Joshua 9:27
New International Version
That day he made the Gibeonites woodcutters and water carriers for the assembly, to provide for the needs of the altar of the LORD at the place the LORD would choose. And that is what they are to this day.

New Living Translation
But that day he made the Gibeonites the woodcutters and water carriers for the community of Israel and for the altar of the LORD—wherever the LORD would choose to build it. And that is what they do to this day.

English Standard Version
But Joshua made them that day cutters of wood and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD, to this day, in the place that he should choose.

Berean Standard Bible
On that day he made them woodcutters and water carriers, as they are to this day for the congregation of the LORD and for the altar at the place He would choose.

King James Bible
And 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.

New King James Version
And that day Joshua made them woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD, in the place which He would choose, even to this day.

New American Standard Bible
But on that day Joshua made them gatherers of firewood and labor to draw water for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD, to this day, in the place which He would choose.

NASB 1995
But Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD, to this day, in the place which He would choose.

NASB 1977
But Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD, to this day, in the place which He would choose.

Legacy Standard Bible
But Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of Yahweh, to this day, in the place which He would choose.

Amplified Bible
Now on that day Joshua made them cutters and gatherers of firewood and water carriers for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD, to this day, in the place which He would choose.

Christian Standard Bible
On that day he made them woodcutters and water carriers—as they are today—for the community and for the LORD’s altar at the place he would choose.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
On that day he made them woodcutters and water carriers—as they are today—for the community and for the LORD’s altar at the place He would choose.

American Standard Version
And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of Jehovah, unto this day, in the place which he should choose.

Contemporary English Version
but he did tell the Gibeonites that they would have to be servants of the nation of Israel. They would have to cut firewood and bring it for the priests to use for burning sacrifices on the LORD's altar, wherever the LORD decided the altar would be. The Gibeonites would also have to carry water for the priests. And that is still the work of the Gibeonites.

English Revised Version
And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, unto this day, in the place which he should choose.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But that day Joshua made them woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation. They served the LORD's altar, wherever he chose to put it. They still serve today.

Good News Translation
But at the same time he made them slaves, to cut wood and carry water for the people of Israel and for the LORD's altar. To this day they have continued to do this work in the place where the LORD has chosen to be worshiped.

International Standard Version
However, on that very day Joshua made them become wood cutters and water carriers for the congregation and for the LORD's altar in the place that he should choose, and this tradition continues to this day.

Majority Standard Bible
On that day he made them woodcutters and water carriers, as they are to this day for the congregation of the LORD and for the altar at the place He would choose.

NET Bible
and that day made them woodcutters and water carriers for the community and for the altar of the LORD at the divinely chosen site. (They continue in that capacity to this very day.)

New Heart English Bible
That day Joshua made them wood cutters and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD, to this day, in the place which he should choose.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, even to this day, in the place which he should choose.

World English Bible
That day Joshua made them wood cutters and drawers of water for the congregation and for Yahweh’s altar to this day, in the place which he should choose.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and on that day Joshua makes them hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of YHWH, to this day, at the place which He chooses.

Young's Literal Translation
and Joshua maketh them on that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the company, and for the altar of Jehovah, unto this day, at the place which He doth choose.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Joshua will give them in that day hewing wood and drawing water for the assembly and for the altar of Jehovah till this day, to the place which he shall choose.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he gave orders in that day that they should be in the service of all the people, and of the altar of the Lord, hewing wood and carrying water, until this present time, in the place which the Lord hath chosen.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he decreed on that day, that they would be in the ministry of all the people and of the altar of the Lord, cutting wood and carrying water, even until this present time, in the place which the Lord had chosen.

New American Bible
on that day he made them, as they still are, hewers of wood and drawers of water for the community and for the altar of the LORD, in the place the LORD would choose.

New Revised Standard Version
But on that day Joshua made them hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD, to continue to this day, in the place that he should choose.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Joshua made them that day gatherers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD, even to this day, in the place which he should choose.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And that day Yeshua made them gatherers of wood and they filled the water for the assembly and for the altar of LORD JEHOVAH until today, in the place that LORD JEHOVAH pleased
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, unto this day, in the place which He should choose.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Joshua made them in that day hewers of wood and drawers of water to the whole congregation, and for the altar of God: therefore the inhabitants of Gabaon became hewers of wood and drawers of water for the altar of God until this day, even for the place which the Lord should choose.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Deceit of the Gibeonites
26So Joshua did this and delivered them from the hands of the Israelites, and they did not kill the Gibeonites. 27On that day he made them woodcutters and water carriers, as they are to this day for the congregation of the LORD and for the altar at the place He would choose.

Cross References
Deuteronomy 29:11
your children and wives, and the foreigners in your camps who cut your wood and draw your water—

1 Kings 9:21
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 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.

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.

Exodus 30:17-21
And the LORD said to Moses, / “You are to make a bronze basin with a bronze stand for washing. Set it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water in it, / with which Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet. ...

Leviticus 24:1-4
Then the LORD said to Moses, / “Command the Israelites to bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to keep the lamps burning continually. / Outside the veil of the Testimony in the Tent of Meeting, Aaron is to tend the lamps continually before the LORD from evening until morning. This is to be a permanent statute for the generations to come. ...

Numbers 4:23-24
from thirty to fifty years old, counting everyone who comes to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting. / This is the service of the Gershonite clans regarding work and transport:

1 Samuel 2:18
Now Samuel was ministering before the LORD—a boy wearing a linen ephod.

1 Chronicles 9:2
Now the first to resettle their own property in their cities were Israelites, priests, Levites, and temple servants.

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.

Matthew 11:29-30
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. / For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Matthew 20:26-28
It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, / and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave— / just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

Mark 10:43-45
But it shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, / and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all. / For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

Luke 22:26-27
But you shall not be like them. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who leads like the one who serves. / For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines? But I am among you as one who serves.


Treasury of Scripture

And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, even to this day, in the place which he should choose.

Joshua 9:21,23
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…

1 Chronicles 9:2
Now the first inhabitants that dwelt in their possessions in their cities were, the Israelites, the priests, Levites, and the Nethinims.

Ezra 2:43
The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,

Nethinim

Joshua 18:1
And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued before them.

Deuteronomy 12:5
But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come:

Deuteronomy 16:2,6,16
Thou shalt therefore sacrifice the passover unto the LORD thy God, of the flock and the herd, in the place which the LORD shall choose to place his name there…

Jump to Previous
Altar Assembly Carriers Choose Community Company Congregation Continue Cutters Cutting Drawers Hewers Joshua Maketh Marked Servants Water Wood Woodcutters
Jump to Next
Altar Assembly Carriers Choose Community Company Congregation Continue Cutters Cutting Drawers Hewers Joshua Maketh Marked Servants Water Wood Woodcutters
Joshua 9
1. The kings combine against Israel
3. The Gibeonites by craft obtain a league
22. They are condemned to perpetual bondage














On that day
This phrase indicates a specific moment in time, highlighting the immediate consequences of the covenant made between the Israelites and the Gibeonites. It reflects the swift implementation of the decision made by Joshua and the leaders of Israel.

he made them woodcutters and water carriers
The roles of woodcutters and water carriers were menial and servile, often assigned to the lowest social classes or to those who were subjugated. This reflects the Gibeonites' status as subjects under Israelite control. The tasks were essential for the daily functioning of the community, especially in religious practices, as wood was needed for sacrifices and water for purification rituals.

as they are to this day
This phrase suggests the enduring nature of the Gibeonites' roles, indicating that the arrangement persisted for a significant period. It underscores the long-term impact of the covenant and the faithfulness of Israel in upholding their agreements, even with those who had deceived them.

for the congregation of the LORD
The congregation refers to the assembly of the Israelites, the people chosen by God. The Gibeonites' service to the congregation implies their integration into the community, albeit in a subservient role. This reflects the broader biblical theme of God's mercy and the inclusion of Gentiles into His plans.

and for the altar
The altar was central to Israelite worship, where sacrifices and offerings were made to God. The Gibeonites' service at the altar signifies their contribution to the religious life of Israel, despite their initial deception. It highlights the importance of the altar in maintaining the covenant relationship between God and His people.

at the place He would choose
This phrase refers to the future centralization of worship in a specific location chosen by God, which would later be Jerusalem. It points to the prophetic nature of God's plans and the eventual establishment of a permanent place of worship, foreshadowing the coming of Christ, who would fulfill the law and the prophets.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Joshua
The leader of Israel who succeeded Moses and led the Israelites into the Promised Land. He is responsible for making the Gibeonites servants.

2. Gibeonites
A group of people from Gibeon who deceived the Israelites into making a peace treaty with them. They became woodcutters and water carriers for the Israelites.

3. Israelites
The people of God who are entering and taking possession of the Promised Land under Joshua's leadership.

4. The Altar of the LORD
The place of worship and sacrifice for the Israelites, where the Gibeonites served as woodcutters and water carriers.

5. The Place He Would Choose
Refers to the future location of the central place of worship, which would eventually be Jerusalem.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty in Human Affairs
Despite the Gibeonites' deception, God used their service for His purposes. This teaches us that God can use even our mistakes for His glory.

The Importance of Keeping Covenants
Joshua honored the treaty with the Gibeonites, reminding us of the importance of keeping our promises, even when made under less-than-ideal circumstances.

Service in God's Kingdom
The Gibeonites' roles as woodcutters and water carriers highlight that every role in God's kingdom is valuable and necessary for worship and community life.

The Consequences of Deception
The Gibeonites' deception led to a life of servitude, illustrating that deceit can have long-lasting consequences.

God's Grace and Inclusion
Despite their deception, the Gibeonites were incorporated into the life of Israel, showing God's grace and the possibility of inclusion for all who seek Him.Verse 27. - And for the altar (see note on ver. 21). In the place which he should choose. This phrase, and especially the use of the imperfect tense, implies that Solomon's temple was not yet built. The ark of God, and the tabernacle which contained it, had several resting places before its final deposition in the temple (see note on Joshua 24:1). And the grammatical construction just referred to also implies that there was more than one place. It is also clear, from the language of 2 Samuel 21:1-6, that this narrative was already in existence when that chapter was penned. It is equally clear that the author of this passage knew nothing of that (see Introduction).



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
On that
הַה֗וּא (ha·hū)
Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

day
בַּיּ֣וֹם (bay·yō·wm)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

he
יְהוֹשֻׁ֜עַ (yə·hō·wō·šu·a‘)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3091: Joshua -- 'the LORD is salvation', Moses' successor, also the name of a number of Israelites

made
וַיִּתְּנֵ֨ם (way·yit·tə·nêm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

them woodcutters
חֹטְבֵ֥י (ḥō·ṭə·ḇê)
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,
וְשֹׁ֥אֲבֵי (wə·šō·’ă·ḇê)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 7579: To bale up water

as they are to this day,
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

for the congregation
לָֽעֵדָ֑ה (lā·‘ê·ḏāh)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5712: A stated assemblage

of the LORD
יְהוָה֙ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

and for the altar
וּלְמִזְבַּ֤ח (ū·lə·miz·baḥ)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4196: An altar

at
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the place
הַמָּק֖וֹם (ham·mā·qō·wm)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4725: A standing, a spot, a condition

He would choose.
יִבְחָֽר׃ (yiḇ·ḥār)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 977: To try, select


Links
Joshua 9:27 NIV
Joshua 9:27 NLT
Joshua 9:27 ESV
Joshua 9:27 NASB
Joshua 9:27 KJV

Joshua 9:27 BibleApps.com
Joshua 9:27 Biblia Paralela
Joshua 9:27 Chinese Bible
Joshua 9:27 French Bible
Joshua 9:27 Catholic Bible

OT History: Joshua 9:27 That day Joshua made them wood cutters (Josh. Jos)
Joshua 9:26
Top of Page
Top of Page