20 This is what we will do to them: We will let them live, so that God's wrath will not fall on us for breaking the oath we swore to them."
20 This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them.
20 This we will do to them: let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath that we swore to them."
20 But we can do this: We will let them live so we don't get blamed for breaking our promise."
20 This we will do to them: We will let them live, lest wrath be upon us because of the oath which we swore to them."
20 This is what we must do. We must let them live, for divine anger would come upon us if we broke our oath.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Joshua 9:20
Commentary on Joshua 9:14-21
(Read Joshua 9:14-21)
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, Psalm 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.