And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you?
The men of Israel said to the Hivites, 'Maybe you live right here among us in the land we're supposed to take. How can we make a peace treaty with you?'
The Israelites are questioning whether they can make a peace agreement with people who might be living in the very land God told them to conquer.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Joshua, the Israelites were commanded by God to conquer the Promised Land and avoid making treaties with its inhabitants, as they were in the midst of their military campaigns after victories at Jericho and Ai. The Hivites from Gibeon, fearing destruction, disguised themselves as travelers from a distant land to deceive the Israelites into a peace agreement. When the Israelites grew suspicious that these men might actually be local residents, they questioned the possibility of forming such a league, knowing it would violate God's instructions.
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