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Joshua 9:18

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Joshua 9:18

Verse 18 of 27

Scripture focus

And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes.

Joshua 9:18 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Joshua 9:18

Theological / Devotional

Smote them not. Even though the congregation murmured against the princes, and the princes had done wrong in making such an agreement, the Israelites felt obligated to keep their oath. A promise, once made, should be held sacred if it does not bind the one making it to perform a wrong act (see Proverbs 12:22; Psalm 24:4 ; 15:4; Patriarchs and Prophets 506). The leaders of Israel involved the whole congregation in trouble because of their mistake.

Yet, to their credit, they felt that they should abide by the promise they had made. How careful those in responsibility need to be lest, by reliance on their own judgment, they bring difficulty on the whole congregation.

By SdaBc