Joshua 9:14

the men took of their victuals "thei token thanne of the meetis of hem," Wyclif. "The men" here denote the elders of Israel, the heads of the tribes. Comp. Joshua 9:18-21. Some think it means they took and tasted of their provisions by way of test to see if their story was true, so Keil and Rosenmüller. Others interpret the words as denoting that the princes of the people took of the provisions, and by thus eating, according to the usages of Oriental nations, pledged themselves to friendship and amity. Compare the eating together as a sign of friendship of Jacob and Laban, Genesis 31:46; and the expression "covenant of salt," Lev 2:13; 2 Chronicles 13:5.

and asked not counsel This was a transgression of an explicit command that the priest should seek a revelation of the Divine will for Joshua by means of the Sacred Oracle, the Urim and Thummim; "at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him" (Numbers 27:21). See also Exodus 28:30. Against any league with the inhabitants of Canaan they had been specially warned (Exodus 23:32; Exodus 34:12; Numbers 33:55; Deuteronomy 7:2).