Joshua 9:7

The men of Israel. The Hebrew has the singular “man,” not “men,” but the verb is plural, evidently because the “men” are thought of as individuals. The LXX reads, “sons [children] of Israel,” and the Syriac, “[they] of the house of Israel.” Apparently the negotiations were carried on by the princes (verse 18).

The Hivites. See on verse 3.

Make a league. The Israelites were permitted to make peace with cities that were far off, but not with the seven Canaanite nations living in close proximity to them (Deuteronomy 7:1, 2; 20:10-15). These were to be completely destroyed (Deuteronomy 20:17) lest Israel become contaminated by their false religion and low moral principles. Hence the repeated instruction to Israel not to make any league with them (see Exodus 23:32; 34:12; Deuteronomy 7:2; 20:16-18). The Gibeonites seem to have been aware of this edict, and accordingly resorted to the strategy of feigning to come from a far country.