The Meaning of Joshua 9:14 Explained

Joshua 9:14

KJV: And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.

YLT: And the men take of their provision, and the mouth of Jehovah have not asked;

Darby: And the men took of their victuals, but they did not inquire at the mouth of Jehovah.

ASV: And the men took of their provision, and asked not counsel at the mouth of Jehovah.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the men  took  of their victuals,  and asked  not [counsel] at the mouth  of the LORD. 

What does Joshua 9:14 Mean?

Context Summary

Joshua 9:1-15 - Deceived By The Gibeonites
The presence of common peril forced the nations of Canaan to combine for self-preservation. Would that the various sections of the visible Church might see their way to a similar policy in view of the evil in the world!
Gibeon lay five miles north of Jerusalem. The name means "built on a hill." The Church has suffered more from the wiles of the devil than from his attacks. The deceitfulness of sin is most to be dreaded. Better to meet Caiaphas than Judas, and a black devil than a white one.
How often we act without asking the counsel of God! Yet when once an oath is taken which does not absolutely conflict with morality, God holds us to it, 2 Samuel 21:1. By this impressive instance we are taught to wait on God before making our decisions, which are apt to become irrevocable, Psalms 127:2. [source]

Chapter Summary: Joshua 9

1  The kings combine against Israel
3  The Gibeonites by craft obtain a league
22  They are condemned to perpetual bondage

What do the individual words in Joshua 9:14 mean?

And took some the men of Israel of their provisions but counsel of Yahweh not they did ask
וַיִּקְח֥וּ הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֖ים מִצֵּידָ֑ם וְאֶת־ פִּ֥י יְהוָ֖ה לֹ֥א שָׁאָֽלוּ

וַיִּקְח֥וּ  And  took  some 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֖ים  the  men  of  Israel 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱנׄושׁ 
Sense: man, mortal man, person, mankind.
מִצֵּידָ֑ם  of  their  provisions 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: צַיִד 
Sense: hunting, game.
פִּ֥י  counsel 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
יְהוָ֖ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
שָׁאָֽלוּ  they  did  ask 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: שָׁאַל 
Sense: to ask, enquire, borrow, beg.