The Deceit of the Gibeonites
Now when news of this reached all the kings west of the Jordan—those in the hill country, the foothills, 1 and all along the coast of the Great Sea 2toward Lebanon (the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites)— Num 34:6Exo 3:17Exo 23:23Jos 3:10Deu 3:25Deu 4:49Deu 7:1Exo 23:31 they came together to wage war against Joshua and Israel. 2Ch 20:1-30Act 4:26-28Isa 54:15Isa 8:12Isa 8:9-10Jol 3:9-13Pro 11:21Psa 2:1-2
But the people of Gibeon, having heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, Jos 10:2Jos 9:172Sa 21:1-2Jos 6:1-27Jos 8:1-35 acted deceptively and set out as envoys, 3 carrying on their donkeys worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended. Luk 16:8Luk 5:37-38Mat 10:16Mrk 2:221Ki 20:31-33Gen 34:13Mat 9:17Psa 119:83 They put worn, patched sandals on their feet and threadbare clothing on their bodies, and their whole supply of bread was dry and moldy. Luk 15:22Deu 29:5Deu 33:25Jos 9:13 They went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant land; please make a treaty 4with us.” Jos 5:102Ki 20:141Ki 8:41Deu 20:11-15Jos 10:43Jos 9:9
But the men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you dwell near us. How can we make a treaty with you?” Jos 11:19Jdg 2:2Deu 20:16Deu 7:2-3Exo 23:31-33Exo 3:8Exo 34:12Gen 10:17
“We are your servants,” they said to Joshua. 2Ki 10:5Deu 20:11Jos 9:111Ki 9:20-21Gen 9:25-26Jos 9:23Jos 9:25Jos 9:27
Then Joshua asked them, “Who are you and where have you come from?”
“Your servants have come from a very distant land,” they replied, “because of the fame of the LORD your God. For we have heard the reports about Him: all that He did in Egypt, Deu 20:15Jos 9:24Isa 55:5Jos 2:9-101Ki 8:412Ch 6:32-33Exo 15:14Exo 9:16 and all that He did to the two kings of the Amorites beyond the Jordan—Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth. Deu 1:4Deu 2:30Jos 12:4Num 21:24-351Ch 6:71 So the elders and inhabitants of our land told us, ‘Take provisions for your journey; go to meet them and say to them: We are your servants. Please make a treaty with us.’ Est 8:17Jos 9:8Gen 43:12Jos 1:11Luk 9:3Mat 10:9-10
This bread of ours was warm when we packed it at home on the day we left to come to you. But take a look, it is now dry and moldy. Jos 9:4-5 These wineskins were new when we filled them, but look, they are cracked. And these clothes and sandals are worn out from our very long journey.”
Then the men of Israel sampled their provisions, but did not seek the counsel of the LORD. Pro 3:5-6Num 27:211Ch 10:13-142Sa 5:191Sa 23:9-121Sa 30:7-8Ezr 8:21Isa 30:1-2 And Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them. 2Sa 21:2Deu 20:10-11Jos 11:19Jos 6:22-25Exo 23:32Jer 18:7-8Jos 2:12-19
Three days after they had made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites learned that they were neighbors, living among them. Pro 12:19 So the Israelites set out and on the third day arrived at their cities—Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim. Ezr 2:25Jos 18:25-281Ch 13:5-61Ch 21:291Sa 7:12Ch 1:3-4Jos 10:2Jos 15:60 But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the congregation had sworn an oath to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. And the whole congregation grumbled against the leaders. Psa 15:42Sa 21:7Ecc 5:2Ecc 5:6Ecc 9:2
All the leaders answered, “We have sworn an oath to them by the LORD, the God of Israel, and now we cannot touch them. Ecc 8:2Ecc 9:2Jer 4:2Jos 9:20 This is how we will treat them: We will let them live, so that no wrath will fall on us because of the oath we swore to them.” Ezk 17:12-21Mal 3:5Pro 20:251Ti 1:102Ch 36:132Sa 21:1-6Rom 1:31Zec 5:3-4 They continued, “Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for the whole congregation.” So the leaders kept their promise. Deu 29:11Jos 9:23Jos 9:272Ch 2:17-18Jos 9:15
Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, “Why did you deceive us by telling us you live far away from us, when in fact you live among us? Jos 9:6Jos 9:16Gen 27:35-36Gen 27:41-45Gen 29:25Gen 3:13-14Jos 9:9-102Co 11:3 Now therefore you are under a curse and will perpetually serve as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.” Jos 9:21Gen 9:25-26Jos 9:27Lev 27:28-29
The Gibeonites answered, “Your servants were told clearly that the LORD your God had commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land and wipe out all its inhabitants before you. So we greatly feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we have done this. Deu 20:15-17Deu 7:1-2Exo 23:31-33Mat 10:28Num 33:55-56Deu 7:23-24Exo 15:14-16Job 2:4 Now we are in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you.” Gen 16:6Jdg 10:15Jer 26:141Sa 3:182Sa 24:14Isa 47:6Jdg 8:15Jer 38:5
So Joshua did this and delivered them from the hands of the Israelites, and they did not kill the Gibeonites. On that day he made them woodcutters and water carriers, as they are to this day for the congregation of the LORD and for the altar at the place He would choose. Deu 12:5