καὶ οἱ ἐν πάσῃ τῇ παραλίᾳ τῆς θαλάσσης τῆς μεγάλης καὶ οἱ πρὸς τῷ Ἀντιλιβάνῳ καὶ οἱ Χετταῖοι καὶ οἱ Χαναναῖοι καὶ οἱ Φερεζαῖοι καὶ οἱ Ευαῖοι καὶ οἱ Αμορραῖοι καὶ οἱ Γεργεσαῖοι καὶ οἱ Ιεβουσαῖοι

Now when the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan — those in the hill country and those in the lowland and those along all the coast of the Great Sea and those toward Antilebanon — heard, namely the Hittites and the Canaanites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Amorites and the Girgashites and the Jebusites,

Temporal protasis opening a new narrative panel (the report of Israel's victories provokes a coalition)ὡς δ᾿ ἤκουσαν
The temporal ὡς-clause with δέ marks a fresh narrative movement after the fall of Ai (ch. 8). The verb ἤκουσαν ('heard') is the trigger of the whole chapter: the western kings hear and unite for war (vv. 1–2), but the Gibeonites hear and resort to craft (v. 3) — the same report yields two opposite responses. The long catalogue of peoples and regions sweeps the whole land of Canaan into the coalition.
Word-by-word analysis· 58 words
ὡςwhen / astemporal conjunction (introducing protasis)ὡς: here temporal, 'when / as soon as'; renders Hebrew כְּ + infinitive (כִּשְׁמֹעַ); introduces the circumstance — the kings' hearing — that sets the chapter in motion.
δ᾿now / butnarrative continuative (post-positive, elided δέ)δέ (elided δ᾿ before vowel): post-positive particle marking a new narrative panel after the conquest of Ai.
ἤκουσανheardAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀκούωmain verb of the temporal clause→ constative aorist (the hearing as a single completed event)ἀκούω: 'hear / heed'; renders שָׁמַע; the verb is the hinge of the chapter — the kings hear and gather for war, the Gibeonites (v. 3) hear and devise a ruse; report of YHWH's acts demands a response.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with βασιλεῖς)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεῖςkingsNominativesubject (plural)βασιλεύς: 'king'; renders מֶלֶךְ; the Canaanite city-kings who form the western coalition against Israel; their collective muster (v. 2) is the foil to the Gibeonite stratagem.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with Αμορραίων)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑμορραίωνAmoritesGenitivegenitive (peoples ruled by the kings)Αμορραῖος: 'Amorite'; gentilic rendering אֱמֹרִי; here 'Amorites' functions as a general term for the hill-country populations of Canaan, of whom the listed kings are sovereigns.
οἱthe (ones)Nominativearticle (substantival: 'those')οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνin / beyondpreposition + dative (location)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῷtheDativearticle (substantivizing the adverb πέραν)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πέρανbeyond / the far sideadverb (improper preposition, substantivized with τῷ: 'the region beyond')πέραν: indeclinable adverb 'on the other side / across'; renders עֵבֶר; ἐν τῷ πέραν τοῦ Ιορδάνου = 'in the region across the Jordan', i.e. the western (cisjordan) territory from the narrator's vantage.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with Ιορδάνου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνουJordanGenitivegenitive (with πέραν: 'beyond the Jordan')Ιορδάνης: the Jordan river; declined as a first-declension masculine in the LXX (gen. Ιορδάνου); renders יַרְדֵּן.
οἱthoseNominativearticle (substantival)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῇtheDativearticle (with ὀρεινῇ)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀρεινῇhill countryDativesubstantival adjective (geographic zone)ὀρεινός, ‑ή: 'mountainous'; the feminine ὀρεινή (sc. χώρα) = 'the hill country'; renders הָהָר; the first of four geographic zones (hill country, lowland, coast, Antilebanon) sweeping the whole land into the coalition.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οἱthoseNominativearticle (substantival)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῇtheDativearticle (with πεδινῇ)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πεδινῇlowland / plainDativesubstantival adjective (geographic zone)πεδινός, ‑ή: 'level / flat'; the feminine πεδινή (sc. χώρα) = 'the lowland / plain'; renders הַשְּׁפֵלָה (the Shephelah); the second geographic zone of the coalition.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οἱthoseNominativearticle (substantival)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνin / alongpreposition + dative (location)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
πάσῃallDativeattributive adjective (modifying παραλίᾳ)πᾶς: 'all / whole'; 'along all the coast' stresses the totality of the seaboard populations joined to the muster.
τῇtheDativearticle (with παραλίᾳ)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παραλίᾳcoast / seaboardDativesubstantival adjective (geographic zone)παράλιος: 'beside the sea, coastal'; the feminine παραλία (sc. χώρα/γῆ) = 'the seacoast'; renders חוֹף הַיָּם; the third geographic zone, the Mediterranean littoral.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with θαλάσσης)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θαλάσσηςseaGenitivegenitive (defining παραλίᾳ: 'coast of the sea')θάλασσα: 'sea'; renders יָם; here the Great Sea, the Mediterranean.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with μεγάλης)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μεγάληςgreatGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying θαλάσσης)μέγας: 'great'; ἡ θάλασσα ἡ μεγάλη = 'the Great Sea', the standard LXX designation for the Mediterranean (cf. Num 34:6; Josh 1:4).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οἱthoseNominativearticle (substantival)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρὸςtoward / nearpreposition + dative (proximity)πρός + dative: 'near / hard by'; the dative (rather than accusative) marks static proximity, 'those near Antilebanon'.
τῷtheDativearticle (with Ἀντιλιβάνῳ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἈντιλιβάνῳAntilebanonDativeobject of πρός (geographic zone, fourth and northernmost)Ἀντιλίβανος: 'Antilebanon', the mountain range east of and parallel to Lebanon; declinable Greek compound (ἀντι- + Λίβανος); renders the Lebanon range (לְבָנוֹן), marking the northern limit of the coalition.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the list of peoples)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with Χετταῖοι)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΧετταῖοιHittitesNominativeappositional subject (first of the seven nations)Χετταῖος: 'Hittite'; renders חִתִּי; first member of the seven-nation list (cf. Deut 7:1) cataloguing the inhabitants whom the coalition comprises.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΧαναναῖοιCanaanitesNominativeappositional subjectΧαναναῖος: 'Canaanite'; renders כְּנַעֲנִי; the second of the seven nations.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΦερεζαῖοιPerizzitesNominativeappositional subjectΦερεζαῖος: 'Perizzite'; renders פְּרִזִּי; the third of the seven nations.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΕυαῖοιHivitesNominativeappositional subjectΕυαῖος: 'Hivite'; renders חִוִּי; the fourth of the seven nations — and the very people to whom the Gibeonites belong (cf. v. 7, where the LXX reads Χορραῖον, 'Horite').
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑμορραῖοιAmoritesNominativeappositional subjectΑμορραῖος: 'Amorite'; renders אֱמֹרִי; the fifth of the seven nations, here listed specifically alongside the others though used generically in v. 1a.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΓεργεσαῖοιGirgashitesNominativeappositional subjectΓεργεσαῖος: 'Girgashite'; renders גִּרְגָּשִׁי; the sixth of the seven nations.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙεβουσαῖοιJebusitesNominativeappositional subject (seventh of the seven nations)Ιεβουσαῖος: 'Jebusite'; renders יְבוּסִי; the seventh and last of the seven nations (cf. Deut 7:1), the people of Jerusalem (Jebus); the complete list signals that all Canaan is arrayed against Israel.
2

συνήλθοσαν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ ἐκπολεμῆσαι Ἰησοῦν καὶ Ισραηλ ἅμα πάντες τότε ᾠκοδόμησεν Ἰησοῦς θυσιαστήριον κυρίῳ τῷ θεῷ Ισραηλ ἐν ὄρει Γαιβαλ καθότι ἐνετείλατο Μωυσῆς ὁ θεράπων κυρίου τοῖς υἱοῖς Ισραηλ καθὰ γέγραπται ἐν τῷ νόμῳ Μωυσῆ θυσιαστήριον λίθων ὁλοκλήρων ἐφ᾿ οὓς οὐκ ἐπεβλήθη σίδηρος καὶ ἀνεβίβασεν ἐκεῖ ὁλοκαυτώματα κυρίῳ καὶ θυσίαν σωτηρίου καὶ ἔγραψεν Ἰησοῦς ἐπὶ τῶν λίθων τὸ δευτερονόμιον νόμον Μωυσῆ ὃν ἔγραψεν ἐνώπιον υἱῶν Ισραηλ καὶ πᾶς Ισραηλ καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι αὐτῶν καὶ οἱ δικασταὶ καὶ οἱ γραμματεῖς αὐτῶν παρεπορεύοντο ἔνθεν καὶ ἔνθεν τῆς κιβωτοῦ ἀπέναντι καὶ οἱ ἱερεῖς καὶ οἱ Λευῖται ἦραν τὴν κιβωτὸν τῆς διαθήκης κυρίου καὶ ὁ προσήλυτος καὶ ὁ αὐτόχθων οἳ ἦσαν ἥμισυ πλησίον ὄρους Γαριζιν καὶ οἳ ἦσαν ἥμισυ πλησίον ὄρους Γαιβαλ καθότι ἐνετείλατο Μωυσῆς ὁ θεράπων κυρίου εὐλογῆσαι τὸν λαὸν ἐν πρώτοις καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα οὕτως ἀνέγνω Ἰησοῦς πάντα τὰ ῥήματα τοῦ νόμου τούτου τὰς εὐλογίας καὶ τὰς κατάρας κατὰ πάντα τὰ γεγραμμένα ἐν τῷ νόμῳ Μωυσῆ οὐκ ἦν ῥῆμα ἀπὸ πάντων ὧν ἐνετείλατο Μωυσῆς τῷ Ἰησοῖ ὃ οὐκ ἀνέγνω Ἰησοῦς εἰς τὰ ὦτα πάσης ἐκκλησίας υἱῶν Ισραηλ τοῖς ἀνδράσιν καὶ ταῖς γυναιξὶν καὶ τοῖς παιδίοις καὶ τοῖς προσηλύτοις τοῖς προσπορευομένοις τῷ Ισραηλ

they came together to the same place to make war on Joshua and Israel, all of them together. [a] Then Joshua built an altar to the LORD the God of Israel on Mount Gebal, [b] just as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded the sons of Israel, as it is written in the law of Moses — an altar of whole stones upon which no iron had been laid; and he offered up there whole burnt offerings to the LORD and a sacrifice of deliverance. [c] And Joshua wrote upon the stones the Deuteronomy, the law of Moses, which he wrote before the sons of Israel. [d] And all Israel and their elders and the judges and their scribes were passing along on this side and on that side of the ark, opposite it, and the priests and the Levites carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD; and the sojourner and the native, who were half near Mount Garizin and half near Mount Gebal, just as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded, to bless the people first of all. [e] And after these things, thus did Joshua read all the words of this law, the blessings and the curses, according to all that is written in the law of Moses. [f] There was not a word, out of all that Moses commanded Joshua, which Joshua did not read into the ears of the whole assembly of the sons of Israel — to the men and the women and the little children and the sojourners who were joining themselves to Israel.

Apodosis of v.1 (the coalition's response) + transposed Mount Gebal altar pericope [a]–[f]συνήλθοσαν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό
The main clause answers the ὡς-clause of v.1: the kings συνήλθοσαν ('gathered') for war. The LXX then carries here, marked [a]–[f], the altar-and-law pericope that the MT places at 8:30–35: Joshua builds the Mount Gebal altar of unhewn stones, offers sacrifices, inscribes the δευτερονόμιον on the stones, processes the ark with priests, Levites, sojourners, and natives toward Mounts Garizin and Gebal, and reads aloud all the blessings and curses (cf. Deut 27). The placement creates an arresting juxtaposition: a hostile muster set beside Israel's covenant renewal in obedience to Moses.
Word-by-word analysis· 191 words
συνήλθοσανthey came togetherAor Act Indic 3 Pl · συνέρχομαιmain verb (the coalition assembles)→ constative aorist (the muster as a single event)συνέρχομαι: 'come together / assemble'; the form συνήλθοσαν shows the Alexandrian/Hellenistic aorist ending ‑οσαν (for classical ‑ον); renders אָסַף / קָבַץ; the kings unite militarily — the foil to the Gibeonites' separate stratagem.
ἐπὶto / atpreposition + accusative (in the idiom ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό)ἐπὶ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (in the idiom ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αὐτὸsame (place)Accusativesubstantival (ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό: 'together / in one place')αὐτός: the idiom ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό = 'to the same place / together as one'; a fixed LXX expression for united assembly (cf. Ps 2:2; the same phrase recurs in the NT, Acts 2:1).
ἐκπολεμῆσαιto make war onAor Act Inf · ἐκπολεμέωinfinitive of purpose→ purpose aorist infinitive (intended hostility)ἐκπολεμέω: 'wage war against, fight out'; the compound ἐκ- intensifies (war to the finish); the purpose infinitive states the aim of the muster — total war on Joshua and Israel.
ἸησοῦνJoshuaAccusativedirect object of ἐκπολεμῆσαιἸησοῦς: 'Joshua' (Hebrew יְהוֹשֻׁעַ); a declinable Greek noun (acc. Ἰησοῦν, gen./dat. Ἰησοῦ/Ἰησοῖ); the same name later borne by Jesus, making the LXX Joshua a typological figure.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΙσραηλIsraelsecond object of ἐκπολεμῆσαι (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: transliteration of יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable in the LXX; here the corporate people who, with Joshua, are the target of the coalition.
ἅμαtogether / at onceadverb (modifying συνήλθοσαν: 'all at once')ἅμα: 'at the same time / together'; renders יַחְדָּו; emphasises the unanimity and simultaneity of the coalition's mustering.
πάντεςallNominativepredicate adjective in apposition to the subject (the kings)πᾶς: 'all'; ἅμα πάντες = 'all together', closing the muster-clause before the transposed altar pericope begins.
τότεthentemporal adverb (opening section [a])τότε: 'then / at that time'; renders אָז; opens the transposed altar pericope (MT 8:30), marking the temporal setting of the covenant ceremony at Mount Gebal.
ᾠκοδόμησενbuiltAor Act Indic 3 Sg · οἰκοδομέωmain verb of section [a]→ constative aorist (the altar's construction)οἰκοδομέω: 'build'; renders בָּנָה; Joshua's building of the altar fulfils Moses' command of Deut 27:4–6 to erect an altar of unhewn stones on Mount Ebal.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubjectἸησοῦς: nominative; Joshua acts as covenant-mediator, building the altar and reading the law in Moses' stead.
θυσιαστήριονaltarAccusativedirect object of ᾠκοδόμησενθυσιαστήριον: 'altar (of sacrifice)'; the LXX's distinctive term (lit. 'place of sacrifice') reserved for legitimate Israelite/divine altars, in contrast to βωμός used of pagan altars; renders מִזְבֵּחַ.
κυρίῳto the LORDDativedative of advantage (the altar's dedicatee)κύριος: the LXX's rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the dative marks the altar as built for YHWH; the appositional τῷ θεῷ Ισραηλ identifies him as the covenant God of Israel.
τῷtheDativearticle (with θεῷ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεῷGodDativedative in apposition to κυρίῳθεός: 'God'; κυρίῳ τῷ θεῷ Ισραηλ ('to the LORD the God of Israel') is a standard LXX covenant title binding YHWH to the people.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitival relation to θεῷ (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable; here in genitival relation, 'the God of Israel'.
ἐνonpreposition + dative (location)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ὄρειmountainDativedative of place (location of the altar)ὄρος: 'mountain'; renders הַר; the altar is built on Mount Gebal (Ebal), the mountain of curse in Deut 27:13 — paradoxically the site chosen for the altar of sacrifice and the writing of the law.
ΓαιβαλGebal (Ebal)indeclinable place-name (in apposition to ὄρει)Γαιβαλ: transliteration of עֵיבָל (Ebal); indeclinable; the mountain north of Shechem, opposite Mount Gerizim (Γαριζιν), where Moses commanded the altar and the recitation of the curses (Deut 11:29; 27:4, 13).
καθότιjust assubordinating conjunction (opening section [b])καθότι: 'according as / just as / because'; renders כַּאֲשֶׁר; introduces the conformity of Joshua's act to Moses' command, stressing exact obedience to Torah.
ἐνετείλατοcommandedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιverb of the καθότι-clause→ constative aorist (Moses' prior command)ἐντέλλομαι: 'command / enjoin'; deponent; renders צִוָּה; the standard LXX verb for Mosaic legislation; Joshua's altar conforms exactly to what Moses commanded.
ΜωυσῆςMosesNominativesubject of ἐνετείλατοΜωυσῆς: transliteration of מֹשֶׁה; declined as a second-declension noun (gen. Μωυσῆ, dat. Μωυσῇ/Μωυσῆ, acc. Μωυσῆν); titled ὁ θεράπων κυρίου, 'the servant of the LORD'.
theNominativearticle (with θεράπων)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεράπωνservant / attendantNominativenominative in apposition to Μωυσῆςθεράπων: 'attendant / minister'; a more dignified term than δοῦλος; ὁ θεράπων κυρίου is Moses' honorific title (Num 12:7; Heb 3:5), marking his unique standing as YHWH's trusted servant.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of relationship (with θεράπων)κύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; ὁ θεράπων κυρίου binds Moses' authority to YHWH himself, so that obeying Moses' command is obeying the LORD.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with υἱοῖς)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativeindirect object (recipients of the command)υἱός: 'son'; οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ('the sons of Israel') is the standard LXX designation for the covenant people; dative as the addressees of Moses' command.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitival relation to υἱοῖς (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
καθὰas / according assubordinating conjunction (comparative)καθά: 'just as / according as'; renders כַּאֲשֶׁר; introduces the appeal to the written record ('as it is written').
γέγραπταιit is writtenPerf Pass Indic 3 Sg · γράφωverb of the καθά-clause (citation formula)→ resultative perfect (a standing written record)γράφω: 'write'; the perfect γέγραπται ('it stands written') is the classic citation formula for an authoritative, abiding text; renders כָּתוּב; appeals to the Mosaic law as fixed Scripture.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location of the text)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῷtheDativearticle (with νόμῳ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νόμῳlawDativedative of place (the written law)νόμος: 'law'; renders תּוֹרָה; ἐν τῷ νόμῳ Μωυσῆ ('in the law of Moses') is the standard designation for the Pentateuchal legislation, here specifically Deut 27:5–6.
Μωυσῆof MosesGenitivegenitive of authorship (with νόμῳ)Μωυσῆς: genitive Μωυσῆ; 'the law of Moses' attributes the Torah to Moses as its mediator.
θυσιαστήριονan altarAccusativeaccusative in apposition (specifying the altar built)θυσιαστήριον: resumes the altar of [a], now specified as one of whole, unhewn stones per Deut 27:5–6.
λίθωνof stonesGenitivegenitive of material (with θυσιαστήριον)λίθος: 'stone'; renders אֶבֶן; the altar of stones recalls the prohibition of hewn stone touched by iron tools (Exod 20:25; Deut 27:5).
ὁλοκλήρωνwhole / unhewnGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying λίθων)ὁλόκληρος: 'whole / entire / intact'; renders שָׁלֵם ('whole, unhewn'); the stones must be uncut — natural and undivided — because human tooling would profane the altar; the LXX uses ὁλόκληρος elsewhere of unblemished completeness.
ἐφ᾿uponpreposition + accusative (elided ἐπί before relative)ἐφ᾿: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
οὓςwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐφ᾿, antecedent λίθων)ὅς: relative pronoun; 'upon which (stones)'; introduces the qualification that no iron tool was used.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἐπεβλήθη)οὐκ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐπεβλήθηwas laid uponAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιβάλλωverb of the relative clause→ constative aorist passive (no iron was ever applied)ἐπιβάλλω: 'lay / put upon'; the passive ἐπεβλήθη with οὐκ states that no iron tool was ever applied to the stones, fulfilling Deut 27:5 — the altar must be untouched by human cutting-tools.
σίδηροςironNominativesubject of ἐπεβλήθησίδηρος: 'iron'; renders בַּרְזֶל; metonymy for an iron tool/chisel; its exclusion preserves the altar's natural, un-profaned character.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀνεβίβασενhe offered up / brought upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναβιβάζωmain verb (Joshua offers sacrifice)→ constative aorist (the offering of sacrifice)ἀναβιβάζω: 'cause to go up / bring up / offer up'; causative of ἀναβαίνω; renders הֶעֱלָה ('cause to ascend', the technical term for offering a burnt sacrifice that 'goes up' to God in smoke).
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (at the altar)ἐκεῖ: 'there'; renders שָׁם; locates the sacrifices at the newly built Mount Gebal altar.
ὁλοκαυτώματαwhole burnt offeringsAccusativedirect object of ἀνεβίβασενὁλοκαύτωμα: 'whole burnt offering'; lit. 'wholly burned'; renders עֹלָה; the offering entirely consumed by fire, signifying total dedication to YHWH (Deut 27:6).
κυρίῳto the LORDDativedative of advantage (recipient of the offering)κύριος: the Tetragrammaton; the sacrifices are offered to YHWH alone.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
θυσίανsacrificeAccusativedirect object of ἀνεβίβασεν (coordinate with ὁλοκαυτώματα)θυσία: 'sacrifice / offering'; renders זֶבַח; here the θυσία σωτηρίου, the peace/fellowship offering, eaten in communion before God.
σωτηρίουof deliverance / peace-offeringGenitivegenitive of definition (with θυσίαν)σωτήριον: 'salvation / deliverance / well-being'; θυσία σωτηρίου is the LXX's standard rendering of זֶבַח שְׁלָמִים ('peace/fellowship offering'); the genitive defines the kind of sacrifice — one expressing covenant communion and gratitude.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (opening section [c])καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔγραψενwroteAor Act Indic 3 Sg · γράφωmain verb of section [c]→ constative aorist (the inscribing of the law)γράφω: 'write'; renders כָּתַב; Joshua inscribes a copy of the law on the altar-stones, fulfilling Deut 27:8 ('write on the stones all the words of this law').
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubject of ἔγραψενἸησοῦς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + genitive (surface inscribed)ἐπὶ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with λίθων)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λίθωνstonesGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί (surface of the inscription)λίθος: 'stone'; the same altar-stones now bear the inscribed law, fulfilling Deut 27:8.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with δευτερονόμιον)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δευτερονόμιονthe Deuteronomy / copy of the lawAccusativedirect object of ἔγραψενδευτερονόμιον: 'second law / copy of the law'; the LXX coinage (δεύτερος + νόμος) rendering מִשְׁנֵה הַתּוֹרָה ('a copy of this law', Deut 17:18); from this very word the book of Deuteronomy takes its Greek and English name; here it denotes the inscribed copy of the law on the stones.
νόμονlawAccusativeaccusative in apposition to δευτερονόμιοννόμος: 'law'; νόμον Μωυσῆ ('the law of Moses') glosses δευτερονόμιον, identifying the inscribed copy as the Mosaic Torah.
Μωυσῆof MosesGenitivegenitive of authorship (with νόμον)Μωυσῆ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ὃνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of the following ἔγραψεν)ὅς: relative pronoun, antecedent νόμον/δευτερονόμιον; introduces the clause specifying the public setting of the writing.
ἔγραψενhe wroteAor Act Indic 3 Sg · γράφωverb of the relative clause→ constative aorist (the act of inscribing, repeated for emphasis)γράφω: the repetition (ἔγραψεν ... ὃν ἔγραψεν) underscores that the inscribing was done publicly, ἐνώπιον υἱῶν Ισραηλ ('before the sons of Israel').
ἐνώπιονbefore / in the presence ofimproper preposition + genitiveἐνώπιον: 'before / in the sight of'; renders לִפְנֵי / לְעֵינֵי; stresses the public, witnessed character of the covenant inscription.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivegenitive object of ἐνώπιονυἱός: 'son'; υἱῶν Ισραηλ, 'the sons of Israel', the witnessing assembly.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitival relation to υἱῶν (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (opening section [d])καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πᾶςallNominativeattributive adjective (with Ισραηλ: 'all Israel')πᾶς: 'all / whole'; πᾶς Ισραηλ ('all Israel') heads the list of participants in the covenant procession around the ark.
ΙσραηλIsraelsubject (indeclinable; with πᾶς)Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with πρεσβύτεροι)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρεσβύτεροιeldersNominativesubject (coordinate)πρεσβύτερος: 'elder'; renders זָקֵן; the tribal/clan leaders, here among those processing with the ark.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with δικασταί)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δικασταὶjudgesNominativesubject (coordinate)δικαστής: 'judge'; renders שֹׁפֵט / שֹׁטֵר; the judicial officers of Israel, listed among the covenant participants.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with γραμματεῖς)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γραμματεῖςscribes / officersNominativesubject (coordinate)γραμματεύς: 'scribe / official'; renders שֹׁטֵר ('officer'); the administrative officers who, with elders and judges, represent the whole organised community.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
παρεπορεύοντοwere passing alongImpf Mid Indic 3 Pl · παραπορεύομαιmain verb of section [d] (the procession)→ descriptive imperfect (the ongoing procession alongside the ark)παραπορεύομαι: 'pass along / proceed beside'; deponent; the imperfect depicts the people moving in two flanks beside the ark; renders עָבַר / עָמַד; the ceremonial procession of Deut 27:11–13.
ἔνθενon this sideadverb of place (correlative)ἔνθεν: 'hence / on this side'; the correlative pair ἔνθεν καὶ ἔνθεν = 'on this side and on that side', rendering מִזֶּה וּמִזֶּה; the people flank the ark.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (correlative)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔνθενon that sideadverb of place (correlative)ἔνθεν: second member of the correlative pair, completing 'on this side and on that side of the ark'.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with κιβωτοῦ)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κιβωτοῦarkGenitivegenitive (the ark flanked by the procession)κιβωτός: 'box / chest / ark'; renders אֲרוֹן; the ark of the covenant, the focal point of the procession.
ἀπέναντιopposite / beforeimproper preposition / adverb (position relative to the ark)ἀπέναντι: 'opposite / over against / in front of'; renders נֶגֶד; here adverbial, 'facing it', describing the people's stance toward the ark.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with ἱερεῖς)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερεῖςpriestsNominativesubject (of ἦραν)ἱερεύς: 'priest'; renders כֹּהֵן; the priests, with the Levites, bear the ark.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with Λευῖται)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΛευῖταιLevitesNominativesubject (coordinate with ἱερεῖς)Λευίτης: 'Levite'; declinable Greek noun (nom. pl. Λευῖται); renders לֵוִי; the tribe consecrated to carry the ark and minister at the sanctuary.
ἦρανcarried / liftedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · αἴρωmain verb (priests and Levites bear the ark)→ constative aorist (the bearing of the ark)αἴρω: 'take up / lift / carry'; renders נָשָׂא; the priests and Levites bear the ark, as prescribed for its transport (Deut 31:9).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with κιβωτόν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κιβωτὸνarkAccusativedirect object of ἦρανκιβωτός: 'ark'; here τὴν κιβωτὸν τῆς διαθήκης κυρίου, 'the ark of the covenant of the LORD', the full covenant title.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with διαθήκης)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διαθήκηςcovenantGenitivegenitive of content (the ark of the covenant)διαθήκη: 'covenant / testament'; renders בְּרִית; the same word that dominates the Gibeonite episode (διάθεσθε διαθήκην, vv. 6, 11, 15) — here the ark embodies Israel's covenant with YHWH, soon to be set beside a covenant fraudulently obtained.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive (the covenant's divine party)κύριος: the Tetragrammaton; the ark of the covenant of YHWH.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
theNominativearticle (with προσήλυτος)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προσήλυτοςsojourner / proselyteNominativesubject (with αὐτόχθων)προσήλυτος: 'newcomer / resident alien / proselyte'; the LXX coinage rendering גֵּר ('sojourner'); paired with αὐτόχθων ('native'), it includes the resident foreigner in the covenant assembly — a poignant note given that the Gibeonites will seek to be incorporated by deceit.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
theNominativearticle (with αὐτόχθων)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αὐτόχθωνnative / native-bornNominativesubject (with προσήλυτος)αὐτόχθων: 'native / indigenous (born of the land)'; renders אֶזְרָח; the native Israelite, contrasted with the προσήλυτος; together they express the full breadth of the covenant community.
οἳwhoNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ἦσαν)ὅς: relative pronoun, plural, referring to the whole assembly arrayed by halves on the two mountains.
ἦσανwereImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίverb of the relative clause (positioning of the people)→ descriptive imperfect (their standing arrangement)εἰμί: 'be'; the imperfect describes the people's standing position — half toward Mount Garizin, half toward Mount Gebal — per Deut 27:12–13.
ἥμισυhalfNominativepredicate (adverbial: 'half of them')ἥμισυς: 'half'; neuter ἥμισυ used adverbially, 'half (of them)'; renders חֲצִי; the people are divided between the two mountains for the blessings and curses.
πλησίονnearimproper preposition + genitive (proximity)πλησίον: 'near / close to'; here governing a genitive (ὄρους), 'near the mountain'; renders מוּל / נֶגֶד.
ὄρουςmountainGenitivegenitive with πλησίονὄρος: 'mountain'; here Mount Garizin, the mountain of blessing (Deut 27:12).
ΓαριζινGarizin (Gerizim)indeclinable place-name (with ὄρους)Γαριζιν: transliteration of גְּרִזִּים (Gerizim); indeclinable; the mountain south of Shechem designated for the blessing, opposite Mount Gebal (Ebal) for the curse (Deut 11:29; 27:12–13).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οἳwhoNominativerelative pronoun (subject of the second ἦσαν)ὅς: relative pronoun; introduces the second half of the people, toward Mount Gebal.
ἦσανwereImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίverb of the relative clause→ descriptive imperfectεἰμί: the second 'were', positioning the other half of the people near Mount Gebal.
ἥμισυhalfNominativepredicate (adverbial: 'half of them')ἥμισυς: the second 'half', balancing the division of the people between the two mountains.
πλησίονnearimproper preposition + genitive (proximity)πλησίον: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ὄρουςmountainGenitivegenitive with πλησίονὄρους: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΓαιβαλGebal (Ebal)indeclinable place-name (with ὄρους)Γαιβαλ: Mount Ebal again, the mountain of curse; the two halves of Israel face one another across the valley of Shechem.
καθότιjust assubordinating conjunctionκαθότι: 'just as / according as'; again grounds the ceremony in Moses' command (Deut 27).
ἐνετείλατοcommandedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιverb of the καθότι-clause→ constative aorist (Moses' prior command)ἐντέλλομαι: 'command'; the procession and division conform to Moses' instruction.
ΜωυσῆςMosesNominativesubject of ἐνετείλατοΜωυσῆς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
theNominativearticle (with θεράπων)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεράπωνservantNominativenominative in apposition to Μωυσῆςθεράπων: 'servant / minister'; the recurring honorific ὁ θεράπων κυρίου, reinforcing that the ceremony rests on YHWH's own authority through Moses.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of relationshipκυρίου: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
εὐλογῆσαιto blessAor Act Inf · εὐλογέωinfinitive of purpose (the aim of the ceremony)→ purpose aorist infinitive (the blessing of the people)εὐλογέω: 'bless / speak well of'; renders בֵּרַךְ; the purpose of the gathering — to pronounce the covenant blessing on the people (Deut 27–28); the curses (κατάρας) follow in section [e].
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with λαόν)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸνpeopleAccusativedirect object of εὐλογῆσαιλαός: 'people'; renders עַם; the covenant people who receive the blessing.
ἐνamong / atpreposition + dative (in the idiom ἐν πρώτοις)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
πρώτοιςfirst (of all)Dativesubstantival adjective (ἐν πρώτοις: 'first of all / at the first')πρῶτος: 'first'; the idiom ἐν πρώτοις = 'first of all / in the first place'; the blessing of the people is the priority of the ceremony before the reading of the curses.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (opening section [e])καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
μετὰafterpreposition + accusative (temporal)μετὰ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ταῦταthese thingsAccusativeobject of μετά (μετὰ ταῦτα: 'after these things')οὗτος: demonstrative; μετὰ ταῦτα ('after these things') is a standard LXX temporal connector advancing to the climactic reading of the law.
οὕτωςthus / in this manneradverb of manner (resumptive)οὕτως: 'thus / so'; renders כֵּן; resumptive, framing the reading of the law as the consummating act of the ceremony.
ἀνέγνωread aloudAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναγινώσκωmain verb of section [e]→ constative aorist (the public reading of the law)ἀναγινώσκω: 'read / read aloud / recognize'; renders קָרָא; the public recitation of the law before the assembly (Deut 31:11); the LXX uses this verb for authoritative liturgical reading of Scripture.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubject of ἀνέγνωἸησοῦς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (with ῥήματα)πᾶς: 'all'; πάντα τὰ ῥήματα ('all the words') stresses the completeness of the reading — nothing omitted, anticipating v. [f]'s emphatic 'there was not a word ... which he did not read'.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with ῥήματα)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥήματαwordsAccusativedirect object of ἀνέγνωῥῆμα: 'word / thing said'; renders דָּבָר; here the words of the law, both blessings and curses.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with νόμου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νόμουlawGenitivegenitive (the words belonging to the law)νόμος: 'law'; τοῦ νόμου τούτου, 'this law' — the Mosaic Torah being publicly proclaimed.
τούτουthisGenitiveattributive demonstrative (with νόμου)οὗτος: demonstrative; 'this law', the specific covenant document inscribed and read at Gebal.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with εὐλογίας)τὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
εὐλογίαςblessingsAccusativeaccusative in apposition to ῥήματαεὐλογία: 'blessing'; renders בְּרָכָה; the covenant blessings of Deut 28:1–14, recited from Mount Garizin.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with κατάρας)τὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κατάραςcursesAccusativeaccusative in apposition to ῥήματα (coordinate with εὐλογίας)κατάρα: 'curse'; renders קְלָלָה; the covenant curses of Deut 27:15–26 and 28:15–68, recited from Mount Gebal; cognate with ἐπικατάρατος ('accursed') which Joshua pronounces over the Gibeonites at v. 23.
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (norm/standard)κατὰ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (with τὰ γεγραμμένα)πᾶς: 'all'; κατὰ πάντα τὰ γεγραμμένα ('according to all that is written') again insists on exhaustive fidelity to the written law.
τὰthe (things)Accusativearticle (substantivizing γεγραμμένα)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γεγραμμέναwritten / the things writtenPerf Pass Ptcp Acc Pl Neut · γράφωsubstantival participle (object of κατά)→ resultative perfect participle (what stands written)γράφω: the perfect participle τὰ γεγραμμένα ('the things written / that stand written') denotes the abiding written record of the law; the reading conforms exactly to the text.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location of the text)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῷtheDativearticle (with νόμῳ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νόμῳlawDativedative of place (in the law)νόμος: 'law'; ἐν τῷ νόμῳ Μωυσῆ closes section [e], grounding the recitation in the Mosaic Torah.
Μωυσῆof MosesGenitivegenitive of authorship (with νόμῳ)Μωυσῆ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
οὐκnotnegative particle (opening section [f], with ἦν)οὐκ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἦνthere wasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb of section [f] (existential)→ descriptive imperfect (existential statement of completeness)εἰμί: 'be / exist'; οὐκ ἦν ῥῆμα ... ὃ οὐκ ἀνέγνω ('there was not a word ... which he did not read') is a litotes (double negative) of emphatic completeness — Joshua omitted nothing of the law.
ῥῆμαwordNominativesubject of ἦνῥῆμα: 'word / thing'; renders דָּבָר; the litotes guarantees the totality of the public reading.
ἀπὸfrom / out ofpreposition + genitive (partitive source)ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
πάντωνallGenitivesubstantival adjective (object of ἀπό: 'of all that')πᾶς: 'all'; ἀπὸ πάντων ὧν ('out of all that') — the comprehensive body of Moses' commands.
ὧνwhichGenitiverelative pronoun (genitive by attraction; object of ἐνετείλατο)ὅς: relative pronoun, genitive by attraction to its antecedent πάντων; 'all that Moses commanded'.
ἐνετείλατοcommandedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιverb of the relative clause→ constative aorist (Moses' total command)ἐντέλλομαι: 'command'; the full scope of Moses' commands to Joshua, all of which Joshua faithfully read.
ΜωυσῆςMosesNominativesubject of ἐνετείλατοΜωυσῆς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
τῷthe / toDativearticle (with Ἰησοῖ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἸησοῖJoshuaDativeindirect object of ἐνετείλατο (recipient of the command)Ἰησοῦς: dative Ἰησοῖ; Joshua as the one to whom Moses' commands were given — the faithful successor who executes them in full.
whichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἀνέγνω; antecedent ῥῆμα)ὅς: relative pronoun, neuter, antecedent ῥῆμα; 'which he did not read' — completing the litotes.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἀνέγνω)οὐκ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνέγνωread aloudAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναγινώσκωverb of the relative clause→ constative aorist (the reading, here negated within the litotes)ἀναγινώσκω: 'read aloud'; the negated ἀνέγνω completes 'there was not a word ... which Joshua did not read' — total fidelity to the law before the whole assembly.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubject of ἀνέγνωἸησοῦς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (idiom: 'into the ears')εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with ὦτα)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὦταearsAccusativeobject of εἰς (idiom: 'into the ears of')οὖς (pl. ὦτα): 'ear'; the idiom ἀναγινώσκω εἰς τὰ ὦτα ('read into the ears of') renders קָרָא בְּאָזְנֵי, a Hebraism for public oral proclamation.
πάσηςwhole / allGenitiveattributive adjective (with ἐκκλησίας)πᾶς: 'all / whole'; 'the whole assembly' — the reading reaches the entire covenant community.
ἐκκλησίαςassembly / congregationGenitivegenitive (the assembly whose ears hear)ἐκκλησία: 'assembly / congregation'; renders קָהָל; the gathered covenant community; the term later becomes the NT word for 'church', here denoting the whole hearing assembly of Israel.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivegenitive (defining ἐκκλησίας: 'of the sons of Israel')υἱός: 'son'; υἱῶν Ισραηλ, defining the assembly as that of the Israelites.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitival relation to υἱῶν (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
τοῖςthe / toDativearticle (with ἀνδράσιν)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνδράσινmenDativedative in apposition to ἐκκλησίας (the hearers, enumerated)ἀνήρ: 'man'; renders אִישׁ / אֲנָשִׁים; the first of the enumerated hearers (men, women, children, sojourners) — the reading is fully inclusive.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ταῖςthe / toDativearticle (with γυναιξίν)ταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναιξὶνwomenDativedative (coordinate hearer-group)γυνή: 'woman / wife'; renders אִשָּׁה / נָשִׁים; the women among the hearers of the law (cf. Deut 31:12).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τοῖςthe / toDativearticle (with παιδίοις)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδίοιςlittle childrenDativedative (coordinate hearer-group)παιδίον: 'little child / infant'; renders טַף; the children, too, are present at the reading of the covenant.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τοῖςthe / toDativearticle (with προσηλύτοις)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προσηλύτοιςsojourners / proselytesDativedative (coordinate hearer-group)προσήλυτος: 'resident alien / proselyte'; renders גֵּר; the resident foreigners who have joined Israel also hear the law — legitimate incorporation by faith and residence, in pointed contrast to the Gibeonites' attempt to join by deception.
τοῖςthe (ones)Dativearticle (substantival, with the participle προσπορευομένοις)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προσπορευομένοιςjoining themselves / coming toPres Mid Ptcp Dat Pl · προσπορεύομαιattributive participle (modifying προσηλύτοις)→ progressive present participle (ongoing attachment to Israel)προσπορεύομαι: 'come / approach / attach oneself to'; deponent; the present participle describes the sojourners as those continually joining themselves to Israel — the proper, open path of incorporation into the covenant people.
τῷto theDativearticle (with Ισραηλ; dative governed by προσπορευομένοις)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙσραηλIsraeldative object of προσπορευομένοις (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable; the people to whom the sojourners attach themselves; the verse closes the long transposed pericope by naming Israel, the covenant community now about to be tested by the Gibeonite ruse.
3

καὶ οἱ κατοικοῦντες Γαβαων ἤκουσαν πάντα ὅσα ἐποίησεν κύριος τῇ Ιεριχω καὶ τῇ Γαι

And those inhabiting Gibeon heard all that the LORD had done to Jericho and to Ai,

Parallel response to v.1: the Gibeonites also 'hear', but respond by craft rather than warκαὶ οἱ κατοικοῦντες Γαβαων ἤκουσαν
The verb ἤκουσαν deliberately echoes v.1: the kings heard and gathered for war; the Gibeonites heard and devised a ruse. The object — what the LORD did to Jericho and Ai — frames their fear as well-founded: they have seen the futility of resistance and so seek survival by deception rather than by battle or by genuine submission.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οἱthe (ones)Nominativearticle (substantival, with the participle κατοικοῦντες)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κατοικοῦντεςinhabiting / inhabitantsPres Act Ptcp Nom Pl Masc · κατοικέωsubstantival participle (subject: 'the inhabitants')→ progressive present participle (settled dwelling)κατοικέω: 'dwell / inhabit'; renders יָשַׁב; οἱ κατοικοῦντες Γαβαων ('the inhabitants of Gibeon') recurs as a refrain (vv. 3, 27), framing the whole episode around the Gibeonites' status as resident Canaanites.
ΓαβαωνGibeonindeclinable place-name (object of κατοικοῦντες)Γαβαων: transliteration of גִּבְעוֹן (Gibeon); indeclinable; a major Hivite city northwest of Jerusalem; its inhabitants, fearing Israel, devise the ruse that drives the chapter.
ἤκουσανheardAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀκούωmain verb→ constative aorist (the report received)ἀκούω: 'hear'; the same verb as v.1, deliberately echoed: the kings hear and muster, the Gibeonites hear and scheme — one report, two contrasting responses.
πάνταallAccusativesubstantival adjective (object of ἤκουσαν)πᾶς: 'all'; 'all that the LORD did' — the totality of the reports of Jericho and Ai.
ὅσαas much as / all thatAccusativerelative pronoun (introducing the relative clause)ὅσος: 'as much/many as'; renders אֲשֶׁר / כָּל־אֲשֶׁר; πάντα ὅσα = 'all that', a common LXX correlative.
ἐποίησενdid / had doneAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωverb of the relative clause→ constative aorist (the LORD's completed acts)ποιέω: 'do / make'; renders עָשָׂה; the subject is κύριος — it is the LORD's acts at Jericho and Ai, not merely Israel's, that the Gibeonites have heard.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἐποίησενκύριος: the LXX's rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the Gibeonites recognize that the victories are the work of Israel's God, which both explains their dread and lends a backhanded testimony to YHWH's power.
τῇto the / toDativearticle (with Ιεριχω)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙεριχωJerichoDativeindeclinable place-name (dative object of ἐποίησεν: 'to Jericho')Ιεριχω: transliteration of יְרִיחוֹ (Jericho); indeclinable, though here governed by the dative article τῇ; the first city destroyed in the conquest (Josh 6).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τῇto the / toDativearticle (with Γαι)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΓαιAiDativeindeclinable place-name (dative object of ἐποίησεν: 'to Ai')Γαι: transliteration of הָעַי (Ai); indeclinable, governed by the dative article τῇ; the second city taken (Josh 8); the pairing Jericho–Ai sums up the conquest thus far and grounds the Gibeonites' terror.
4

καὶ ἐποίησαν καί γε αὐτοὶ μετὰ πανουργίας καὶ ἐλθόντες ἐπεσιτίσαντο καὶ ἡτοιμάσαντο καὶ λαβόντες σάκκους παλαιοὺς ἐπὶ τῶν ὄνων αὐτῶν καὶ ἀσκοὺς οἴνου παλαιοὺς καὶ κατερρωγότας ἀποδεδεμένους

and they too acted with craftiness; and they went and provisioned themselves and made ready, and took old sacks upon their donkeys, and old wineskins of wine, both burst and bound up,

Main action: the Gibeonites enact their ruse (the disguise is itemized)καὶ ἐποίησαν ... μετὰ πανουργίας
The key term πανουργία ('craftiness, cunning') labels the whole scheme; in the LXX the word and its cognates can be neutral ('shrewdness') or negative ('guile, knavery'), and here it is clearly the latter. The verse begins an itemized inventory of the staged props of long travel — old sacks, burst-and-rebound wineskins — designed to support the lie that they have come 'from a far country'.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐποίησανthey acted / didAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωmain verb→ constative aorist (the carrying-out of the scheme)ποιέω: 'do / act'; here 'they acted (with craftiness)'; the same verb that described the LORD's acts in v.3 now describes the Gibeonites' counter-stratagem — a pointed verbal echo.
καίalso / evenadverbial (with γε, intensive)καί ... γε: 'and indeed / they too'; the combination καί γε (rendering גַּם) is emphatic, 'they on their part also', setting the Gibeonites' response apart from the kings' open warfare.
γεindeedemphatic particle (post-positive, with καί)γε: enclitic particle of emphasis; reinforces καί, underscoring that the Gibeonites also took decisive (if devious) action.
αὐτοὶthey (themselves)Nominativeintensive pronoun (subject, emphatic)αὐτός: here intensive nominative, 'they themselves / they on their part', distinguishing the Gibeonites' approach from that of the coalition.
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (manner)μετὰ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
πανουργίαςcraftiness / cunningGenitivegenitive of manner (μετὰ πανουργίας: 'with craftiness')πανουργία: 'cunning, craftiness, guile'; from πᾶν + ἔργον ('ready to do anything'); renders עָרְמָה; the defining term for the Gibeonite ruse, the same root used of the serpent at Gen 3:1 (πανουργότατος) — morally negative shrewdness, deception in the service of self-preservation.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐλθόντεςgoing / having goneAor Act Ptcp Nom Pl Masc · ἔρχομαιcircumstantial participle (attendant to ἐπεσιτίσαντο)→ antecedent aorist participle (a preliminary act)ἔρχομαι: 'come / go'; the aorist participle ἐλθόντες ('having gone / setting out') sets the scene for their preparations; renders הָלַךְ.
ἐπεσιτίσαντοthey provisioned themselvesAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἐπισιτίζομαιmain verb (preparation of provisions)→ constative aorist (the gathering of supplies)ἐπισιτίζομαι: 'provision oneself, take food-supplies'; cognate with ἐπισιτισμός ('provision', vv. 5, 11, 14); the middle voice marks self-interest — they equipped themselves for the staged 'journey'.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἡτοιμάσαντοthey made readyAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἑτοιμάζωmain verb (coordinate with ἐπεσιτίσαντο)→ constative aorist (the completed preparation)ἑτοιμάζω: 'prepare / make ready'; renders הִתְקִין / כּוּן; the middle ἡτοιμάσαντο ('they made themselves ready') continues the catalogue of deliberate preparation for the deception.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
λαβόντεςtaking / having takenAor Act Ptcp Nom Pl Masc · λαμβάνωcircumstantial participle (means of the preparation)→ antecedent aorist participle (the equipping act)λαμβάνω: 'take'; the participle introduces the inventory of disguise-props: old sacks, burst wineskins, worn sandals and garments, moldy bread.
σάκκουςsacksAccusativedirect object of λαβόντεςσάκκος: 'sack / coarse cloth'; a Semitic loanword (שַׂק); here travel-sacks/saddlebags; their oldness is part of the staged evidence of a long journey.
παλαιοὺςold / worn-outAccusativeattributive adjective (with σάκκους)παλαιός: 'old / worn / aged'; the key adjective of the disguise (παλαιούς ×2 here, πεπαλαιωμένα v.5, πεπαλαίωται v.13), manufacturing the appearance of long travel.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + genitive (position)ἐπὶ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with ὄνων)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄνωνdonkeysGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί (the pack-animals)ὄνος: 'donkey / ass'; renders חֲמוֹר; the pack-animals bearing the staged baggage of the supposed long expedition.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀσκοὺςwineskinsAccusativedirect object of λαβόντες (coordinate with σάκκους)ἀσκός: 'leather bag / wineskin'; renders נֹאד; the wineskins, old and split and patched, are exhibited again at v.13 as 'evidence' of distance traveled.
οἴνουof wineGenitivegenitive of content (with ἀσκούς)οἶνος: 'wine'; renders יַיִן; ἀσκοὺς οἴνου, 'wineskins of wine'.
παλαιοὺςoldAccusativeattributive adjective (with ἀσκούς)παλαιός: 'old'; again the disguise-adjective, applied to the wineskins.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
κατερρωγόταςburst / torn openPerf Act Ptcp Acc Pl Masc · καταρρήγνυμιattributive participle (with ἀσκούς)→ resultative perfect participle (a settled state of burstness)καταρρήγνυμι: 'break down / rend / burst'; the perfect participle κατερρωγότας denotes wineskins that have split open (cf. ἐρρώγασιν, v.13); the prefix κατα- intensifies; part of the staged dilapidation.
ἀποδεδεμένουςbound up / tied togetherPerf Mid/Pass Ptcp Acc Pl Masc · ἀποδέωattributive participle (with ἀσκούς)→ resultative perfect participle (a settled state of being mended)ἀποδέω: 'bind up / tie off'; the perfect passive participle ἀποδεδεμένους describes the burst wineskins as 'patched / bound up' — repaired for the journey; the pairing 'burst and bound up' is the visual centerpiece of the fraud.
5

καὶ τὰ κοῖλα τῶν ὑποδημάτων αὐτῶν καὶ τὰ σανδάλια αὐτῶν παλαιὰ καὶ καταπεπελματωμένα ἐν τοῖς ποσὶν αὐτῶν καὶ τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτῶν πεπαλαιωμένα ἐπάνω αὐτῶν καὶ ὁ ἄρτος αὐτῶν τοῦ ἐπισιτισμοῦ ξηρὸς καὶ εὐρωτιῶν καὶ βεβρωμένος

and the hollows of their sandals and their shoes were old and patched on their feet, and their garments worn out upon them, and the bread of their provision dry and moldy and gnawed.

Continuation of the disguise-inventory (verbless catalogue of stale provisions)καὶ τὰ κοῖλα τῶν ὑποδημάτων ...
The catalogue continues in a series of verbless nominal clauses (supply 'were'): worn sandals, patched shoes, old garments, and — climactically — bread that is dry, moldy, and gnawed. The moldy bread (εὐρωτιῶν) is the most vivid prop of all and becomes the central piece of false evidence the leaders inspect at v.14, judging κατὰ ὄψιν ('by appearance') rather than inquiring of the LORD.
Word-by-word analysis· 35 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὰtheNominativearticle (with κοῖλα)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κοῖλαhollows / solesNominativesubject of the verbless clause (supply 'were')κοῖλος: 'hollow'; τὰ κοῖλα τῶν ὑποδημάτων, 'the hollows/cavities of the shoes' — the worn-through soles; part of the staged dilapidation of long travel.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with ὑποδημάτων)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὑποδημάτωνsandals / footwearGenitivegenitive (the footwear whose hollows are worn)ὑπόδημα: 'sandal / shoe' (lit. 'bound under [the foot]'); renders נַעַל; the worn footwear evidences the supposed long journey (cf. Deut 29:5, sandals not worn out).
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὰtheNominativearticle (with σανδάλια)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σανδάλιαsandalsNominativesubject (coordinate with κοῖλα)σανδάλιον: 'sandal'; diminutive; a near-synonym of ὑπόδημα, here their sandals are described as old and patched.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
παλαιὰoldNominativepredicate adjective (with σανδάλια: 'were old')παλαιός: 'old / worn'; the recurring disguise-adjective, here predicated of the sandals.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
καταπεπελματωμέναpatched / re-soledPerf Mid/Pass Ptcp Nom Pl Neut · καταπελματόομαιpredicate participle (with σανδάλια)→ resultative perfect participle (settled state of being patched)καταπελματόομαι (πέλμα, 'sole'): 'be patched/re-soled with leather'; a rare technical verb; the perfect participle describes the sandals as mended with patches of sole-leather — vivid evidence of long wear; renders the Hebrew מְטֻלָּאוֹת ('patched').
ἐνonpreposition + dative (location)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with ποσίν)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ποσὶνfeetDativedative of place (on their feet)πούς: 'foot'; renders רֶגֶל; the patched sandals 'on their feet' complete the picture of footsore travelers.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὰtheNominativearticle (with ἱμάτια)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱμάτιαgarments / cloaksNominativesubject (coordinate clause)ἱμάτιον: 'garment / cloak'; renders שִׂמְלָה / בֶּגֶד; the worn-out garments, exhibited again at v.13, complete the costume of weary, long-distance envoys.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
πεπαλαιωμέναworn out / agedPerf Mid/Pass Ptcp Nom Pl Neut · παλαιόωpredicate participle (with ἱμάτια: 'were worn out')→ resultative perfect participle (settled state of being aged)παλαιόω: 'make old / wear out'; the perfect passive πεπαλαιωμένα ('worn out') is the verbal cognate of παλαιός; the garments are made to look aged by the journey (cf. πεπαλαίωται, v.13).
ἐπάνωuponimproper preposition + genitive (position)ἐπάνω: 'above / upon'; renders עַל; 'upon them', i.e. the garments they were wearing.
αὐτῶνthemGenitivegenitive object of ἐπάνωαὐτῶν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
theNominativearticle (with ἄρτος)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄρτοςbread / loafNominativesubject of the final verbless clauseἄρτος: 'bread / loaf'; renders לֶחֶם; the moldy bread is the climactic prop and the very item the leaders take and inspect at v.14 — staged 'evidence' that determines the fatal failure to consult the LORD.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with ἐπισιτισμοῦ)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐπισιτισμοῦprovision / food-supplyGenitivegenitive of definition (the bread of their provision)ἐπισιτισμός: 'provision / food for a journey'; cognate with ἐπεσιτίσαντο (v.4); renders צֵידָה; the journey-rations whose staleness 'proves' the long road (cf. vv. 11, 14).
ξηρὸςdryNominativepredicate adjective (with ἄρτος: 'was dry')ξηρός: 'dry / withered'; renders יָבֵשׁ; the bread's dryness suggests age (cf. ἐξηράνθησαν, v.12).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εὐρωτιῶνmoldy / growing moldPres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · εὐρωτιάωpredicate participle (with ἄρτος: 'was moldy')→ progressive present participle (the bread in process of molding)εὐρωτιάω (εὐρώς, 'mold'): 'be moldy / grow mold'; a rare and vivid verb; the present participle εὐρωτιῶν pictures bread actively going moldy — the single most memorable detail of the disguise and the false 'evidence' the leaders weigh at v.14.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
βεβρωμένοςgnawed / eaten awayPerf Mid/Pass Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · βιβρώσκωpredicate participle (with ἄρτος: 'was gnawed')→ resultative perfect participle (settled state of being eaten away)βιβρώσκω: 'eat / gnaw / devour'; the perfect passive βεβρωμένος ('eaten away / crumbled / gnawed', cf. v.12) completes the triad ξηρός–εὐρωτιῶν–βεβρωμένος: dry, moldy, and crumbling — the staged ruin of long-carried bread.
6

καὶ ἤλθοσαν πρὸς Ἰησοῦν εἰς τὴν παρεμβολὴν Ισραηλ εἰς Γαλγαλα καὶ εἶπαν πρὸς Ἰησοῦν καὶ Ισραηλ ἐκ γῆς μακρόθεν ἥκαμεν καὶ νῦν διάθεσθε ἡμῖν διαθήκην

And they came to Joshua, into the camp of Israel at Galgal, and said to Joshua and Israel, 'We have come from a far land; and now make a covenant with us.'

The embassy presents itself and makes its petition (the opening lie + request)καὶ ἤλθοσαν πρὸς Ἰησοῦν
The Gibeonites carry the ruse to the camp at Galgal and address Joshua and Israel directly. Their opening words are the foundational lie — ἐκ γῆς μακρόθεν ἥκαμεν ('we have come from a far land') — immediately followed by the petition διάθεσθε ἡμῖν διαθήκην ('make a covenant with us'). The verb διατίθεμαι/διαθήκη ('cut a covenant') is the keyword of the whole transaction (vv. 6, 7, 11, 15, 16).
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἤλθοσανthey cameAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἔρχομαιmain verb (the embassy arrives)→ constative aorist (the arrival at the camp)ἔρχομαι: 'come / go'; the form ἤλθοσαν shows the Hellenistic ‑οσαν aorist ending (cf. συνήλθοσαν, v.2); renders בּוֹא; the Gibeonites arrive at Gilgal to execute the ruse.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ἸησοῦνJoshuaAccusativeobject of πρός (the one approached)Ἰησοῦς: accusative; Joshua, the leader to whom the embassy presents itself.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with παρεμβολήν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρεμβολὴνcamp / encampmentAccusativeobject of εἰς (destination)παρεμβολή: 'camp / armed encampment'; renders מַחֲנֶה; the military camp of Israel, here located at Gilgal, the conquest base (Josh 4:19; 5:10).
Ισραηλof Israelgenitival relation to παρεμβολήν (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
εἰςto / atpreposition + accusative (location/destination)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΓαλγαλαGalgal (Gilgal)indeclinable place-name (in apposition to παρεμβολήν)Γαλγαλα: transliteration of גִּלְגָּל (Gilgal); indeclinable; Israel's first encampment west of the Jordan and the conquest headquarters; the site where the deceived covenant is struck.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπανthey saidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (the embassy's speech)λέγω: 'say'; the form εἶπαν (Hellenistic ‑αν for ‑ον) introduces the Gibeonites' opening address — the foundational lie and the petition.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (addressees)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ἸησοῦνJoshuaAccusativeobject of πρός (addressee)Ἰησοῦν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΙσραηλIsraelsecond addressee (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable; the embassy addresses both Joshua and the people, since a covenant binds the whole nation.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)ἐκ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
γῆςlandGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (place of origin)γῆ: 'earth / land / country'; renders אֶרֶץ; ἐκ γῆς μακρόθεν ('from a far land') is the foundational lie of the whole episode (cf. v.9, μακρόθεν σφόδρα).
μακρόθενfar off / from afaradverb (modifying γῆς: 'a distant land')μακρόθεν: 'from afar / a long way off'; renders מֵאֶרֶץ רְחוֹקָה; the adverbial claim of distance is the lie that, if accepted, would place the Gibeonites outside the ban on Canaan's inhabitants (Deut 20:15–18).
ἥκαμενwe have comePerf Act Indic 1 Pl · ἥκωmain verb of the speech (the claim)→ resultative present-perfect (ἥκω: 'we are here, having come')ἥκω: 'have come / be present'; lexically perfective ('I am here'), so the form functions as a present-perfect; the claim ἐκ γῆς μακρόθεν ἥκαμεν asserts present arrival from a distant homeland.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
νῦνnowtemporal adverb (transition to the petition)νῦν: 'now'; renders עַתָּה; καὶ νῦν ('and now') is the standard LXX hinge from premise to request, here introducing the covenant-petition.
διάθεσθεmake / cut (a covenant)Aor Mid Impv 2 Pl · διατίθημιmain verb (imperative: the petition)→ aorist imperative (urgent request for decisive action)διατίθημι (mid. διατίθεμαι): 'arrange / dispose / make (a covenant)'; the middle διάθεσθε διαθήκην renders כָּרַת בְּרִית ('cut a covenant'); the cognate construction (verb + noun) is the keyword of the episode (vv. 6, 7, 11, 15).
ἡμῖνwith us / for usDativedative of advantage (the covenant partners)ἐγώ (pl. dat. ἡμῖν): 'us'; the dative marks the Gibeonites as the would-be covenant partners — the very thing forbidden with Canaan's inhabitants.
διαθήκηνa covenantAccusativecognate accusative (object of διάθεσθε)διαθήκη: 'covenant'; renders בְּרִית; the cognate accusative with διάθεσθε ('cut a covenant') names the binding agreement the Gibeonites seek — a treaty of peace that, once sworn, will prove irrevocable (vv. 18–20).
7

καὶ εἶπαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ πρὸς τὸν Χορραῖον ὅρα μὴ ἐν ἐμοὶ κατοικεῖς καὶ πῶς σοι διαθῶμαι διαθήκην

And the sons of Israel said to the Horite, 'See that you do not dwell among us! And how shall I make a covenant with you?'

Israel's suspicion: a near-miss recognition of the dangerκαὶ εἶπαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ
Israel's reply shows genuine, well-grounded suspicion: they sense the visitors may be local Canaanites ('See that you do not dwell among us!') and rightly recognize the legal problem of covenanting with a neighbouring people (πῶς σοι διαθῶμαι διαθήκην). This is the moment when the right instinct surfaces — and it is precisely here that they fail to press it to the proper remedy, inquiring of the LORD (v.14). The LXX's Χορραῖον ('Horite') stands where the MT reads 'Hivite'.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπανthey saidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (Israel's reply)λέγω: 'say'; the form εἶπαν introduces Israel's wary response.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοί)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ)υἱός: 'son'; οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ, 'the sons of Israel', here the people speaking collectively (note the singular verbs διαθῶμαι, ἐμοί — Israel speaks as one).
Ισραηλof Israelgenitival relation to υἱοί (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (addressee)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Χορραῖον)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΧορραῖονHoriteAccusativeobject of πρός (collective singular for the Gibeonite envoys)Χορραῖος: 'Horite'; the LXX reads 'the Horite' (חֹרִי) where the MT has 'the Hivite' (חִוִּי) — a common interchange of these gentilics; the singular is collective for the deceptive embassy; declinable Greek gentilic, hence kind 'n'.
ὅραsee / take carePres Act Impv 2 Sg · ὁράωmain verb (imperative of warning)→ present imperative (alert/cautionary: 'watch out')ὁράω: 'see / look / take care'; the imperative ὅρα μή ('see that ... not / beware lest') is an idiom of caution; renders רְאֵה; introduces Israel's suspicion that the visitors are in fact local.
μὴnot / lestnegative particle (with the cautionary ὅρα)μή: the cautionary negative; ὅρα μή ... κατοικεῖς, 'see that you are not dwelling (among us)', expressing wary suspicion.
ἐνamong / inpreposition + dative (location)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ἐμοὶme / among meDativedative object of ἐν (Israel as a corporate 'me')ἐγώ (dat. ἐμοί): 'me'; Israel speaks corporately in the first-person singular, 'among me' = 'in our midst'; the suspicion is that the envoys are near neighbours, not distant foreigners.
κατοικεῖςyou dwellPres Act Indic 2 Sg · κατοικέωverb of the cautionary clause→ progressive present (settled dwelling, here suspected)κατοικέω: 'dwell / inhabit'; the same verb as v.3 (οἱ κατοικοῦντες Γαβαων); Israel suspects exactly what is true — that the envoys dwell locally, which would void any covenant under Deut 7:1–2; 20:16–17.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the rhetorical question)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πῶςhowinterrogative adverbπῶς: 'how?'; introduces a rhetorical question expecting the answer 'we cannot' — if the visitors are local, a covenant is legally impossible.
σοιwith you / for youDativedative of advantage (the covenant partner)σύ (dat. σοι): 'you'; the prospective covenant partner; the singular matches the corporate 'me' of Israel and the collective Χορραῖον.
διαθῶμαιshould I make (a covenant)Aor Mid Subj 1 Sg · διατίθημιdeliberative subjunctive (in the rhetorical question)→ deliberative aorist subjunctive ('how am I to make ...?')διατίθημι (mid.): 'make (a covenant)'; the deliberative subjunctive διαθῶμαι ('how should I cut a covenant?') voices Israel's legal scruple; renders אֶכְרָת־לְךָ בְרִית; the same cognate construction as v.6.
διαθήκηνa covenantAccusativecognate accusative (object of διαθῶμαι)διαθήκη: 'covenant'; the cognate accusative completes the keyword construction; Israel's question implicitly invokes the Mosaic prohibition on covenants with the Canaanite nations.
8

καὶ εἶπαν πρὸς Ἰησοῦν οἰκέται σού ἐσμεν καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτοὺς Ἰησοῦς πόθεν ἐστὲ καὶ πόθεν παραγεγόνατε

And they said to Joshua, 'We are your servants.' And Joshua said to them, 'Where are you from, and from where have you come?'

Evasive submission and Joshua's probing counter-questionκαὶ εἶπαν πρὸς Ἰησοῦν
The Gibeonites sidestep Israel's suspicion with a posture of submission, οἰκέται σού ἐσμεν ('we are your servants') — already foreshadowing the servile status (woodcutters and water-carriers) that will become their permanent lot (vv. 21, 27). Joshua, not yet deceived, presses the decisive question of origin (πόθεν ... πόθεν), the very point on which the whole legality of a covenant turns.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπανthey saidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: 'say'; introduces the Gibeonites' evasive reply.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (addressee)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ἸησοῦνJoshuaAccusativeobject of πρόςἸησοῦς: accusative; the envoys now address Joshua directly.
οἰκέταιservants / household-slavesNominativepredicate nominative (with ἐσμεν)οἰκέτης: 'household servant / domestic slave'; renders עֶבֶד; the self-designation οἰκέται σού ('your servants') is a posture of submission that ironically anticipates their actual servile sentence (vv. 21, 27); cf. οἱ παῖδές σου, v.9.
σούyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with οἰκέται)σύ (gen. σου): 'your'; the genitive subordinates them to Joshua — a feigned (and prophetic) servility.
ἐσμενwe arePres Act Indic 1 Pl · εἰμίcopula (linking οἰκέται to the subject)→ stative present (a claimed present condition)εἰμί: 'be'; the copula in 'we are your servants', a declaration of submission designed to disarm Israel's suspicion.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (Joshua's reply)→ constative aoristλέγω: 'say'; Joshua, singular, now questions the envoys directly.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (addressees)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativeobject of πρόςαὐτός: 'them'; the Gibeonite envoys.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubject of εἶπενἸησοῦς: nominative; Joshua presses for their origin.
πόθενfrom where / whenceinterrogative adverb (of source)πόθεν: 'whence? / from where?'; renders מֵאַיִן; the decisive question of origin — for the legality of a covenant hinges entirely on whether they are from Canaan or from afar.
ἐστὲare youPres Act Indic 2 Pl · εἰμίcopula (in the question 'where are you from?')→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; πόθεν ἐστέ, 'where are you from?' — the question of their homeland.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πόθενfrom whereinterrogative adverb (repeated for emphasis)πόθεν: the repetition ('where are you from, and from where have you come?') presses the point insistently — Joshua wants their origin verified.
παραγεγόνατεhave you come / arrivedPerf Act Indic 2 Pl · παραγίνομαιmain verb of the second question→ resultative perfect (present result of having arrived)παραγίνομαι: 'come / arrive / be present'; the perfect παραγεγόνατε ('you have arrived') asks about the journey just completed; renders בּוֹא; cf. the cognate question and the answer's geographic claims in vv. 9–10.
9

καὶ εἶπαν ἐκ γῆς μακρόθεν σφόδρα ἥκασιν οἱ παῖδές σου ἐν ὀνόματι κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ σου ἀκηκόαμεν γὰρ τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ καὶ ὅσα ἐποίησεν ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ

And they said, 'From a very far land your servants have come, in the name of the LORD your God; for we have heard his name and all that he did in Egypt,

The elaborated lie, now invoking the fame of YHWHκαὶ εἶπαν ... ἥκασιν οἱ παῖδές σου
The envoys intensify the lie (μακρόθεν σφόδρα, 'a very far land') and dress it in piety: they have come ἐν ὀνόματι κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ σου ('in the name of the LORD your God'). Their stated motive — having heard the LORD's name and his deeds in Egypt — is true in content (cf. Rahab, Josh 2:9–11) but deployed deceitfully; they cunwittingly testify to YHWH's renown even as they sin against Israel by guile.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπανthey saidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: 'say'; introduces the envoys' elaborated reply to Joshua's question of origin.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)ἐκ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
γῆςlandGenitivegenitive object of ἐκγῆ: 'land'; ἐκ γῆς μακρόθεν σφόδρα, 'from a very far land', heightens the lie of v.6 with σφόδρα.
μακρόθενfar offadverb (modifying γῆς)μακρόθεν: 'from afar'; the lie's keyword.
σφόδραvery / exceedinglyadverb of degree (intensifying μακρόθεν)σφόδρα: 'exceedingly'; renders מְאֹד; the intensifier overplays the claim of distance — a tell-tale exaggeration in the lie.
ἥκασινhave comePerf Act Indic 3 Pl · ἥκωmain verb of the claim→ resultative present-perfect ('they are here, having come')ἥκω: 'have come / be present'; the third-person ἥκασιν ('your servants have come') restates the arrival-claim of v.6 in self-effacing third person.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with παῖδες)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παῖδέςservants / slavesNominativesubject of ἥκασινπαῖς: 'child / servant / slave'; οἱ παῖδές σου ('your servants'), a deferential self-designation parallel to οἰκέται (v.8); renders עֲבָדֶיךָ.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with παῖδες)σου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (cause/occasion: 'because of the name')ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ὀνόματιnameDativedative object of ἐν (the renown that drew them)ὄνομα: 'name'; ἐν ὀνόματι κυρίου here means 'on account of / drawn by the name (renown) of the LORD'; renders לְשֵׁם יהוה; the envoys claim YHWH's reputation as their motive.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive (whose name)κύριος: the Tetragrammaton; the Gibeonites name Israel's God — true testimony embedded in a deceitful speech.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with θεοῦ)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive in apposition to κυρίουθεός: 'God'; κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ σου, 'the LORD your God' — they pointedly call him 'your God', acknowledging Israel's special covenant relation.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (with θεοῦ)σου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἀκηκόαμενwe have heardPerf Act Indic 1 Pl · ἀκούωmain verb (the grounds: γάρ-clause)→ resultative perfect (a standing report they now act on)ἀκούω: 'hear'; the perfect ἀκηκόαμεν ('we have heard, and the report stands') grounds their coming; the same verb as vv. 1, 3 — hearing of YHWH's deeds produces, in the Gibeonites, this guileful approach.
γὰρforcausal conjunction (post-positive)γάρ: 'for'; introduces the reason for their coming — the report of YHWH's name and acts.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ὄνομα)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄνομαname / reportAccusativedirect object of ἀκηκόαμενὄνομα: 'name / fame / report'; here the renown of YHWH; cf. Rahab's near-identical confession (Josh 2:10), making the Gibeonites' words echo a genuine convert's even as they deceive.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with ὄνομα)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὅσαall thatAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἀκηκόαμεν: 'and all that he did')ὅσος: 'as much as / all that'; introduces the recital of YHWH's deeds — Egypt (v.9), then Sihon and Og (v.10).
ἐποίησενhe didAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωverb of the relative clause→ constative aorist (YHWH's completed deeds)ποιέω: 'do'; subject is the LORD; 'all that he did in Egypt' — the exodus deeds, the foundation of YHWH's renown among the nations.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΑἰγύπτῳEgyptDativedative of place (with ἐν)Αἴγυπτος: 'Egypt'; renders מִצְרַיִם; the plagues and the exodus are the deeds whose fame reached even Gibeon.
10

καὶ ὅσα ἐποίησεν τοῖς βασιλεῦσιν τῶν Αμορραίων οἳ ἦσαν πέραν τοῦ Ιορδάνου τῷ Σηων βασιλεῖ Εσεβων καὶ τῷ Ωγ βασιλεῖ τῆς Βασαν ὃς κατῴκει ἐν Ασταρωθ καὶ ἐν Εδραϊν

and all that he did to the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon and to Og king of Bashan, who dwelt in Astaroth and in Edrain.

Continuation of the recital: the Transjordanian victoriesκαὶ ὅσα ἐποίησεν τοῖς βασιλεῦσιν
The recital extends from Egypt to the Transjordanian conquests of Sihon of Heshbon and Og of Bashan (Num 21:21–35; Deut 2–3). Notably the envoys cite only events east of the Jordan and in Egypt — deeds 'far off' — while carefully omitting Jericho and Ai (the very victories that actually prompted them, v.3), since those recent, local defeats would betray that they live nearby. The selective recital is itself a strand of the πανουργία.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὅσαall thatAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐποίησεν)ὅσος: 'all that'; continues the recital of YHWH's deeds from v.9.
ἐποίησενhe didAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωverb of the relative clause→ constative aoristποιέω: 'do'; the LORD's acts against the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan.
τοῖςto theDativearticle (with βασιλεῦσιν)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεῦσινkingsDativedative object of ἐποίησεν (those to whom he did it)βασιλεύς: 'king'; the two Amorite kings of Transjordan, Sihon and Og.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with Αμορραίων)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑμορραίωνAmoritesGenitivegenitive (the kings' people)Αμορραῖος: 'Amorite'; Sihon and Og are classed as Amorite kings (cf. Deut 3:8).
οἳwhoNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ἦσαν)ὅς: relative pronoun, referring to the kings.
ἦσανwereImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίverb of the relative clause (location)→ descriptive imperfectεἰμί: 'be'; locates Sihon and Og 'beyond the Jordan' — east of the river, the far side from the envoys' supposed homeland.
πέρανbeyondimproper preposition + genitive (location)πέραν: 'beyond / across'; here πέραν τοῦ Ιορδάνου = 'beyond the Jordan', the Transjordan, where Sihon and Og reigned.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with Ιορδάνου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνουJordanGenitivegenitive with πέρανΙορδάνης: the Jordan; the boundary distinguishing the Transjordanian conquests from the land west of the river.
τῷto / theDativearticle (with Σηων)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΣηωνSihonindeclinable name (in apposition to βασιλεῦσιν, governed by τῷ)Σηων: transliteration of סִיחוֹן (Sihon); indeclinable; the Amorite king of Heshbon defeated at Num 21:21–31.
βασιλεῖkingDativedative in apposition to Σηωνβασιλεύς: 'king'; βασιλεῖ Εσεβων, 'king of Heshbon'.
ΕσεβωνHeshbonindeclinable place-name (genitival: 'of Heshbon')Εσεβων: transliteration of חֶשְׁבּוֹן (Heshbon); indeclinable; Sihon's royal city in Transjordan.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τῷto / theDativearticle (with Ωγ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΩγOgindeclinable name (governed by τῷ)Ωγ: transliteration of עוֹג (Og); indeclinable; the giant king of Bashan defeated at Num 21:33–35; Deut 3:1–11.
βασιλεῖkingDativedative in apposition to Ωγβασιλεύς: 'king'; βασιλεῖ τῆς Βασαν, 'king of Bashan'.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with Βασαν)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΒασανBashanGenitiveindeclinable place-name (governed by τῆς: 'of Bashan')Βασαν: transliteration of בָּשָׁן (Bashan); indeclinable, here with the genitive article τῆς; the fertile region east of the Sea of Galilee, Og's realm.
ὃςwhoNominativerelative pronoun (subject of κατῴκει)ὅς: relative pronoun, referring to Og.
κατῴκειdweltImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · κατοικέωverb of the relative clause→ descriptive imperfect (Og's settled rule)κατοικέω: 'dwell'; the same verb as v.3, 7; the imperfect describes Og's habitual residence in his royal cities.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΑσταρωθAstarothindeclinable place-name (with ἐν)Ασταρωθ: transliteration of עַשְׁתָּרוֹת (Ashtaroth); indeclinable; a chief city of Og's kingdom of Bashan (Deut 1:4).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΕδραϊνEdrain (Edrei)indeclinable place-name (with ἐν)Εδραϊν: transliteration of אֶדְרֶעִי (Edrei); indeclinable; the second royal city of Bashan, site of Og's defeat (Num 21:33; Deut 3:1).
11

καὶ ἀκούσαντες εἶπαν πρὸς ἡμᾶς οἱ πρεσβύτεροι ἡμῶν καὶ πάντες οἱ κατοικοῦντες τὴν γῆν ἡμῶν λέγοντες λάβετε ἑαυτοῖς ἐπισιτισμὸν εἰς τὴν ὁδὸν καὶ πορεύθητε εἰς συνάντησιν αὐτῶν καὶ ἐρεῖτε πρὸς αὐτούς οἰκέται σού ἐσμεν καὶ νῦν διάθεσθε ἡμῖν διαθήκην

And our elders and all the inhabitants of our land, hearing, said to us, saying, 'Take for yourselves provision for the journey, and go to meet them, and you shall say to them: We are your servants, and now make a covenant with us.'

The fabricated commissioning: a back-story for the embassyκαὶ ἀκούσαντες εἶπαν ... οἱ πρεσβύτεροι ἡμῶν
The envoys invent an authorizing back-story: their elders and 'all the inhabitants of our land' supposedly heard (ἀκούσαντες) and dispatched them with provisions and a script. The quoted instructions even rehearse the exact words already used (οἰκέται σού ἐσμεν, διάθεσθε ἡμῖν διαθήκην, vv. 6, 8), lending the lie a layered, self-corroborating texture — the hallmark of πανουργία.
Word-by-word analysis· 39 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀκούσαντεςhearing / having heardAor Act Ptcp Nom Pl Masc · ἀκούωcircumstantial participle (antecedent to εἶπαν)→ antecedent aorist participle (a prior hearing)ἀκούω: 'hear'; the participle attributes to the (fictional) homeland elders the same 'hearing' motif that runs through the chapter (vv. 1, 3, 9).
εἶπανthey saidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (the elders' alleged speech)→ constative aoristλέγω: 'say'; introduces the fabricated commissioning-speech of the elders.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (addressees)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativeobject of πρός (the envoys themselves)ἐγώ (pl. acc. ἡμᾶς): 'us'; the envoys cast themselves as commissioned agents of their homeland.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with πρεσβύτεροι)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρεσβύτεροιeldersNominativesubject of εἶπανπρεσβύτερος: 'elder'; the (fictitious) elders of their homeland, invoked to lend authority to the embassy.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possessionἡμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πάντεςallNominativesubstantival adjective (coordinate subject)πᾶς: 'all'; 'all the inhabitants of our land', broadening the supposed mandate to the whole populace.
οἱthe (ones)Nominativearticle (substantival, with κατοικοῦντες)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κατοικοῦντεςinhabiting / inhabitantsPres Act Ptcp Nom Pl Masc · κατοικέωsubstantival participle (coordinate subject)→ progressive present participleκατοικέω: 'dwell / inhabit'; ironically the very verb that names their true (local) status (vv. 3, 7) is here used of a fictitious distant homeland.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with γῆν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνlandAccusativedirect object of κατοικοῦντεςγῆ: 'land'; 'our land', the supposed far country.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possessionἡμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
λέγοντεςsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Pl Masc · λέγωparticiple of speech (introducing direct discourse)→ progressive present participle (Hebraizing λέγων = לֵאמֹר)λέγω: the participle λέγοντες is the LXX's standard calque of the Hebrew infinitive לֵאמֹר, introducing the quoted command.
λάβετεtakeAor Act Impv 2 Pl · λαμβάνωmain verb of the quoted command (imperative)→ aorist imperative (a decisive instruction)λαμβάνω: 'take'; the quoted instruction to take provisions for the road — the staged rationale for the stale food now exhibited (vv. 12–13).
ἑαυτοῖςfor yourselvesDativereflexive pronoun (dative of advantage)ἑαυτοῦ: reflexive 'yourselves'; 'take for yourselves provision', the elders' (fictional) charge.
ἐπισιτισμὸνprovisionAccusativedirect object of λάβετεἐπισιτισμός: 'provision / journey-rations'; the same word as v.5; the provisions the envoys 'took' are the staged stale food.
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (purpose/destination)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ὁδόν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὁδὸνroad / journeyAccusativeobject of εἰς (the journey provisioned for)ὁδός: 'road / way / journey'; renders דֶּרֶךְ; εἰς τὴν ὁδόν, 'for the journey' — the long road the provisions supposedly attest (cf. v.13, ἀπὸ τῆς πολλῆς ὁδοῦ).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πορεύθητεgoAor Pass Impv 2 Pl · πορεύομαιmain verb of the quoted command (imperative)→ aorist imperative (a decisive instruction)πορεύομαι: 'go / proceed'; deponent (aor. pass. form with active sense); the charge to set out to meet Israel.
εἰςto / forpreposition + accusative (purpose)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
συνάντησινa meeting / to meetAccusativeobject of εἰς (idiom: 'to meet them')συνάντησις: 'a meeting / encounter'; the idiom εἰς συνάντησιν (+ gen.) = 'to meet', renders לִקְרַאת; a fixed LXX expression for going out to meet someone.
αὐτῶνthem / with themGenitivegenitive (those to be met, i.e. Israel)αὐτός: 'them'; the genitive object of συνάντησιν — Israel, whom they were 'sent' to meet.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐρεῖτεyou shall sayFut Act Indic 2 Pl · λέγω (εἴρω)main verb (future with imperatival force)→ imperatival future (a commanded script)λέγω/εἴρω (fut. ἐρῶ): 'say'; the future ἐρεῖτε ('you shall say') functions as a command, scripting the very words the envoys then use; renders וַאֲמַרְתֶּם.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (addressees)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτούςthemAccusativeobject of πρός (Israel)αὐτός: 'them'; Israel, the addressees of the scripted speech.
οἰκέταιservantsNominativepredicate nominative (with ἐσμεν)οἰκέτης: 'servant'; the scripted line οἰκέται σού ἐσμεν exactly reproduces v.8 — the lie rehearses its own earlier wording.
σούyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with οἰκέται)σού: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐσμενwe arePres Act Indic 1 Pl · εἰμίcopula→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; 'we are your servants', the scripted submission.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
νῦνnowtemporal adverb (transition to the petition)νῦν: 'now'; καὶ νῦν again hinges to the covenant-request, echoing v.6.
διάθεσθεmake (a covenant)Aor Mid Impv 2 Pl · διατίθημιmain verb (imperative: the scripted petition)→ aorist imperativeδιατίθημι (mid.): 'make (a covenant)'; the scripted petition reproduces v.6 verbatim, completing the layered self-corroboration of the lie.
ἡμῖνwith usDativedative of advantageἡμῖν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
διαθήκηνa covenantAccusativecognate accusative (object of διάθεσθε)διαθήκη: 'covenant'; the keyword again; the entire scripted speech is engineered to elicit a binding treaty.
12

οὗτοι οἱ ἄρτοι θερμοὺς ἐφωδιάσθημεν αὐτοὺς ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ᾗ ἐξήλθομεν παραγενέσθαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς νῦν δὲ ἐξηράνθησαν καὶ γεγόνασιν βεβρωμένοι

These loaves — hot we provisioned ourselves with them on the day we set out to come to you; but now they are dried up and have become crumbling.

Exhibit A of the staged 'evidence': the breadοὗτοι οἱ ἄρτοι
The envoys now produce physical 'evidence', pointing (οὗτοι, 'these') to the bread: taken hot/fresh on the day of departure, now dried and crumbling — proof, they claim, of a long journey. The deictic οὗτοι ... νῦν δέ ('these ... but now') stages a then-versus-now contrast that the leaders will accept at face value (v.14), the trap of judging by appearance.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
οὗτοιtheseNominativedemonstrative (subject, deictic)οὗτος: 'this / these'; the deictic οὗτοι ('these [loaves]') points to the displayed bread as physical proof — the rhetoric of staged evidence.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with ἄρτοι)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄρτοιloavesNominativesubject (resumed by αὐτούς)ἄρτος: 'bread / loaf'; the staged provisions of v.5, now exhibited as 'evidence'.
θερμοὺςhot / freshAccusativepredicate adjective (proleptic: 'while hot')θερμός: 'hot / warm'; renders חַם; 'hot' = freshly baked; the contrast with the present dryness is the rhetorical fulcrum of the claim.
ἐφωδιάσθημενwe provisioned ourselves withAor Pass Indic 1 Pl · ἐφοδιάζωmain verb (taking the bread as travel-supply)→ constative aorist (the original provisioning)ἐφοδιάζω: 'supply with provisions for a journey' (ἐφόδιον, 'travel-supply'); the passive/middle ἐφωδιάσθημεν ('we provided ourselves') governs αὐτούς; renders צֵידָה לָקַחְנוּ; depicts loading fresh bread for the road.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object (resumptive, = the loaves)αὐτός: 'them'; resumes οἱ ἄρτοι as the object provisioned — a Hebraizing resumptive construction.
ἐνonpreposition + dative (temporal)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῇtheDativearticle (with ἡμέρᾳ)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time (on the day)ἡμέρα: 'day'; ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ᾗ ('on the day when'), the alleged day of departure.
on which / whenDativerelative pronoun (dative of time, antecedent ἡμέρᾳ)ὅς: relative pronoun, dative ᾗ ('on which day'), introducing the relative clause of departure.
ἐξήλθομενwe went out / set outAor Act Indic 1 Pl · ἐξέρχομαιverb of the relative clause→ constative aorist (the alleged departure)ἐξέρχομαι: 'go out / depart'; renders יָצָא; the (fictional) day they left the far country.
παραγενέσθαιto come / arriveAor Mid Inf · παραγίνομαιinfinitive of purpose (the goal of setting out)→ purpose aorist infinitiveπαραγίνομαι: 'come / arrive'; the purpose infinitive 'to come to you', echoing παραγεγόνατε (v.8); states the journey's aim.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativeobject of πρός (Israel)σύ (pl. acc. ὑμᾶς): 'you'; Israel, the destination of the supposed journey.
νῦνnowtemporal adverb (contrastive 'but now')νῦν: 'now'; νῦν δέ ('but now') marks the then/now contrast central to the bread-evidence.
δὲbutadversative particle (post-positive)δέ: adversative 'but'; contrasts the present condition of the bread with its fresh origin.
ἐξηράνθησανthey have dried upAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · ξηραίνωmain verb (present state of the bread)→ constative aorist (resultant dryness)ξηραίνω: 'dry up / wither'; passive ἐξηράνθησαν; cognate with ξηρός (v.5); the bread's dryness 'proves' age and distance.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
γεγόνασινthey have becomePerf Act Indic 3 Pl · γίνομαιmain verb (resultant state, periphrastic with βεβρωμένοι)→ resultative perfect (an accomplished, abiding state)γίνομαι: 'become'; the perfect γεγόνασιν with the participle βεβρωμένοι forms a periphrastic perfect, 'have become crumbled', stressing the bread's settled ruin.
βεβρωμένοιcrumbling / gnawedPerf Mid/Pass Ptcp Nom Pl Masc · βιβρώσκωpredicate participle (with γεγόνασιν: periphrastic perfect)→ resultative perfect participleβιβρώσκω: 'eat / gnaw'; βεβρωμένοι ('crumbled / eaten away', as in v.5) completes the bread's staged decay.
13

καὶ οὗτοι οἱ ἀσκοὶ τοῦ οἴνου οὓς ἐπλήσαμεν καινούς καὶ οὗτοι ἐρρώγασιν καὶ τὰ ἱμάτια ἡμῶν καὶ τὰ ὑποδήματα ἡμῶν πεπαλαίωται ἀπὸ τῆς πολλῆς ὁδοῦ σφόδρα

And these wineskins of wine which we filled new — and these are burst; and our garments and our sandals are worn out from the exceedingly long journey.

Exhibits B and C: the wineskins and the worn clothingκαὶ οὗτοι οἱ ἀσκοὶ τοῦ οἴνου
The envoys complete their staged exhibits: wineskins filled when new, now burst (ἐρρώγασιν), and worn-out garments and sandals — all attributed to ἀπὸ τῆς πολλῆς ὁδοῦ σφόδρα ('from the exceedingly long road'). The doubled deictic οὗτοι ... οὗτοι ('these ... these') drives the visual demonstration home. It is this sensory 'proof' that supplants the proper recourse — inquiry of the LORD (v.14).
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οὗτοιtheseNominativedemonstrative (deictic, with ἀσκοί)οὗτος: 'these'; the deictic again points to displayed objects — the wineskins.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with ἀσκοί)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀσκοὶwineskinsNominativesubjectἀσκός: 'wineskin'; the burst wineskins of v.4, now exhibited as evidence of long travel.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with οἴνου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἴνουof wineGenitivegenitive of content (with ἀσκοί)οἶνος: 'wine'; the wineskins' contents.
οὓςwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐπλήσαμεν)ὅς: relative pronoun, antecedent ἀσκοί.
ἐπλήσαμενwe filledAor Act Indic 1 Pl · πίμπλημι (πλήθω)verb of the relative clause→ constative aorist (the original filling)πίμπλημι: 'fill'; renders מָלֵא; 'which we filled (when) new', contrasting original soundness with present burstness.
καινούςnewAccusativepredicate adjective (proleptic: 'while new')καινός: 'new / fresh'; renders חָדָשׁ; the antithesis of παλαιός; new wineskins filled then, burst now — the then/now contrast again.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οὗτοιtheseNominativedemonstrative (resumptive subject of ἐρρώγασιν)οὗτος: 'these'; the resumptive deictic, 'and these (very ones) are burst'.
ἐρρώγασινare burst / have splitPerf Act Indic 3 Pl · ῥήγνυμιmain verb (present state of the wineskins)→ resultative perfect (a settled state of burstness)ῥήγνυμι: 'break / burst / tear'; the perfect ἐρρώγασιν ('have burst') matches κατερρωγότας (v.4); the split wineskins are exhibited as travel-damage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὰtheNominativearticle (with ἱμάτια)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱμάτιαgarmentsNominativesubject (with ὑποδήματα)ἱμάτιον: 'garment / cloak'; the worn clothing of v.5, exhibited as further proof.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possessionἡμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὰtheNominativearticle (with ὑποδήματα)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὑποδήματαsandalsNominativesubject (coordinate with ἱμάτια)ὑπόδημα: 'sandal'; the worn footwear of v.5.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possessionἡμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
πεπαλαίωταιare worn outPerf Mid/Pass Indic 3 Sg · παλαιόωmain verb (singular with neuter plural subject)→ resultative perfect (settled state of wornness)παλαιόω: 'make/grow old, wear out'; the perfect πεπαλαίωται (singular verb with neuter plural subjects, regular Greek) matches πεπαλαιωμένα (v.5); the clothing's wear 'proves' the long road.
ἀπὸfrom / because ofpreposition + genitive (cause/source)ἀπό: here causal/sourcing, 'from (the effect of) the long road'.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with ὁδοῦ)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πολλῆςlong / muchGenitiveattributive adjective (with ὁδοῦ)πολύς: 'much / great / long'; ἡ πολλὴ ὁδός, 'the long road'; renders הַדֶּרֶךְ הָרַבָּה; the alleged great distance.
ὁδοῦjourney / roadGenitivegenitive object of ἀπόὁδός: 'road / journey'; the cause assigned to all the wear and tear — the supposed long trek from a far country.
σφόδραexceedinglyadverb of degree (intensifying πολλῆς ὁδοῦ)σφόδρα: 'exceedingly'; the same overstatement as v.9 (μακρόθεν σφόδρα), again emphasizing the (false) extremity of the distance.
14

καὶ ἔλαβον οἱ ἄρχοντες τοῦ ἐπισιτισμοῦ αὐτῶν καὶ κύριον οὐκ ἐπηρώτησαν

And the leaders took of their provision, and they did not inquire of the LORD.

The pivotal failure: acceptance of the evidence without consulting the LORDκαὶ ἔλαβον οἱ ἄρχοντες ... καὶ κύριον οὐκ ἐπηρώτησαν
This terse verse is the theological hinge of the chapter. The leaders 'took of their provision' — inspecting (and perhaps tasting) the staged stale food, accepting the sensory 'evidence' as decisive — and then the damning clause: καὶ κύριον οὐκ ἐπηρώτησαν, 'and they did not inquire of the LORD'. The verb ἐπερωτάω is the technical term for seeking a divine oracle (cf. the Urim, Num 27:21); its omission, set in stark καί-parataxis, indicts judgment κατὰ ὄψιν over recourse to God.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔλαβονtookAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λαμβάνωmain verb (the leaders inspect/accept the provisions)→ constative aorist (the act of taking)λαμβάνω: 'take'; 'the leaders took of their provision' — they examined (and partook of) the staged food, treating it as evidence; renders לָקַח; the act expresses tacit acceptance of the visitors' story.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with ἄρχοντες)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄρχοντεςleaders / rulersNominativesubjectἄρχων: 'ruler / leader / chief'; renders נָשִׂיא / רֹאשׁ; the tribal leaders of Israel, who here act and swear (v.15) on behalf of the congregation — and who bear the blame for not inquiring of the LORD.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with ἐπισιτισμοῦ)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐπισιτισμοῦprovisionGenitivepartitive genitive (object of ἔλαβον: 'some of their provision')ἐπισιτισμός: 'provision'; the same word as vv. 5, 11; the partitive genitive ('took of their provision') suggests inspecting/tasting the stale food — the very 'evidence' that substituted for an oracle.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶand (yet)coordinating conjunction (here with adversative force)καί: the simple paratactic καί here carries adversative weight ('and yet'); the bare juxtaposition — they took the evidence, and they did not ask the LORD — is rhetorically devastating in its understatement.
κύριονthe LORDAccusativedirect object of ἐπηρώτησαν (fronted for emphasis)κύριος: the LXX's rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the fronted accusative κύριον ('the LORD') throws emphasis on the One who was not consulted — the heart of the indictment; this is the LORD whose deeds the Gibeonites themselves had just recited (vv. 9–10).
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἐπηρώτησαν)οὐ: the negative that carries the chapter's lesson — the failure to seek divine guidance.
ἐπηρώτησανthey inquired (of)Aor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐπερωτάωmain verb (negated: the omitted oracle-seeking)→ constative aorist (the inquiry that was not made)ἐπερωτάω: 'ask / inquire / consult'; the technical LXX term for seeking a divine oracle (cf. 1 Sam 28:6; Num 27:21, the Urim before the LORD); renders שָׁאַל; κύριον οὐκ ἐπηρώτησαν ('they did not inquire of the LORD') is the chapter's central warning: trusting appearances and human reasoning while neglecting to consult God leads even Joshua's leaders into a binding, irreversible error.
15

καὶ ἐποίησεν Ἰησοῦς πρὸς αὐτοὺς εἰρήνην καὶ διέθετο πρὸς αὐτοὺς διαθήκην τοῦ διασῶσαι αὐτούς καὶ ὤμοσαν αὐτοῖς οἱ ἄρχοντες τῆς συναγωγῆς

And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to preserve them alive; and the leaders of the congregation swore to them.

The covenant ratified and sworn — the irrevocable actκαὶ ἐποίησεν Ἰησοῦς ... εἰρήνην
The consequence of v.14 follows at once: Joshua makes εἰρήνη ('peace') and διαθήκη ('a covenant') to preserve the Gibeonites alive (τοῦ διασῶσαι), and the leaders ratify it with an oath (ὤμοσαν). The oath is the decisive, irreversible element: once sworn in the name of the LORD (made explicit in v.18), it cannot be annulled even when the fraud is exposed — the binding force of a sworn covenant overrides the deception that procured it.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐποίησενmadeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (Joshua makes peace)→ constative aoristποιέω: 'make / do'; ἐποίησεν ... εἰρήνην, 'made peace'; renders עָשָׂה שָׁלוֹם; the establishing of a peace-treaty with the Gibeonites.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubjectἸησοῦς: nominative; Joshua personally ratifies the peace, so that the whole nation is bound.
πρὸςwithpreposition + accusative (the parties)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativeobject of πρόςαὐτός: 'them'; the Gibeonite envoys, now treaty-partners.
εἰρήνηνpeaceAccusativedirect object of ἐποίησενεἰρήνη: 'peace'; renders שָׁלוֹם; a treaty of peace, the very thing forbidden with the Canaanite nations (Deut 20:16–17) but here granted under false pretenses.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
διέθετοmade (a covenant)Aor Mid Indic 3 Sg · διατίθημιmain verb (Joshua cuts the covenant)→ constative aoristδιατίθημι (mid.): 'make (a covenant)'; διέθετο ... διαθήκην, 'cut a covenant'; the keyword construction (vv. 6, 7, 11) now realized as an accomplished fact.
πρὸςwithpreposition + accusative (the parties)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativeobject of πρόςαὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
διαθήκηνa covenantAccusativecognate accusative (object of διέθετο)διαθήκη: 'covenant'; the binding treaty, now established; cf. v.16, μετὰ τὸ διαθέσθαι ... διαθήκην.
τοῦthe / toGenitivearticle (with the articular infinitive διασῶσαι)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διασῶσαιto preserve alive / saveAor Act Inf · διασῴζωarticular infinitive of purpose/content (τοῦ + inf.)→ purpose aorist infinitive (the covenant's aim: their preservation)διασῴζω: 'save through / preserve / keep alive'; the prefix δια- = 'bring safely through'; τοῦ διασῶσαι αὐτούς ('to keep them alive') states the covenant's content — their lives are guaranteed; this is what makes the later non-destruction (v.26) obligatory.
αὐτούςthemAccusativeobject of διασῶσαιαὐτούς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὤμοσανsworeAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ὄμνυμιmain verb (the leaders swear the oath)→ constative aorist (the swearing of the oath)ὄμνυμι: 'swear (an oath)'; renders נִשְׁבַּע; the oath (ὤμοσαν, cf. vv. 18, 19, 20) is the irrevocable element — sworn by the LORD (v.18), it binds Israel absolutely (cf. the famine of 2 Sam 21 when Saul violated it).
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative (those to whom the oath was sworn)αὐτός: 'to them'; the Gibeonites, beneficiaries of the sworn oath.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with ἄρχοντες)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄρχοντεςleadersNominativesubject of ὤμοσανἄρχων: 'ruler / leader'; the same leaders who failed to inquire (v.14) now swear the binding oath — their authority commits the whole congregation.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with συναγωγῆς)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συναγωγῆςcongregation / assemblyGenitivegenitive (the leaders' constituency)συναγωγή: 'gathering / congregation'; renders עֵדָה; the whole assembly of Israel, on whose behalf the leaders swear — which is why the congregation later murmurs (v.18) at being bound by an oath it did not itself take.
16

καὶ ἐγένετο μετὰ τρεῖς ἡμέρας μετὰ τὸ διαθέσθαι πρὸς αὐτοὺς διαθήκην ἤκουσαν ὅτι ἐγγύθεν αὐτῶν εἰσιν καὶ ὅτι ἐν αὐτοῖς κατοικοῦσιν

And it came to pass, after three days, after making the covenant with them, that they heard they were near them and that they dwelt among them.

The discovery: the deception exposed three days laterκαὶ ἐγένετο μετὰ τρεῖς ἡμέρας
The narrative formula καὶ ἐγένετο ('and it came to pass') opens the discovery scene. The bitter timing — μετὰ τρεῖς ἡμέρας, only three days after the covenant — underscores how needless the deception was and how the oath now binds before the truth is known. The two ὅτι-clauses state the exposed facts that overturn the entire premise of v.6: the Gibeonites are near (ἐγγύθεν) and dwell among (ἐν αὐτοῖς κατοικοῦσιν) Israel.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγένετοit came to passAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (narrative formula)→ constative aorist (scene-setting formula)γίνομαι: 'become / happen'; καὶ ἐγένετο ('and it came to pass') is the standard LXX narrative formula rendering וַיְהִי, here opening the discovery.
μετὰafterpreposition + accusative (temporal)μετὰ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τρεῖςthreeAccusativeattributive numeral (with ἡμέρας)τρεῖς: 'three'; the three days that elapse before discovery heighten the irony — the truth surfaces almost immediately, yet too late to undo the oath.
ἡμέραςdaysAccusativeaccusative of extent of time (with μετά)ἡμέρα: 'day'; μετὰ τρεῖς ἡμέρας, 'after three days'.
μετὰafterpreposition + accusative (temporal, with articular infinitive)μετὰ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with the infinitive διαθέσθαι)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διαθέσθαιmaking (a covenant)Aor Mid Inf · διατίθημιarticular infinitive (μετὰ τό + inf.: 'after making')→ antecedent aorist infinitive (a completed prior act)διατίθημι (mid.): 'make (a covenant)'; the articular infinitive μετὰ τὸ διαθέσθαι ('after the making of the covenant') is a standard LXX temporal construction; the keyword recurs, marking the covenant as the now-irreversible reference point.
πρὸςwithpreposition + accusative (the parties)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativeobject of πρόςαὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
διαθήκηνa covenantAccusativecognate accusative (object of διαθέσθαι)διαθήκη: 'covenant'; the just-concluded treaty.
ἤκουσανthey heardAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀκούωmain verb (the discovery)→ constative aorist (receiving the report)ἀκούω: 'hear'; the same verb as vv. 1, 3, 9 — now Israel 'hears' the truth that exposes the fraud; the motif comes full circle.
ὅτιthatconjunction (introducing content clause)ὅτι: 'that'; introduces the reported fact.
ἐγγύθενnear / nearbyadverb of place (predicate: 'are nearby')ἐγγύθεν: 'from near / close at hand'; the direct antithesis of μακρόθεν (vv. 6, 9); the exposed truth reverses the founding lie — they are near, not far.
αὐτῶνto themGenitivegenitive (with ἐγγύθεν: 'near them')αὐτός: 'them' (Israel); ἐγγύθεν αὐτῶν, 'near them'.
εἰσινthey arePres Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίcopula (in the ὅτι-clause)→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; 'that they are near' — the present tense states the abiding, now-evident fact.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὅτιthatconjunction (introducing second content clause)ὅτι: 'that'; introduces the second exposed fact.
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (location)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτοῖςthem / among themDativedative object of ἐν (in Israel's midst)αὐτός: 'them' (Israel); ἐν αὐτοῖς, 'among them' — exactly what Israel had feared in v.7 (μὴ ἐν ἐμοὶ κατοικεῖς).
κατοικοῦσινthey dwellPres Act Indic 3 Pl · κατοικέωverb of the second ὅτι-clause→ progressive present (settled dwelling)κατοικέω: 'dwell'; the very verb of Israel's earlier suspicion (v.7) and of the Gibeonites' identity (v.3); the truth is now confirmed — they are neighbours dwelling within the land.
17

καὶ ἀπῆραν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ καὶ ἦλθον εἰς τὰς πόλεις αὐτῶν αἱ δὲ πόλεις αὐτῶν Γαβαων καὶ Κεφιρα καὶ Βηρωθ καὶ πόλις Ιαριν

And the sons of Israel set out and came to their cities; now their cities were Gibeon and Kephira and Beroth and the city of Iarin.

Verification on the ground: the Gibeonite cities namedκαὶ ἀπῆραν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ
Israel acts on the report: they break camp and reach the Gibeonites' cities, which the narrator names — Gibeon, Kephira, Beroth, and the city of Iarin (Kiriath-Jearim) — the four-town Gibeonite tetrapolis. The naming confirms beyond doubt that these are local Canaanite towns, not a distant nation, sealing the exposure of the fraud and setting up the leaders' justification in v.18.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπῆρανset out / broke campAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀπαίρωmain verb (Israel departs)→ constative aorist (breaking camp)ἀπαίρω: 'lift off / depart / break camp'; renders נָסַע; a march-term — Israel sets out from Gilgal toward the Gibeonite towns to verify the report.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοί)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ)υἱός: 'son'; οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ, the people on the march.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitival relation to υἱοί (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἦλθονcameAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἔρχομαιmain verb (arrival at the cities)→ constative aoristἔρχομαι: 'come'; Israel reaches the Gibeonite cities — physical confirmation of their nearness.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (destination)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with πόλεις)τὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλειςcitiesAccusativeobject of εἰςπόλις: 'city'; the Gibeonite towns, reached and named.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
αἱtheNominativearticle (with πόλεις, in the naming clause)αἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δὲnowexplanatory particle (post-positive, introducing the gloss)δέ: here explanatory ('now'), introducing the narrator's identification of the cities.
πόλειςcitiesNominativesubject of the verbless naming clauseπόλις: 'city'; 'their cities were ...' introduces the list.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ΓαβαωνGibeonindeclinable place-name (predicate of the naming clause)Γαβαων: Gibeon, the chief city, head of the tetrapolis (cf. v.3).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΚεφιραKephiraindeclinable place-name (coordinate)Κεφιρα: transliteration of כְּפִירָה (Chephirah); indeclinable; one of the four Gibeonite towns (cf. Josh 18:26; Ezra 2:25).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΒηρωθBerothindeclinable place-name (coordinate)Βηρωθ: transliteration of בְּאֵרוֹת (Beeroth); indeclinable; another Gibeonite town (cf. Josh 18:25; 2 Sam 4:2).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πόλιςcityNominativesubject (in apposition: 'the city of Iarin')πόλις: 'city'; πόλις Ιαριν renders קִרְיַת יְעָרִים (Kiriath-Jearim, 'city of forests'), so the LXX retains 'city' (קִרְיַת = πόλις) plus the transliterated 'Iarin' (יְעָרִים).
ΙαρινIarin (Jearim)indeclinable place-name (with πόλις)Ιαριν: transliteration of יְעָרִים (Jearim); indeclinable; πόλις Ιαριν = Kiriath-Jearim, the fourth Gibeonite town, later a resting-place of the ark (1 Sam 7:1).
18

καὶ οὐκ ἐμαχέσαντο αὐτοῖς οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ὅτι ὤμοσαν αὐτοῖς πάντες οἱ ἄρχοντες κύριον τὸν θεὸν Ισραηλ καὶ διεγόγγυσαν πᾶσα ἡ συναγωγὴ ἐπὶ τοῖς ἄρχουσιν

And the sons of Israel did not fight them, because all the leaders had sworn to them by the LORD the God of Israel; and all the congregation murmured against the leaders.

The oath honoured; the congregation's murmuringκαὶ οὐκ ἐμαχέσαντο ... ὅτι ὤμοσαν
Two consequences flow from the sworn oath. First, Israel does not attack (οὐκ ἐμαχέσαντο) — the oath sworn κύριον τὸν θεὸν Ισραηλ ('by the LORD the God of Israel') is binding precisely because it invokes the divine name; to break it would profane YHWH. Second, the people, who did not swear it, murmur (διεγόγγυσαν) against the leaders — the same verb used of Israel's wilderness grumbling (Exod 16; Num 14), here directed at the leaders' failure (v.14).
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἐμαχέσαντο)οὐκ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐμαχέσαντοthey foughtAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · μάχομαιmain verb (negated: Israel does not attack)→ constative aorist (the battle that did not happen)μάχομαι: 'fight / do battle'; deponent; renders נִלְחַם / הִכָּה; the oath restrains Israel from the warfare it would otherwise wage on Canaan's inhabitants — the covenant's protective force in action.
αὐτοῖςthem / against themDativedative (object of μάχομαι: 'fight against them')αὐτός: 'them'; μάχομαι takes the dative of the one fought; the Gibeonites are spared.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοί)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ)υἱός: 'son'; the people, restrained by the leaders' oath.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitival relation to υἱοί (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunctionὅτι: 'because'; gives the ground for Israel's restraint — the sworn oath.
ὤμοσανhad swornAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ὄμνυμιverb of the causal clause→ constative aorist (the binding oath previously sworn)ὄμνυμι: 'swear'; the oath of v.15, now specified as sworn 'by the LORD the God of Israel' — its invocation of the divine name is what makes it inviolable.
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative (those to whom the oath was sworn)αὐτοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
πάντεςallNominativeattributive adjective (with ἄρχοντες)πᾶς: 'all'; 'all the leaders' — the oath is universal among the leadership, hence fully binding on the nation.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with ἄρχοντες)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄρχοντεςleadersNominativesubject of ὤμοσανἄρχων: 'ruler / leader'; the leaders whose oath binds — and against whom the congregation now murmurs.
κύριονthe LORD / by the LORDAccusativeaccusative of the one sworn by (ὄμνυμι + acc.: 'swear by')κύριος: the Tetragrammaton; ὄμνυμι κύριον = 'swear by the LORD' (the accusative names the one invoked); renders נִשְׁבַּע בַּיהוה; because the oath invokes YHWH himself, breaking it would dishonour the divine name — the theological root of its irrevocability.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with θεόν)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸνGodAccusativeaccusative in apposition to κύριονθεός: 'God'; κύριον τὸν θεὸν Ισραηλ, 'the LORD the God of Israel' — the full covenant name invoked in the oath.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitival relation to θεόν (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
διεγόγγυσανmurmured / grumbledAor Act Indic 3 Pl · διαγογγύζωmain verb (the congregation's complaint)→ constative aorist (the outbreak of grumbling)διαγογγύζω: 'murmur / grumble throughout'; the intensive δια- compound of the onomatopoeic γογγύζω; renders לוּן (Niphal); the verb of Israel's wilderness murmuring (Exod 16:2; Num 14:2), here aimed at the leaders for binding the people by an ill-considered oath.
πᾶσαall / wholeNominativeattributive adjective (with συναγωγή)πᾶς: 'all / whole'; 'the whole congregation' murmurs — the discontent is universal.
theNominativearticle (with συναγωγή)ἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συναγωγὴcongregationNominativesubject of διεγόγγυσανσυναγωγή: 'congregation / assembly'; renders עֵדָה; the whole assembly, bound by an oath it did not itself swear, voices its grievance against the leaders.
ἐπὶagainstpreposition + dative (object of complaint)ἐπί + dative: 'against / over'; διαγογγύζω ἐπί τινι = 'murmur against someone'.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with ἄρχουσιν)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄρχουσινleadersDativedative object of ἐπί (those murmured against)ἄρχων: 'ruler / leader'; the leaders bear the congregation's reproach for the covenant — the consequence of their failure to inquire of the LORD (v.14).
19

καὶ εἶπαν οἱ ἄρχοντες πάσῃ τῇ συναγωγῇ ἡμεῖς ὠμόσαμεν αὐτοῖς κύριον τὸν θεὸν Ισραηλ καὶ νῦν οὐ δυνησόμεθα ἅψασθαι αὐτῶν

And the leaders said to all the congregation, 'We have sworn to them by the LORD the God of Israel, and now we shall not be able to touch them.

The leaders' defense: the oath cannot be brokenκαὶ εἶπαν οἱ ἄρχοντες πάσῃ τῇ συναγωγῇ
The leaders answer the murmuring with the decisive theological principle: ἡμεῖς ὠμόσαμεν ... κύριον ('we have sworn by the LORD'), therefore οὐ δυνησόμεθα ἅψασθαι αὐτῶν ('we shall not be able to touch them'). The 'cannot' is moral, not physical: an oath in YHWH's name binds absolutely, and to violate it would bring divine wrath (v.20). The leaders thus accept their error's consequence rather than compound it with perjury.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπανsaidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (the leaders respond)→ constative aoristλέγω: 'say'; the leaders address the murmuring assembly.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with ἄρχοντες)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄρχοντεςleadersNominativesubjectἄρχων: 'ruler / leader'; the leaders now defend (and stand by) their oath.
πάσῃallDativeattributive adjective (with συναγωγῇ)πᾶς: 'all / whole'; they address the whole congregation that murmured (v.18).
τῇtheDativearticle (with συναγωγῇ)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συναγωγῇcongregationDativeindirect object (addressee)συναγωγή: 'congregation'; the assembly addressed.
ἡμεῖςweNominativeemphatic subject pronounἐγώ (pl. nom. ἡμεῖς): 'we'; the emphatic pronoun underscores that the leaders themselves bear responsibility for the oath — 'it was we who swore'.
ὠμόσαμενwe have swornAor Act Indic 1 Pl · ὄμνυμιmain verb (the oath acknowledged)→ constative aorist (the completed, binding oath)ὄμνυμι: 'swear'; the leaders own the oath; sworn by the LORD, it cannot be revoked.
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative (those to whom they swore)αὐτοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
κύριονby the LORDAccusativeaccusative of the one sworn by (ὄμνυμι + acc.)κύριος: the Tetragrammaton; ὠμόσαμεν κύριον, 'we swore by the LORD'; the divine name invoked is precisely what renders the oath binding and its breach perilous.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with θεόν)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸνGodAccusativeaccusative in apposition to κύριονθεός: 'God'; the full title 'the LORD the God of Israel', as in v.18.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitival relation to θεόν (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
νῦνnowtemporal adverb (drawing the consequence)νῦν: 'now'; καὶ νῦν here draws the binding inference from the oath.
οὐnotnegative particle (with δυνησόμεθα)οὐ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δυνησόμεθαwe shall be ableFut Mid Indic 1 Pl · δύναμαιmain verb (negated: moral inability)→ predictive future (a settled moral impossibility)δύναμαι: 'be able'; deponent; οὐ δυνησόμεθα ('we shall not be able') expresses moral, not physical, incapacity — the oath makes harming them impermissible; renders לֹא נוּכַל.
ἅψασθαιto touchAor Mid Inf · ἅπτωcomplementary infinitive (with δυνησόμεθα)→ aorist infinitive (the forbidden harming)ἅπτω (mid. ἅπτομαι): 'touch / lay hold of (to harm)'; takes the genitive (αὐτῶν); 'to touch them' = to harm or kill them; the oath forbids any hostile contact.
αὐτῶνthemGenitivegenitive object of ἅψασθαιαὐτός: 'them'; ἅπτομαι governs the genitive — the Gibeonites, whom the oath protects.
20

τοῦτο ποιήσομεν ζωγρῆσαι αὐτούς καὶ περιποιησόμεθα αὐτούς καὶ οὐκ ἔσται καθ᾿ ἡμῶν ὀργὴ διὰ τὸν ὅρκον ὃν ὠμόσαμεν αὐτοῖς

This we will do: take them alive and preserve them; so there shall be no wrath against us because of the oath which we swore to them.

The leaders' resolution: spare them to avert divine wrathτοῦτο ποιήσομεν
The leaders propose the resolution: ζωγρῆσαι ('take alive') and περιποιήσασθαι ('preserve') the Gibeonites, explicitly to avert ὀργή ('wrath') διὰ τὸν ὅρκον ('on account of the oath'). The reasoning is theologically precise: oath-breaking would provoke YHWH's anger — exactly the wrath that 2 Sam 21 records falling on Israel when Saul later violated this very covenant. Sparing them is thus an act of fear of the LORD, salvaging obedience from error.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
τοῦτοthisAccusativedemonstrative (proleptic object of ποιήσομεν)οὗτος: 'this'; the proleptic τοῦτο ('this we will do') points forward to the infinitives that specify the plan.
ποιήσομενwe will doFut Act Indic 1 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (the resolution announced)→ predictive/volitive future (a decided course of action)ποιέω: 'do'; τοῦτο ποιήσομεν ('this we will do'), introducing the leaders' policy toward the Gibeonites.
ζωγρῆσαιto take alive / spareAor Act Inf · ζωγρέωepexegetic infinitive (specifying τοῦτο)→ aorist infinitive (the decisive sparing)ζωγρέω: 'take alive, capture alive, spare' (ζωός + ἀγρέω, 'catch alive'); renders חָיָה (Piel, 'let live'); the opposite of the ban (ἀνάθεμα); the leaders choose to keep the Gibeonites alive rather than destroy them.
αὐτούςthemAccusativeobject of ζωγρῆσαιαὐτούς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
περιποιησόμεθαwe will preserveFut Mid Indic 1 Pl · περιποιέωmain verb (coordinate resolution)→ predictive/volitive futureπεριποιέω (mid.): 'preserve / keep safe / save alive'; the middle περιποιήσομαι ('we will keep them alive') reinforces ζωγρῆσαι; renders the sense of preserving them as a protected, surviving group.
αὐτούςthemAccusativeobject of περιποιησόμεθααὐτούς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶand (so)coordinate conjunction (consecutive force)καί: here with consecutive force, 'and so / with the result that' — sparing them averts the wrath.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἔσται)οὐκ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔσταιthere will beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (the averted result)→ predictive future (the consequence of keeping the oath)εἰμί (fut. ἔσομαι): 'be'; οὐκ ἔσται ... ὀργή ('there will be no wrath'), the desired result of honouring the oath.
καθ᾿againstpreposition + genitive (hostile direction, elided κατά)κατά + genitive: 'against'; καθ᾿ ἡμῶν, 'against us' — the wrath that oath-breaking would invite.
ἡμῶνusGenitivegenitive object of κατάἐγώ (pl. gen. ἡμῶν): 'us'; Israel, who would suffer the wrath.
ὀργὴwrath / angerNominativesubject of ἔσταιὀργή: 'wrath / anger'; renders קֶצֶף / חֵמָה; the divine wrath that breaking a sworn oath would bring — realized historically in the famine of 2 Sam 21:1 after Saul violated this covenant; the leaders act precisely to forestall it.
διὰbecause ofpreposition + accusative (cause)διά + accusative: 'because of / on account of'; the oath is the cause both of the obligation and of the threatened wrath if broken.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with ὅρκον)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὅρκονoathAccusativeobject of διάὅρκος: 'oath / sworn promise'; renders שְׁבוּעָה; the noun cognate to ὄμνυμι (ὠμόσαμεν); the binding sworn promise whose violation would incur wrath.
ὃνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ὠμόσαμεν)ὅς: relative pronoun, antecedent ὅρκον.
ὠμόσαμενwe sworeAor Act Indic 1 Pl · ὄμνυμιverb of the relative clause→ constative aorist (the sworn oath)ὄμνυμι: 'swear'; ὅρκον ὃν ὠμόσαμεν, 'the oath which we swore' — a cognate construction (noun + verb) underscoring the solemn, binding act.
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative (the beneficiaries of the oath)αὐτοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
21

ζήσονται καὶ ἔσονται ξυλοκόποι καὶ ὑδροφόροι πάσῃ τῇ συναγωγῇ καθάπερ εἶπαν αὐτοῖς οἱ ἄρχοντες

Let them live and be woodcutters and water-carriers for all the congregation, just as the leaders said to them.

The verdict announced: life, but in servitudeζήσονται καὶ ἔσονται ξυλοκόποι
The leaders' sentence resolves the dilemma: the Gibeonites ζήσονται ('shall live', honouring the oath) but ἔσονται ξυλοκόποι καὶ ὑδροφόροι ('shall be woodcutters and water-carriers') for the whole congregation. The paired terms ξυλοκόπος/ὑδροφόρος — menial perpetual labor — fulfill their own self-description as 'servants' (vv. 8, 11) and prepare the explicit sentence of v.27 (now also for the altar of God). Life is granted; subordination is imposed.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
ζήσονταιthey shall liveFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · ζάωmain verb (the grant of life)→ predictive/permissive future ('they shall/let them live')ζάω: 'live / be alive'; ζήσονται ('they shall live') is the positive verdict honouring the oath — their lives are spared, the fulfilment of τοῦ διασῶσαι αὐτούς (v.15).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔσονταιthey shall beFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίmain verb (the imposed status)→ predictive future (the assigned condition)εἰμί (fut. ἔσομαι): 'be'; ἔσονται ('they shall be') assigns the Gibeonites their permanent servile role.
ξυλοκόποιwoodcutters / hewers of woodNominativepredicate nominative (with ἔσονται)ξυλοκόπος: 'wood-cutter' (ξύλον, 'wood' + κόπτω, 'cut'); renders חֹטֵב עֵצִים; the menial laborer who gathers and chops wood; the pairing ξυλοκόποι καὶ ὑδροφόροι (Deut 29:11) becomes the Gibeonites' defining, perpetual status (vv. 21, 23, 27).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὑδροφόροιwater-carriers / drawers of waterNominativepredicate nominative (coordinate with ξυλοκόποι)ὑδροφόρος: 'water-carrier' (ὕδωρ, 'water' + φέρω, 'bear'); renders שֹׁאֵב מַיִם; the drawer/carrier of water; with ξυλοκόπος it denotes the lowest sanctuary-service labor (cf. Deut 29:11).
πάσῃall / for allDativeattributive adjective (with συναγωγῇ)πᾶς: 'all / whole'; their labor serves the whole congregation — a corporate, not private, servitude.
τῇtheDativearticle (with συναγωγῇ)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συναγωγῇcongregationDativedative of advantage (those served by the labor)συναγωγή: 'congregation'; the whole assembly is served — and so the murmuring congregation (v.18) gains a tangible benefit from sparing them.
καθάπερjust ascomparative conjunctionκαθάπερ: 'exactly as / just as'; a strengthened form of καθώς; introduces the conformity of the outcome to the leaders' word.
εἶπανsaidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωverb of the comparative clause→ constative aoristλέγω: 'say'; the outcome accords with what the leaders had declared — their word governs the Gibeonites' fate.
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative (those addressed)αὐτοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with ἄρχοντες)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄρχοντεςleadersNominativesubject of εἶπανἄρχων: 'ruler / leader'; the leaders, whose pronouncement determines the verdict and is then executed by Joshua (v.27).
22

καὶ συνεκάλεσεν αὐτοὺς Ἰησοῦς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς διὰ τί παρελογίσασθέ με λέγοντες μακρὰν ἀπὸ σοῦ ἐσμεν σφόδρα ὑμεῖς δὲ ἐγχώριοί ἐστε τῶν κατοικούντων ἐν ἡμῖν

And Joshua called them together and said to them, 'Why did you deceive me, saying, We are very far from you, when you are local people, of those dwelling among us?'

Joshua's confrontation: the charge of deceitκαὶ συνεκάλεσεν αὐτοὺς Ἰησοῦς
Joshua summons the Gibeonites and indicts them with the cutting question διὰ τί παρελογίσασθέ με ('why did you deceive me?'). He throws their own lie back at them (μακρὰν ... ἐσμεν σφόδρα, echoing vv. 6, 9) against the exposed truth: ὑμεῖς ... ἐγχώριοί ἐστε ('you are locals'). The verb παραλογίζομαι ('defraud by false reasoning') names the πανουργία of v.4 precisely — they won the covenant by deceptive argument.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
συνεκάλεσενcalled together / summonedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συγκαλέωmain verb (Joshua convenes them)→ constative aoristσυγκαλέω: 'call together / summon'; the prefix συν- gathers them for a formal confrontation; Joshua acts as judge over the deceivers.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of συνεκάλεσεναὐτός: 'them'; the Gibeonites, now summoned to account.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubjectἸησοῦς: nominative; Joshua, who made the covenant (v.15), now confronts its fraudulent procurement.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: 'say'; introduces Joshua's accusation.
αὐτοῖςto themDativeindirect objectαὐτοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
διὰbecause of / whypreposition + accusative (in the interrogative idiom διὰ τί)διά + acc.: in the idiom διὰ τί = 'why? / on account of what?'; renders לָמָּה / מַדּוּעַ.
τίwhat / whyAccusativeinterrogative pronoun (with διά: 'why?')τίς: interrogative; διὰ τί, 'why?', opens Joshua's reproachful question.
παρελογίσασθέdid you deceive / defraudAor Mid Indic 2 Pl · παραλογίζομαιmain verb of the question→ constative aorist (the completed act of deception)παραλογίζομαι: 'deceive by false reasoning / defraud / cheat'; from παρά + λογίζομαι ('reckon awry'); names the πανουργία of v.4 exactly — winning the covenant by deceptive argument; cf. Col 2:4 (μηδεὶς ὑμᾶς παραλογίζηται).
μεmeAccusativedirect object of παρελογίσασθεἐγώ (acc. με): 'me'; Joshua speaks for himself and the nation he represents.
λέγοντεςsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Pl Masc · λέγωparticiple of speech (introducing the quoted lie)→ progressive present participle (Hebraizing λέγων)λέγω: the participle λέγοντες introduces the Gibeonites' own quoted words, now used against them.
μακρὰνfaradverb (predicate: 'we are far')μακράν: 'far off / at a distance'; adverbial accusative; echoes μακρόθεν (vv. 6, 9) — the very lie Joshua now condemns.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
σοῦyouGenitivegenitive object of ἀπόσύ (gen. σοῦ): 'you'; the quoted lie addressed Israel ('far from you').
ἐσμενwe arePres Act Indic 1 Pl · εἰμίcopula (in the quoted lie)→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; 'we are (very far)', the false claim.
σφόδραveryadverb of degree (intensifying μακράν)σφόδρα: 'exceedingly'; the same overstatement as vv. 9, 13 — the tell-tale exaggeration of the lie, now quoted back.
ὑμεῖςyouNominativeemphatic subject pronoun (adversative)σύ (pl. nom. ὑμεῖς): 'you'; the emphatic ὑμεῖς δέ ('but you') sharply contrasts their claim with the truth.
δὲbutadversative particle (post-positive)δέ: adversative 'but'; sets the exposed truth against the quoted lie.
ἐγχώριοίlocal / native inhabitantsNominativepredicate adjective (with ἐστε)ἐγχώριος: 'of the land / native / local' (ἐν + χώρα); 'you are locals' — the precise refutation of μακράν; they belong to the very land Israel is to possess, which is why the covenant was forbidden.
ἐστεyou arePres Act Indic 2 Pl · εἰμίcopula (predicating ἐγχώριοι)→ stative present (the exposed reality)εἰμί: 'be'; 'you are locals' — the truth that voids the premise of the covenant.
τῶνof the (ones)Genitivearticle (partitive, with κατοικούντων)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κατοικούντωνdwelling / inhabitantsPres Act Ptcp Gen Pl Masc · κατοικέωpartitive genitive participle (substantival: 'of those dwelling')→ progressive present participleκατοικέω: 'dwell'; the recurring verb (vv. 3, 7, 11, 16); 'of those dwelling among us' classes the Gibeonites among the land's inhabitants — exactly what Israel had feared (v.7).
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (location)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ἡμῖνus / among usDativedative object of ἐνἐγώ (pl. dat. ἡμῖν): 'us'; ἐν ἡμῖν, 'among us' — the Gibeonites dwell in Israel's own midst.
23

καὶ νῦν ἐπικατάρατοί ἐστε οὐ μὴ ἐκλίπῃ ἐξ ὑμῶν δοῦλος οὐδὲ ξυλοκόπος ἐμοὶ καὶ τῷ θεῷ μου

And now you are accursed; there shall never fail from among you a slave, nor a woodcutter for me and for my God.

Joshua's sentence: the curse of perpetual servitudeκαὶ νῦν ἐπικατάρατοί ἐστε
Joshua pronounces sentence: ἐπικατάρατοί ἐστε ('you are accursed') — the cognate of the κατάρας read at Gebal (v.2[e]) — and then defines the curse not as death but as endless servitude: οὐ μὴ ἐκλίπῃ ... δοῦλος οὐδὲ ξυλοκόπος ('there shall never cease a slave or woodcutter'). The emphatic double negative οὐ μή + aorist subjunctive makes the perpetuity absolute. Strikingly, the service is 'for me and for my God' — already pointing the servitude toward the sanctuary (v.27).
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
νῦνnowtemporal adverb (introducing the sentence)νῦν: 'now'; καὶ νῦν moves from accusation (v.22) to verdict.
ἐπικατάρατοίaccursedNominativepredicate adjective (with ἐστε)ἐπικατάρατος: 'accursed / under a curse'; renders אָרוּר; cognate with κατάρα (the curses read at Gebal, v.2[e]) and the verb ἐπικαταράομαι; the curse here is realized as perpetual servile status, not destruction; cf. Gal 3:10, 13, where Paul uses ἐπικατάρατος of the law's curse.
ἐστεyou arePres Act Indic 2 Pl · εἰμίcopula (predicating ἐπικατάρατοι)→ stative present (the declared condition)εἰμί: 'be'; the performative present — Joshua's pronouncement effects the cursed status.
οὐnotnegative particle (part of the emphatic οὐ μή)οὐ: with μή forms the emphatic negative of strong denial.
μὴby no meansnegative particle (with subjunctive: emphatic future denial)μή: οὐ μή + aorist subjunctive is the strongest form of negation, 'there shall by no means ever' — making the perpetuity of the servitude absolute.
ἐκλίπῃshall fail / ceaseAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἐκλείπωsubjunctive (with οὐ μή: emphatic future denial)→ aorist subjunctive of emphatic negation (absolute perpetuity)ἐκλείπω: 'fail / cease / leave off / die out'; οὐ μὴ ἐκλίπῃ ('there shall never cease') guarantees an unbroken succession; renders לֹא יִכָּרֵת ('shall not be cut off'); the same idiom of perpetual continuance used in dynastic and priestly promises.
ἐξfrom amongpreposition + genitive (source/partitive)ἐξ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ὑμῶνyouGenitivegenitive object of ἐξ (the group from which none shall fail)σύ (pl. gen. ὑμῶν): 'you'; ἐξ ὑμῶν, 'from among you' — your line will perpetually furnish such servants.
δοῦλοςslave / servantNominativesubject of ἐκλίπῃδοῦλος: 'slave / bondservant'; renders עֶבֶד; the blunt term for servitude (cf. the milder οἰκέτης/παῖς the Gibeonites used of themselves, vv. 8–9); their self-styled 'servanthood' is now imposed as a permanent reality.
οὐδὲnornegative conjunction (adding ξυλοκόπος)οὐδέ: 'and not / nor'; couples ξυλοκόπος to δοῦλος under the single denial.
ξυλοκόποςwoodcutterNominativesubject of ἐκλίπῃ (coordinate with δοῦλος)ξυλοκόπος: 'woodcutter'; the keyword of the verdict (vv. 21, 27); here singular and generic — the office will never lack an occupant from among them.
ἐμοὶfor meDativedative of advantage (whom the service is for)ἐγώ (dat. ἐμοί): 'for me'; Joshua, representing the congregation.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τῷthe / forDativearticle (with θεῷ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεῷGodDativedative of advantage (the service directed to God)θεός: 'God'; τῷ θεῷ μου, 'for my God'; the servitude is oriented toward the sanctuary — anticipating v.27, where they serve 'the altar of God'; thus their menial labor is taken up into the worship of YHWH.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of relationship (with θεῷ)ἐγώ (gen. μου): 'my'; 'my God' — Joshua confesses YHWH as his own God, in contrast to the Gibeonites' 'the LORD your God' (v.9).
24

καὶ ἀπεκρίθησαν τῷ Ἰησοῖ λέγοντες ἀνηγγέλη ἡμῖν ὅσα συνέταξεν κύριος ὁ θεός σου Μωυσῇ τῷ παιδὶ αὐτοῦ δοῦναι ὑμῖν τὴν γῆν ταύτην καὶ ἐξολεθρεῦσαι ἡμᾶς καὶ πάντας τοὺς κατοικοῦντας ἐπ᾿ αὐτῆς ἀπὸ προσώπου ὑμῶν καὶ ἐφοβήθημεν σφόδρα περὶ τῶν ψυχῶν ἡμῶν ἀπὸ προσώπου ὑμῶν καὶ ἐποιήσαμεν τὸ πρᾶγμα τοῦτο

And they answered Joshua, saying, 'It was reported to us, all that the LORD your God commanded Moses his servant — to give you this land and to destroy us and all who dwell on it from before you; and we feared exceedingly for our lives because of you, and we did this thing.

The Gibeonites' confession: fear of YHWH's command drove the deceitκαὶ ἀπεκρίθησαν τῷ Ἰησοῖ
The Gibeonites' defense is, remarkably, a confession of faith in YHWH's word: they had heard the divine command to give Israel the land and to destroy (ἐξολεθρεῦσαι) its inhabitants, and so ἐφοβήθημεν σφόδρα ('we feared greatly') for their lives. Their fear is the same that gripped Rahab and the kings; but where Rahab cast herself on Israel's mercy, the Gibeonites resorted to deceit (ἐποιήσαμεν τὸ πρᾶγμα τοῦτο). The confession both explains and does not excuse the πανουργία.
Word-by-word analysis· 49 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπεκρίθησανthey answeredAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · ἀποκρίνομαιmain verb (the Gibeonites reply)→ constative aoristἀποκρίνομαι: 'answer / reply'; deponent (aor. pass. form, active sense); renders עָנָה; introduces their confession-defense.
τῷthe / toDativearticle (with Ἰησοῖ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἸησοῖJoshuaDativeindirect object of ἀπεκρίθησανἸησοῦς: dative Ἰησοῖ; Joshua, to whom they answer.
λέγοντεςsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Pl Masc · λέγωparticiple of speech (introducing direct discourse)→ progressive present participle (Hebraizing λέγων)λέγω: the participle introduces their reply (calque of לֵאמֹר).
ἀνηγγέληit was reported / toldAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἀναγγέλλωmain verb of the reply (impersonal passive)→ constative aorist passive (the report received)ἀναγγέλλω: 'announce / report / declare'; the passive ἀνηγγέλη ('it was reported') renders הֻגַּד; they had heard a definite report of YHWH's intentions for the land.
ἡμῖνto usDativedative (recipients of the report)ἐγώ (pl. dat. ἡμῖν): 'to us'; the Gibeonites.
ὅσαall thatNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ἀνηγγέλη: 'what ... was reported')ὅσος: 'as much as / all that'; introduces the content of the report — YHWH's command to Moses.
συνέταξενcommanded / ordainedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συντάσσωverb of the relative clause→ constative aorist (YHWH's command)συντάσσω: 'arrange / order / command'; renders צִוָּה; the divine ordinance to give Israel the land and destroy its inhabitants (Deut 7:1–2; 20:16–17).
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of συνέταξενκύριος: the Tetragrammaton; the Gibeonites attribute the conquest-command directly to YHWH — confessing his sovereignty even as they describe their fear.
theNominativearticle (with θεός)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεόςGodNominativenominative in apposition to κύριοςθεός: 'God'; κύριος ὁ θεός σου, 'the LORD your God' — again they name him as Israel's God (cf. v.9).
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (with θεός)σύ (gen. σου): 'your'; 'your God', acknowledging Israel's special covenant relation to YHWH.
ΜωυσῇMosesDativeindirect object of συνέταξεν (the one commanded)Μωυσῆς: dative Μωυσῇ; the recipient of YHWH's conquest-command, titled 'his servant'.
τῷtheDativearticle (with παιδί)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδὶservantDativedative in apposition to Μωυσῇπαῖς: 'servant / child'; ὁ παῖς κυρίου ('the servant of the LORD') is, like θεράπων (v.2), an honorific for Moses; renders עֶבֶד יהוה.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship (with παιδί)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
δοῦναιto giveAor Act Inf · δίδωμιepexegetic infinitive (content of the command)→ aorist infinitive (the commanded gift)δίδωμι: 'give'; the first content of YHWH's command — to give Israel the land; renders לָתֵת.
ὑμῖνto youDativedative (recipients of the land)σύ (pl. dat. ὑμῖν): 'to you'; Israel, the land's heirs.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with γῆν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνlandAccusativedirect object of δοῦναιγῆ: 'land'; τὴν γῆν ταύτην, 'this land' — Canaan, promised to Israel.
ταύτηνthisAccusativeattributive demonstrative (with γῆν)οὗτος: 'this'; 'this land' — the very land in which the Gibeonites dwell.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξολεθρεῦσαιto destroy utterlyAor Act Inf · ἐξολεθρεύωepexegetic infinitive (second content of the command)→ aorist infinitive (the commanded destruction)ἐξολεθρεύω: 'destroy utterly / exterminate'; the intensive ἐξ- compound; renders הִשְׁמִיד / הֶחֱרִים; the command of the ban (ḥērem) on Canaan's inhabitants — precisely the fate the Gibeonites feared and sought to escape by deceit.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object of ἐξολεθρεῦσαιἐγώ (pl. acc. ἡμᾶς): 'us'; the Gibeonites identify themselves among the land's doomed inhabitants — a candid admission of their true status.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πάνταςallAccusativesubstantival adjective (object of ἐξολεθρεῦσαι)πᾶς: 'all'; the totality of the land's inhabitants, under the ban.
τοὺςthe (ones)Accusativearticle (with κατοικοῦντας)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κατοικοῦνταςdwelling / inhabitantsPres Act Ptcp Acc Pl Masc · κατοικέωsubstantival participle (object of ἐξολεθρεῦσαι)→ progressive present participleκατοικέω: 'dwell'; the recurring verb; 'all who dwell on it' — the Gibeonites class themselves frankly among the land's inhabitants destined for the ban.
ἐπ᾿onpreposition + genitive (location, elided ἐπί)ἐπ᾿: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτῆςitGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί (the land)αὐτός: 'it'; the land (γῆ), on which they dwell.
ἀπὸfrom beforepreposition + genitive (in the idiom ἀπὸ προσώπου)ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
προσώπουface / presenceGenitivegenitive (idiom ἀπὸ προσώπου: 'from before')πρόσωπον: 'face'; the Hebraism ἀπὸ προσώπου ('from before / from the presence of', מִפְּנֵי) means 'before you / at your advance'; the inhabitants are to be destroyed as Israel advances.
ὑμῶνyouGenitivegenitive (with προσώπου: 'from before you')σύ (pl. gen. ὑμῶν): 'you'; Israel, before whom the inhabitants fall.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐφοβήθημενwe fearedAor Pass Indic 1 Pl · φοβέομαιmain verb (the motive: fear)→ constative aorist (the fear that prompted the deceit)φοβέομαι: 'fear / be afraid'; deponent; renders יָרֵא; ἐφοβήθημεν σφόδρα ('we were greatly afraid'); the same fear that fell on all Canaan (cf. Josh 2:9–11; 5:1), here the explicit cause of the ruse.
σφόδραexceedinglyadverb of degree (intensifying ἐφοβήθημεν)σφόδρα: 'exceedingly'; the genuine extremity of their fear — for once the σφόδρα is no exaggeration but the true motive.
περὶfor / concerningpreposition + genitive (object of fear)περί + genitive: 'concerning / for'; 'for our lives' — the object of their fear.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with ψυχῶν)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ψυχῶνlives / soulsGenitivegenitive object of περί (what they feared for)ψυχή: 'soul / life'; renders נֶפֶשׁ; here 'lives' — they feared for their very survival, the impulse behind the πανουργία.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession (with ψυχῶν)ἡμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἀπὸfrom before / because ofpreposition + genitive (ἀπὸ προσώπου idiom)ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
προσώπουface / presenceGenitivegenitive (idiom ἀπὸ προσώπου: 'because of you')πρόσωπον: 'face'; the repeated Hebraism ἀπὸ προσώπου ὑμῶν, here causal, 'because of you / at the dread of you'.
ὑμῶνyouGenitivegenitive (with προσώπου)ὑμῶν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐποιήσαμενwe didAor Act Indic 1 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (the admission of the deed)→ constative aorist (the deed confessed)ποιέω: 'do'; ἐποιήσαμεν τὸ πρᾶγμα τοῦτο, 'we did this thing' — a frank admission of the deceit, neither denied nor justified beyond the plea of fear.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with πρᾶγμα)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρᾶγμαthing / deedAccusativedirect object of ἐποιήσαμενπρᾶγμα: 'deed / matter / thing done'; renders דָּבָר; τὸ πρᾶγμα τοῦτο, 'this thing' = the whole stratagem of deceit.
τοῦτοthisAccusativeattributive demonstrative (with πρᾶγμα)οὗτος: 'this'; refers to the entire deception just exposed.
25

καὶ νῦν ἰδοὺ ἡμεῖς ὑποχείριοι ὑμῖν ὡς ἀρέσκει ὑμῖν καὶ ὡς δοκεῖ ὑμῖν ποιήσατε ἡμῖν

And now, behold, we are in your hands; as it pleases you and as it seems good to you, do to us.

Total submission: the Gibeonites place themselves at Israel's mercyκαὶ νῦν ἰδοὺ ἡμεῖς ὑποχείριοι ὑμῖν
The Gibeonites close with unconditional surrender: ἰδοὺ ἡμεῖς ὑποχείριοι ὑμῖν ('behold, we are in your hands'), and ὡς ... ποιήσατε ἡμῖν ('do to us as you see fit'). This complete self-surrender — echoing the language of casting oneself on another's mercy — is what Joshua's verdict (v.27) answers: not death, but life in service. Their submission realizes their earlier (deceitful) self-designation as 'servants' (vv. 8, 11) as a now-genuine reality.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
νῦνnowtemporal adverb (transition to submission)νῦν: 'now'; καὶ νῦν moves from confession (v.24) to surrender.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle (drawing attention)ἰδού: 'behold / look'; frozen aorist imperative of εἶδον used as a presentative interjection; renders הִנֵּה; dramatically presents their helpless self-surrender.
ἡμεῖςweNominativesubject (emphatic, in a verbless clause)ἐγώ (pl. nom. ἡμεῖς): 'we'; emphatic subject of the verbless clause 'we (are) in your hands'.
ὑποχείριοιin your power / at your mercyNominativepredicate adjective (verbless clause, supply 'are')ὑποχείριος: 'under the hand / subject / in one's power' (ὑπό + χείρ); renders בְּיָדְךָ ('in your hand'); a complete self-surrender — they place their fate entirely in Israel's hands.
ὑμῖνto you / in your (power)Dativedative (with ὑποχείριοι: subject to you)σύ (pl. dat. ὑμῖν): 'to you'; 'in your power', defining to whom they are subject.
ὡςascomparative conjunctionὡς: 'as / in the manner that'; introduces the standard left to Israel's discretion.
ἀρέσκειit pleasesPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀρέσκωverb of the comparative clause (impersonal)→ customary present (whatever pleases you)ἀρέσκω: 'please / be pleasing'; ὡς ἀρέσκει ὑμῖν ('as it pleases you'); renders כַּטּוֹב; leaves the decision wholly to Israel.
ὑμῖνto youDativedative (with ἀρέσκει: pleasing to you)ὑμῖν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὡςascomparative conjunctionὡς: 'as'; the parallel clause, 'as it seems good to you'.
δοκεῖit seems goodPres Act Indic 3 Sg · δοκέωverb of the comparative clause (impersonal)→ customary present (whatever seems good)δοκέω: 'seem / think (good)'; ὡς δοκεῖ ὑμῖν ('as it seems good to you'); renders כַּיָּשָׁר; reinforces the unconditional surrender to Israel's judgment.
ὑμῖνto youDativedative (with δοκεῖ)ὑμῖν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ποιήσατεdoAor Act Impv 2 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (imperative: the surrender)→ aorist imperative (committing themselves to Israel's decision)ποιέω: 'do'; ποιήσατε ἡμῖν ('do to us'), the imperative of total submission — they invite Israel to determine their fate; renders עֲשֵׂה לָנוּ.
ἡμῖνto usDativedative (those to whom Israel may act)ἐγώ (pl. dat. ἡμῖν): 'to us'; they submit to whatever Israel decides — answered by the merciful verdict of v.26–27.
26

καὶ ἐποίησαν αὐτοῖς οὕτως καὶ ἐξείλατο αὐτοὺς Ἰησοῦς ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ἐκ χειρῶν υἱῶν Ισραηλ καὶ οὐκ ἀνεῖλον αὐτούς

And they did so to them, and Joshua delivered them on that day out of the hands of the sons of Israel, and they did not slay them.

The verdict executed: deliverance, not destructionκαὶ ἐποίησαν αὐτοῖς οὕτως
The resolution is enacted: Joshua ἐξείλατο ('delivered / rescued') the Gibeonites out of the hands of the Israelites — the people, who had murmured, are restrained from killing them (οὐκ ἀνεῖλον). The verb ἐξαιρέω ('snatch out, rescue') casts Joshua as their deliverer from the very ban they confessed they deserved; the oath, though obtained by fraud, becomes the instrument of their preservation.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐποίησανthey didAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (the verdict carried out)→ constative aoristποιέω: 'do'; ἐποίησαν ... οὕτως ('they did so'), executing the leaders' decision to spare them.
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative (those acted upon)αὐτός: 'to them'; the Gibeonites.
οὕτωςso / thusadverb of manner (referring to the agreed plan)οὕτως: 'thus'; renders כֵּן; 'they did so' — exactly as the leaders had ruled (vv. 20–21).
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξείλατοdelivered / rescuedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐξαιρέωmain verb (Joshua delivers them)→ constative aorist (the act of rescue)ἐξαιρέω (mid. ἐξαιρέομαι): 'take out / rescue / deliver'; the prefix ἐξ- = 'snatch out of'; renders הִצִּיל; Joshua delivers the Gibeonites out of the people's hands — casting him as their protector, honouring the oath against popular pressure.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of ἐξείλατοαὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubjectἸησοῦς: nominative; Joshua personally secures their deliverance.
ἐνonpreposition + dative (temporal)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῇtheDativearticle (with ἡμέρᾳ)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time (on that day)ἡμέρα: 'day'; ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ, 'on that day'; the decisive day of deliverance (repeated in v.27).
ἐκείνῃthatDativeattributive demonstrative (with ἡμέρᾳ)ἐκεῖνος: 'that'; 'that day' on which the Gibeonites' fate was settled.
ἐκfrom / out ofpreposition + genitive (separation)ἐκ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
χειρῶνhandsGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (the power they were rescued from)χείρ: 'hand'; ἐκ χειρῶν ('out of the hands of'), an idiom for power/control; renders מִיַּד; Joshua rescues them from the lethal intent of the Israelites.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivegenitive (whose hands)υἱός: 'son'; υἱῶν Ισραηλ, 'the sons of Israel', whose hands would have slain them.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitival relation to υἱῶν (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἀνεῖλον)οὐκ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνεῖλονthey slew / did away withAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀναιρέωmain verb (negated: the killing that did not occur)→ constative aorist (the averted slaughter)ἀναιρέω: 'take up / kill / destroy'; renders הָרַג; οὐκ ἀνεῖλον αὐτούς ('they did not kill them') states the merciful outcome — the oath prevailed over the people's desire for the ban.
αὐτούςthemAccusativedirect object of ἀνεῖλοναὐτούς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
27

καὶ κατέστησεν αὐτοὺς Ἰησοῦς ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ξυλοκόπους καὶ ὑδροφόρους πάσῃ τῇ συναγωγῇ καὶ τῷ θυσιαστηρίῳ τοῦ θεοῦ διὰ τοῦτο ἐγένοντο οἱ κατοικοῦντες Γαβαων ξυλοκόποι καὶ ὑδροφόροι τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου τοῦ θεοῦ ἕως τῆς σήμερον ἡμέρας καὶ εἰς τὸν τόπον ὃν ἐὰν ἐκλέξηται κύριος

And Joshua appointed them on that day woodcutters and water-carriers for all the congregation and for the altar of God; therefore the inhabitants of Gibeon became woodcutters and water-carriers for the altar of God to this present day, even for the place which the LORD should choose.

The etiological conclusion: the Gibeonites as perpetual temple-servantsκαὶ κατέστησεν αὐτοὺς Ἰησοῦς ... ξυλοκόπους
Joshua formally appoints (κατέστησεν) the Gibeonites as ξυλοκόποι καὶ ὑδροφόροι, now extended beyond 'all the congregation' to 'the altar of God' (τῷ θυσιαστηρίῳ τοῦ θεοῦ). The narrator adds an etiological note (διὰ τοῦτο ἐγένοντο ... ἕως τῆς σήμερον ἡμέρας, 'therefore ... to this present day') explaining a custom contemporary with the writer. The closing phrase εἰς τὸν τόπον ὃν ἐὰν ἐκλέξηται κύριος ('the place the LORD should choose') ties their service to the central sanctuary (Deut 12), so that the deceivers become, by grace, servants at God's altar — the curse transformed into sanctuary-service.
Word-by-word analysis· 44 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
κατέστησενappointed / setAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καθίστημιmain verb (Joshua's formal appointment)→ constative aorist (the official appointment)καθίστημι: 'set / appoint / establish (in an office)'; renders נָתַן / שִׂים; Joshua formally institutes the Gibeonites in their permanent role, giving the verdict legal standing.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of κατέστησεναὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubjectἸησοῦς: nominative; Joshua, executor of the leaders' verdict.
ἐνonpreposition + dative (temporal)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῇtheDativearticle (with ἡμέρᾳ)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of timeἡμέρα: 'day'; ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ, 'on that day', repeated from v.26 — the day of their appointment.
ἐκείνῃthatDativeattributive demonstrative (with ἡμέρᾳ)ἐκεῖνος: 'that'; 'that day'.
ξυλοκόπουςwoodcuttersAccusativepredicate accusative (with κατέστησεν: appointed them as ...)ξυλοκόπος: 'woodcutter'; renders חֹטֵב עֵצִים; the office to which they are appointed (cf. vv. 21, 23).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὑδροφόρουςwater-carriersAccusativepredicate accusative (coordinate with ξυλοκόπους)ὑδροφόρος: 'water-carrier'; renders שֹׁאֵב מַיִם; with ξυλοκόπος, the menial sanctuary-service that becomes their permanent lot.
πάσῃall / for allDativeattributive adjective (with συναγωγῇ)πᾶς: 'all'; service for the whole congregation, as in v.21.
τῇtheDativearticle (with συναγωγῇ)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συναγωγῇcongregationDativedative of advantage (those served)συναγωγή: 'congregation'; the assembly served by their labor.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (extending the service to the altar)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τῷthe / forDativearticle (with θυσιαστηρίῳ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυσιαστηρίῳaltarDativedative of advantage (the altar served)θυσιαστήριον: 'altar'; the same word as the Gebal altar of v.2; their service now extends to the altar of God — the menial curse is consecrated into sanctuary-service.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with θεοῦ)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive of relationship (the altar of God)θεός: 'God'; τὸ θυσιαστήριον τοῦ θεοῦ, 'the altar of God' — fulfilling Joshua's 'for me and for my God' (v.23).
διὰbecause of / thereforepreposition + accusative (in the etiological idiom διὰ τοῦτο)διά + acc.: in διὰ τοῦτο = 'therefore / for this reason'; introduces the narrator's etiological explanation.
τοῦτοthisAccusativedemonstrative (object of διά: 'for this reason')οὗτος: 'this'; διὰ τοῦτο, 'therefore', the standard etiological connector linking the narrated event to a present-day custom.
ἐγένοντοbecameAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · γίνομαιmain verb of the etiological clause→ constative aorist (the established custom's origin)γίνομαι: 'become'; ἐγένοντο ... ἕως τῆς σήμερον ἡμέρας, 'they became ... to this present day' — the etiology of a status persisting into the narrator's own time (cf. the Gibeonite temple-servants of the post-exilic period, the Nethinim).
οἱthe (ones)Nominativearticle (substantival, with κατοικοῦντες)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κατοικοῦντεςinhabiting / inhabitantsPres Act Ptcp Nom Pl Masc · κατοικέωsubstantival participle (subject: 'the inhabitants of Gibeon')→ progressive present participleκατοικέω: 'dwell'; οἱ κατοικοῦντες Γαβαων ('the inhabitants of Gibeon') closes the inclusio opened at v.3 — the same phrase, framing the whole episode.
ΓαβαωνGibeonindeclinable place-name (object of κατοικοῦντες)Γαβαων: Gibeon; the same place-name as v.3, sealing the narrative frame.
ξυλοκόποιwoodcuttersNominativepredicate nominative (with ἐγένοντο)ξυλοκόπος: 'woodcutter'; their abiding status, restated for the etiology.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὑδροφόροιwater-carriersNominativepredicate nominative (coordinate with ξυλοκόποι)ὑδροφόρος: 'water-carrier'; the paired office, now serving the altar.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with θυσιαστηρίου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυσιαστηρίουaltarGenitivegenitive (the altar they serve)θυσιαστήριον: 'altar'; 'woodcutters and water-carriers of the altar of God' — their menial labor wholly oriented to worship.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with θεοῦ)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive of relationship (the altar of God)θεός: 'God'; the altar of God, their place of service.
ἕωςuntil / toimproper preposition + genitive (temporal extent)ἕως: 'until / as far as'; ἕως τῆς σήμερον ἡμέρας, 'to this present day', the etiological time-marker.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with ἡμέρας)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σήμερονtoday / presentadverb (attributive, with ἡμέρας: 'the present day')σήμερον: 'today'; ἡ σήμερον ἡμέρα ('the present day') renders הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה; marks a custom enduring to the narrator's own time.
ἡμέραςdayGenitivegenitive (with ἕως)ἡμέρα: 'day'; 'to this present day' — the standard etiological formula.
καὶand / evencoordinate conjunction (epexegetic)καί: here epexegetic, 'and (so) / even', linking their service to the chosen central sanctuary.
εἰςfor / atpreposition + accusative (the destined place)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with τόπον)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τόπονplaceAccusativeobject of εἰς (the chosen sanctuary site)τόπος: 'place'; ὁ τόπος ὃν ἐκλέξηται κύριος ('the place the LORD will choose') is the technical Deuteronomic phrase for the central sanctuary (Deut 12:5, 14); their service is bound to wherever the LORD's altar will stand.
ὃνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐκλέξηται)ὅς: relative pronoun, antecedent τόπον.
ἐὰνever / -everparticle (with subjunctive in the indefinite relative clause)ἐάν: here with the relative ὅν (ὃν ἐάν = ὃς ἄν), forming an indefinite relative, 'whichever place'; takes the subjunctive ἐκλέξηται.
ἐκλέξηταιshould chooseAor Mid Subj 3 Sg · ἐκλέγομαιverb of the indefinite relative clause→ aorist subjunctive (the LORD's future choice of sanctuary)ἐκλέγομαι: 'choose / select'; the middle ἐκλέξηται ('shall choose for himself') renders יִבְחַר; the Deuteronomic 'place the LORD will choose' (Deut 12) — ultimately Jerusalem; the Gibeonites' service is destined for the central altar.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἐκλέξηταικύριος: the Tetragrammaton; the chapter closes, as it began the Gibeonites' tale (v.3, 'all that the LORD did'), with the LORD as the sovereign reference point — now the One who chooses the place of his altar, where the spared deceivers will serve.