Matthew Poole and continuators on Joshua 9:6

6 And they went to Joshua, unto the camp at Gilgal , and said unto him, and to the men of Israel , We be come from a far countrey: now therefore make ye a league with us.

The place of their head-Quarters.

To wit, those who used to meet in Counsel with Joshua, to whom it belonged to make Leagues, as it here follows, even the Princes of the Congregation, not the common people, as appears both from v. 15, 18, 19, 21. and from common usage of all Ambassadors, who generally deliver their Message to, and treat with Princes, not People. And the Hebrew word isch, here used, sometimes notes men of eminency and dignity.

Because we are not of this people, whom, as we are informed, you are obliged utterly to destroy; that which appeared sufficiently both by the Israelites practice in destroying the Amorites beyond Iordan, and the people of Iericho and Ai, without any allowance for Sex or Age; and by common rumor and the report of the Israelites and other persons who dwelt among them, or had converse with them, as Rahab and all her kindred; and by the nature of the thing, because they were to possess that whole Land, and were not to mix themselves with the people of it.