Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version You are now under a curse: You will never be released from service as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.” New Living Translation May you be cursed! From now on you will always be servants who cut wood and carry water for the house of my God.” English Standard Version Now therefore you are cursed, and some of you shall never be anything but servants, cutters of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.” Berean Standard Bible Now therefore you are under a curse and will perpetually serve as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.” King James Bible 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. New King James Version Now therefore, you are cursed, and none of you shall be freed from being slaves—woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.” New American Standard Bible Now therefore, you are cursed, and you will never cease to be slaves, both gatherers of firewood and labor to draw water for the house of my God.” NASB 1995 “Now therefore, you are cursed, and you shall never cease being slaves, both hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.” NASB 1977 “Now therefore, you are cursed, and you shall never cease being slaves, both hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.” Legacy Standard Bible So now, you are cursed, and you shall never be cut loose from being slaves, both hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.” Amplified Bible Now therefore, you are cursed, and you shall always be slaves, both cutters and gatherers of firewood and water carriers for the house of my God.” Christian Standard Bible Therefore you are cursed and will always be slaves—woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.” Holman Christian Standard Bible Therefore you are cursed and will always be slaves—woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.” American Standard Version Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall never fail to be of you bondmen, both hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God. Contemporary English Version So now you are under a curse, and from now on your people will have to send workers to cut wood and carry water for the place of worship." English Revised Version Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall never fail to be of you bondmen, both hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God. GOD'S WORD® Translation You are under a curse now. You will always be servants. You will be woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God." Good News Translation Because you did this, God has condemned you. Your people will always be slaves, cutting wood and carrying water for the sanctuary of my God." International Standard Version Now therefore you are under a curse. Some of you will always be slaves, wood cutters, and water carriers for the house of my God." Majority Standard Bible Now therefore you are under a curse and will perpetually serve as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.? NET Bible Now you are condemned to perpetual servitude as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God." New Heart English Bible Now therefore you are cursed, and some of you will never fail to be bondservants, both wood cutters and drawers of water for the house of my God." Webster's Bible Translation Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bond-men, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God. World English Bible Now therefore you are cursed, and some of you will never fail to be slaves, both wood cutters and drawers of water for the house of my God.” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd now you are cursed, and none of you is cut off [from being] a servant, even hewers of wood and drawers of water, for the house of my God.” Young's Literal Translation and now, cursed are ye, and none of you is cut off from being a servant, even hewers of wood and drawers of water, for the house of my God.' Smith's Literal Translation And now ye are cursed, and there shall not be cut off from you to serve, and hewing wood and drawing water for the house of my God. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleTherefore you shall be under a curse, and your race shall always be hewers of wood, and carriers of water unto the house of my God. Catholic Public Domain Version Therefore, you shall be under a curse, and your stock shall not cease to be cutters of wood and carriers of water, into the house of my God.” New American Bible Now are you accursed: every one of you shall always be a slave, hewers of wood and drawers of water, for the house of my God.” New Revised Standard Version Now therefore you are cursed, and some of you shall always be slaves, hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleNow therefore you are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being gatherers of wood and drawers of water for the house of God. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Therefore you will be cursed and there will not fail from you a man, a gatherer of wood and a fetcher of water for the house of God” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall never fail to be of you bondmen, both hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.' Brenton Septuagint Translation And now ye are cursed: there shall not fail of you a slave, or a hewer of wood, or a drawer of water to me and my God. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Deceit of the Gibeonites…22Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, “Why did you deceive us by telling us you live far away from us, when in fact you live among us? 23Now therefore you are under a curse and will perpetually serve as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.” 24The Gibeonites answered, “Your servants were told clearly that the LORD your God had commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land and wipe out all its inhabitants before you. So we greatly feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we have done this.… Cross References Deuteronomy 29:11 your children and wives, and the foreigners in your camps who cut your wood and draw your water— Genesis 9:25 he said, “Cursed be Canaan! A servant of servants shall he be to his brothers.” 1 Kings 9:20-21 As for all the people who remained of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites (the people who were not Israelites)— / their descendants who remained in the land, those whom the Israelites were unable to devote to destruction—Solomon conscripted these people to be forced laborers, as they are to this day. 2 Samuel 21:1-2 During the reign of David there was a famine for three successive years, and David sought the face of the LORD. And the LORD said, “It is because of the blood shed by Saul and his family, because he killed the Gibeonites.” / At this, David summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not Israelites, but a remnant of the Amorites. The Israelites had taken an oath concerning them, but in his zeal for Israel and Judah, Saul had sought to kill them.) Nehemiah 3:26 and the temple servants living on the hill of Ophel made repairs opposite the Water Gate toward the east and the tower that juts out. Nehemiah 11:21 The temple servants lived on the hill of Ophel, with Ziha and Gishpa over them. Exodus 27:19 All the utensils of the tabernacle for every use, including all its tent pegs and the tent pegs of the courtyard, shall be made of bronze. Leviticus 27:28-29 Nothing that a man sets apart to the LORD from all he owns—whether a man, an animal, or his inherited land—can be sold or redeemed; everything so devoted is most holy to the LORD. / No person set apart for destruction may be ransomed; he must surely be put to death. 1 Chronicles 9:2 Now the first to resettle their own property in their cities were Israelites, priests, Levites, and temple servants. 2 Chronicles 8:7-8 As for all the people who remained of the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites (these people were not Israelites)— / their descendants who remained in the land, those whom the Israelites had not destroyed—Solomon conscripted these people to be forced laborers, as they are to this day. Matthew 15:22 And a Canaanite woman from that region came to Him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is miserably possessed by a demon.” John 4:9 “You are a Jew,” said the woman. “How can You ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) Romans 9:4 the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory and the covenants; theirs the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises. Galatians 3:10 All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” Ephesians 2:12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. Treasury of Scripture Now therefore you are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being slaves, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God. Genesis 9:25,26 And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren… Leviticus 27:28,29 Notwithstanding no devoted thing, that a man shall devote unto the LORD of all that he hath, both of man and beast, and of the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed: every devoted thing is most holy unto the LORD… Joshua 9:21,27 And 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… Jump to Previous Always Bondmen Bond-Men Bondservants Carriers Cease Cursed Cut Cutters Cutting Drawers Hewers House Servant Servants Serve Slaves Water Wood WoodcuttersJump to Next Always Bondmen Bond-Men Bondservants Carriers Cease Cursed Cut Cutters Cutting Drawers Hewers House Servant Servants Serve Slaves Water Wood WoodcuttersJoshua 9 1. The kings combine against Israel3. The Gibeonites by craft obtain a league 22. They are condemned to perpetual bondage Now therefore you are under a curse This phrase refers to the Gibeonites, who deceived Joshua and the Israelites into making a peace treaty with them. The curse is a consequence of their deception. In biblical terms, a curse often signifies divine judgment or punishment. This echoes the curse pronounced on the serpent in Genesis 3:14 and the curse on Canaan in Genesis 9:25. Theologically, it reflects the seriousness of deceit and the importance of truthfulness in covenant relationships. and will perpetually serve as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God Persons / Places / Events 1. JoshuaThe leader of the Israelites who succeeded Moses and led the Israelites into the Promised Land. He is responsible for enforcing the covenant and dealing with the Gibeonites' deception. 2. Gibeonites A group of people from the city of Gibeon who deceived the Israelites into making a peace treaty with them by pretending to be from a distant land. 3. Israelites The chosen people of God, led by Joshua, who are in the process of conquering the Promised Land as commanded by God. 4. Canaan The land promised by God to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, which the Israelites are in the process of conquering. 5. The Curse The consequence imposed on the Gibeonites for their deception, making them perpetual servants to the Israelites, specifically as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of God. Teaching Points The Importance of Seeking God's GuidanceThe Israelites' failure to consult God before making a treaty with the Gibeonites serves as a reminder of the importance of seeking divine guidance in decision-making. Consequences of Deception The Gibeonites' deception led to a curse, illustrating that deceit can have long-lasting consequences, even when forgiveness is granted. God's Sovereignty and Mercy Despite the deception, God uses the situation to fulfill His purposes, showing His sovereignty and mercy in turning a negative situation into a service for His house. The Role of Servanthood The Gibeonites' role as servants for the house of God highlights the value and dignity of service in God's kingdom, even when it comes as a result of judgment. Faithfulness to Covenants The Israelites' adherence to the treaty with the Gibeonites, despite the deception, underscores the importance of faithfulness to one's word and covenants.(23) Bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.--The precedent established in regard to the Gibeonites appears to have been followed by Solomon in his dealings with all the remnant of the doomed nations of Canaan who were not destroyed. (See 1Kings 9:20-21; 2Chronicles 8:7-8.) It is thought that they are to be recognised in the Nethinim of Ezra and Nehemiah, who come after the Levites, singers, and porters in the enumeration of the restored captives (Ezra 2:43). Compare also the mention of Solomon's servants (Ezra 2:58), whose children are coupled with the Nethinim. The existence of this large body of Canaanites should be remembered in considering the edict of the law of Moses, that the seven nations were to be destroyed. The sentence was clearly not executed on the mass of the non-resisting population.Verse 23. - There shall none of you be freed from being bondmen. Literally, as margin, there shall not be cut off from you a servant, as in 2 Samuel 3:29, and 1 Kings 2:4. The sense is, "you shall not cease to be servants." The term "bondmen" is somewhat too strong. The עֶבֶד was usually a bondman among the Hebrews, but not always (see 1 Samuel 29:3; 1 Kings 11:26, etc.). But the Gibeonites were to be employed forever in servile work. Hewing of wood and drawing of water was a task frequently imposed on the strangers (probably captives) dwelling among the Israelites, as we learn from Deuteronomy 29:11. We are not directly told that, as Keil and others have stated, the "lowest of the people" had to perform this office. It is, however, implied that the stranger who performed it occupied the lowest social station in the community. "Si qui tales sunt in nobis, quorum tides tantummodo habet ut ad Ecclesiam veniant, et inclinent caput suum sacerdotibus, officia exhibeant, servos Dei honorent, ad ornatum quoque altaris vel Ecclesiae aliquid conferant, non tamen adhibeant studium ut etiam mores suos excolant, actus emendent, vitia deponant, castitatem colant, iracundiam mitigent, avaritiam reprirnant, rapacitatem refrenant, maleloquia et stultiloquia, vel scurrilitatem et obtrectationum venena ex ore suo non adimant, sciant sibi, qui tales sunt, qui emendare se nolunt, sed in his usque in senectutem ultimam perseverant, partem sortemque at Jesu Domino cum Gabaonitis esse tribuendam" (Orig., Horn. 10 on Joshua). Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Now thereforeוְעַתָּ֖ה (wə·‘at·tāh) Conjunctive waw | Adverb Strong's 6258: At this time you אַתֶּ֑ם (’at·tem) Pronoun - second person masculine plural Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you are under a curse אֲרוּרִ֣ים (’ă·rū·rîm) Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine plural Strong's 779: To execrate and will perpetually וְלֹֽא־ (wə·lō-) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no serve עֶ֗בֶד (‘e·ḇeḏ) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5650: Slave, servant as woodcutters וְחֹטְבֵ֥י (wə·ḥō·ṭə·ḇê) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct Strong's 2404: To cut or gather wood and water מַ֖יִם (ma·yim) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen carriers וְשֹֽׁאֲבֵי־ (wə·šō·’ă·ḇê-) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct Strong's 7579: To bale up water for the house לְבֵ֥ית (lə·ḇêṯ) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 1004: A house of my God.” אֱלֹהָֽי׃ (’ĕ·lō·hāy) Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative Links Joshua 9:23 NIVJoshua 9:23 NLT Joshua 9:23 ESV Joshua 9:23 NASB Joshua 9:23 KJV Joshua 9:23 BibleApps.com Joshua 9:23 Biblia Paralela Joshua 9:23 Chinese Bible Joshua 9:23 French Bible Joshua 9:23 Catholic Bible OT History: Joshua 9:23 Now therefore you are cursed and some (Josh. 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