Joshua 9:23
Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.
Original Language Analysis
וְעַתָּ֖ה
H6258
וְלֹֽא
H3808
וְלֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
4 of 13
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יִכָּרֵ֨ת
and there shall none of you be freed
H3772
יִכָּרֵ֨ת
and there shall none of you be freed
Strong's:
H3772
Word #:
5 of 13
to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e., make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutt
מִכֶּ֜ם
H4480
מִכֶּ֜ם
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
6 of 13
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
עֵצִ֛ים
of wood
H6086
עֵצִ֛ים
of wood
Strong's:
H6086
Word #:
9 of 13
a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks)
מַ֖יִם
of water
H4325
מַ֖יִם
of water
Strong's:
H4325
Word #:
11 of 13
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
Cross References
Joshua 9:21And the princes said unto them, Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had promised them.Joshua 9:27And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose.
Historical Context
The Gibeonites' temple service continued for centuries. During Saul's reign, his massacre of Gibeonites violated Joshua's oath, bringing divine judgment requiring atonement (2 Samuel 21:1-14). The Nethinim (temple servants) who returned from Babylonian exile included Gibeonite descendants. Their service demonstrated that proximity to God's presence—even in servitude—surpassed autonomy in pagan darkness.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the Gibeonites' curse-turned-blessing illustrate God's ability to transform judgment into mercy for those who fear Him?
- What does their perpetual service in God's house teach about the privilege of worship over worldly freedom?
- How does this narrative foreshadow the inclusion of Gentiles into God's covenant community through Christ?
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Analysis & Commentary
Now therefore ye are cursed (וְעַתָּה אֲרוּרִים אַתֶּם, ve'atah arurim atem)—Joshua pronounced a perpetual curse making the Gibeonites temple servants. The specific tasks—hewers of wood and drawers of water (חֹטְבֵי עֵצִים וְשֹׁאֲבֵי מַיִם, chotevei etzim vesho'avei mayim)—were menial labors supporting tabernacle worship. This curse paradoxically became blessing: service in God's house rather than annihilation.
The phrase echoes Deuteronomy 29:11, where such servants were included in covenant assembly. God transformed judicial penalty into gracious incorporation—Canaanites destined for destruction became perpetual temple servants. This prefigures Christ's reversal of Adam's curse, where those condemned become sons who serve joyfully in the Father's house. The Gibeonites' descendants, the Nethinim, faithfully served through Israel's history (Ezra 2:43-58, Nehemiah 3:26).