The Syntactic and Rhetorical Structure of Geographic Listings in Joshua 9:1

Introduction to Joshua 9:1

Joshua 9:1 introduces a significant narrative development, where multiple kings from different regions react to Israel’s conquests. This verse employs a structured geographic listing, a common rhetorical and syntactic device in Biblical Hebrew used to emphasize completeness and unity among Israel’s adversaries.

The verse consists of:

1. A temporal clause marking a reaction to Israel’s victories (וַיְהִ֣י כִשְׁמֹ֣עַ, “And it happened when they heard”).
2. A structured geographic listing, moving from broad regional descriptions to specific ethnic groups.
3. A catalog of nations, reinforcing the widespread opposition to Israel.

This study will analyze the structure of geographic listings, the function of the temporal clause, and the role of parallelism in listing nations in Biblical narrative.

וַיְהִ֣י כִשְׁמֹ֣עַ כָּֽל־הַמְּלָכִ֡ים אֲשֶׁר֩ בְּעֵ֨בֶר הַיַּרְדֵּ֜ן בָּהָ֣ר וּבַשְּׁפֵלָ֗ה וּבְכֹל֙ חֹ֚וף הַיָּ֣ם הַגָּדֹ֔ול אֶל־מ֖וּל הַלְּבָנֹ֑ון הַֽחִתִּי֙ וְהָ֣אֱמֹרִ֔י הַֽכְּנַעֲנִי֙ הַפְּרִזִּ֔י הַחִוִּ֖י וְהַיְבוּסִֽי׃

Analysis of Key Words/Phrases

1. וַיְהִ֣י כִשְׁמֹ֣עַ (vay’hi kishmoa)
   • Root: הָיָה (“to be”), שָׁמַע (“to hear”)
   • Form: Qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular with vav-consecutive + infinitive construct
   • Translation: “And it happened when they heard”
   • Function: Marks a transition, introducing a reaction to previous events.
2. כָּֽל־הַמְּלָכִ֡ים (kol-hamelakhim)
   • Root: מֶלֶךְ (“king”)
   • Form: Construct phrase with כָּל (“all”)
   • Translation: “All the kings”
   • Function: Indicates a collective response from regional rulers.
3. בְּעֵ֨בֶר הַיַּרְדֵּ֜ן (b’ever ha-Yarden)
   • Root: עֵבֶר (“region, across”)
   • Form: Prepositional phrase (“in the region beyond the Jordan”)
   • Translation: “Beyond the Jordan”
   • Function: First geographical reference, setting the regional scope.
4. הַֽחִתִּי֙ וְהָ֣אֱמֹרִ֔י הַֽכְּנַעֲנִי֙ הַפְּרִזִּ֔י הַחִוִּ֖י וְהַיְבוּסִֽי (ha-ḥitti veha-emori ha-k’na‘ani ha-p’rizzi ha-ḥivvi veha-y’vusi)
   • Roots: Various ethnic group names
   • Form: List of proper nouns in construct with definite article
   • Translation: “The Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites”
   • Function: Parallel structure reinforcing a comprehensive listing of enemy groups.

Explanation of Grammatical Function

The Use of וַיְהִ֣י כִשְׁמֹ֣עַ (“And It Happened When They Heard”) as a Narrative Device

Common in Hebrew historical narratives, marking a transition to reaction or response.

Constructed with an infinitive (כִשְׁמֹ֣עַ) to express simultaneity, meaning as soon as they heard, they acted.

The Function of Geographic Listings in Biblical Literature

The listing of regions (mountain, lowlands, seacoast, Lebanon) creates a sweeping geographical scope, reinforcing the widespread impact of Israel’s conquests.

Common structure in military narratives, paralleling lists in Joshua 12:1–24 and Judges 3:5.

The Role of Ethnic Group Listings in Theological and Military Contexts

Regularly appears in conquest texts, reinforcing the fulfillment of divine promises (cf. Deuteronomy 7:1).

Parallelism in listing nations emphasizes their collective opposition to Israel.

Theological Implications of the Geographic and Ethnic Listings

1. The Reaction to Israel’s Divine FavorThe regional kings unite against Israel, foreshadowing the theme of human opposition to divine plans.
2. The Scope of God’s Promise and JudgmentThe inclusion of “all the kings” suggests a total fulfillment of earlier divine warnings to Canaan’s inhabitants.
3. The Precursor to the Gibeonite DeceptionThe narrative sets up the Gibeonites’ contrasting reaction in Joshua 9:3–15, where instead of resisting, they seek a covenant with Israel.

The Function of Geographic and Ethnic Listings in Hebrew Narrative

Joshua 9:1 demonstrates the structured use of geographic and ethnic lists, which reinforce completeness, opposition, and divine judgment. The grammatical structure of וַיְהִ֣י כִשְׁמֹ֣עַ introduces a dramatic reaction, while the parallel arrangement of names and places emphasizes the vast scope of the narrative.

Thus, this verse serves as both a grammatical model of Hebrew narrative structuring and a theological statement about Israel’s divine mission.