(14)  And  the  men  took  of  their  victuals.^
And  they  accepted  the  men  from  (the  appearance  of)
their  provisions.  This,  which  is  the  view  taken  in  our
marginal  reading,  seems  to  be  the  more  probable  inter-
pretation, and  follows  the  Targnm.  "  The  men  "  can
nardly  refer  to  any  one  but  the  ambassadors  of  the
Gibeonites.
(16)  Their  neighbours,  and  they  that  dwelt
among  them. — Literally,  and  that  they  (the  Gibeonites)
were  dwelU^s  in  the  midst  of  him  (Israel).    (So  verse  7.)

(17)  Qibeon»  and  Chephirah,  and  Beeroth,
and  Eiijath-jearim.~-The  first  three  of  these  were
assigned  to  Benjamin  (chap,  xviii.  25,  26),  the  last  to
Jndah  (xv.  60),  in  the  division  of  the  land.  The  fact
that  the  larger  portion  of  the  territory  of  the  GKbeonites


126


The  Gibemitea  made  ffeioera  of  Wood  JOSHUA,    X.
and  Drawers  of  Water,


children  of  Israel  journeyed,  and  came
unto  their  cities  on  the  third  day.  Now
their  cities  were  Gibeon,  and  Chephirah,
and  Beeroth,  and  Kirjath-jearim.  (^^ 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  congr^ation  murmured
against  the  princes.  (^)But  all  the
princes  said  unto  all  the  congregation,
We  have  sworn  unto  them  by  the  Lobd
God  of  Israel :  now  therefore  we  may
not  touch  them.  <*^>  This  we  will  do  to
them ;  we  will  even  let  them  live,  lest
wrath  be  upon  us,  because  of  the  oath
which  we  sware  unto  them.  <^)  And  the
princes  said  unto  them,  Let  them  live ;
but  let  them  be  hewers  of  wood  and
drawers  of  water  unto  all  the  congrega-
tion; as  the  princes  had '  promised  them.
