Joshua 9:14

King James Version (KJV)

And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord.

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

The men took of their victuals - This was done in all probability in the way of friendship; for, from time immemorial to the present day, eating together, in the Asiatic countries, is considered a token of unalterable friendship; and those who eat even salt together, feel themselves bound thereby in a perpetual covenant. But the marginal reading of this clause should not be hastily rejected.

And asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord - They made the covenant with the Gibeonites without consulting God by Urim and Thummim, which was highly reprehensible in them, as it was a state transaction in which the interests and honor of God their king were intimately concerned.

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Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

The elders of Israel Joshua 9:18, tasting what was offered them by the Gibeonites, pledged themselves according to the usage of Eastern nations to peace and friendship with them. They credited the story at once, instead of seeking the direction of God in the matter. The rendering of the margin is not to be preferred to that of the text.

At the mouth of the Lord - i. e. by the Urim and Thummim Exodus 28:30.

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Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

The Israelites, having examined the provisions of the Gibeonites, hastily concluded that they confirmed their account. We make more haste than good speed, when we stay not to take God with us, and do not consult him by the word and prayer. The fraud was soon found out. A lying tongue is but for a moment. Had the oath been in itself unlawful, it would not have been binding; for no obligation can render it our duty to commit a sin. But it was not unlawful to spare the Canaanites who submitted, and left idolatry, desiring only that their lives might be spared. A citizen of Zion swears to his own hurt, and changes not, Ps 15:4. Joshua and the princes, when they found that they had been deceived, did not apply to Eleazar the high priest to be freed from their engagement, much less did they pretend that no faith is to be kept with those to whom they had sworn. Let this convince us how we ought to keep our promises, and make good our bargains; and what conscience we ought to make of our words.

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SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

14. Took of their victuals. This seems to be a better translation than that suggested in the margin, “they received the men by reason of their victuals.” Many commentators favor the marginal reading, in spite of the fact that there is nothing in the Hebrew that requires it. Their reason for doing so is that it seems to agree better with the context. The Hebrew leaders took from the provisions to taste, handle, and test for themselves, so that they might be certain in their decision. Having done so, they felt confident in their own judgment. This test differed from the one they had met at the time of their first attempt to take Ai, or they might have recognized the tempter in his new guise. Satan has many tricks, and employs the one he thinks will best suit his victim. We are never safe in any problem with human wisdom alone.

Asked not counsel. God had made provision for His will to be known through Eleazar, the priest, by means of the Urim and Thummim (Num. 27:18-23). Joshua might thus have obtained divine guidance in this important decision. What the Lord’s answer in this instance would have been, we are not told. Possibly the Gibeonites would still have been spared; God’s mercy embraces all who seek His salvation. He had forbidden His people to make any covenant with the inhabitants of the land, but this was for a specific reason, namely, that they might not be turned to follow the abominations of the inhabitants. Had any of these heathen people, like Rahab, turned from their abominations and sought divine mercy, God would have accepted them as readily as He afterward accepted Nineveh (Jonah 3:10). But the ultimate decision in each case must rest with God. He is the only one who can truly read the heart. He could not entrust such decisions to men. Therefore, He gave command for the total annihilation of all the Canaanitish nations, but this did not mean that He might not make exceptions where the circumstances so indicated. It would not be safe to trust the people with power to make peace with even single cities, lest repentance be simulated by the Canaanites. Such deception could rapidly spread, and many of the inhabitants of the land would feign repentance, while remaining in heart as idolatrous as ever.

The worker for God today should exercise great care in ascertaining whether an individual has given evidence of faith before admitting him into the covenant of faith. In such instances it is well not to be self-assertive and confident in one’s own opinions, but always humble, sincerely seek the guidance of God (Ps. 32:8).

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The Conquest by Joshua

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Joshua 9:14