‘And they said to Joshua, “We are your servants.”
In the face of such an objection silence was the wisest precaution. They simply responded humbly and awaited further events. The idea of ‘servant' was not literal. It was a typical Near Eastern show of humility that was not intended to be taken too literally. Perhaps this should have alerted Joshua. If they had been genuine they would have protested vigorously. But Joshua, perhaps elated at the success in Shechem, was not thinking clearly. Even godly men can drop their guard at times, and they can tend to assume honesty in others. But we must remember that we live in a deceitful world.
‘And Joshua said, “Who are you? And from where have you come?”
Both were necessary questions. Their descent and present whereabouts were of supreme importance. The problem was that he believed their answers. It is not spiritual to be naive.