Joshua 9:1–15
1 Now it came about when all the kings who were beyond the Jordan, in the hill country, the lowland, and on all the coast of the Great Sea toward Lebanon, the Hittite and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard about it,
2 That they met together with one purpose, to fight with Joshua and with Israel.
3 The inhabitants of Gibeon also heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai,
4 But they on their part acted craftily and went and took provisions for a journey, and took worn-out sacks on their donkeys, and wineskins that were worn out, split open, and patched,
5 And worn-out and patched sandals on their feet, and worn-out clothes on themselves; and all the bread of their provision was dry and had become crumbled.
6 And they went to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a far country; now then, make a covenant with us.”
7 But the men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you are living within our land; how then are we to make a covenant with you?”
8 So they said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” Then Joshua said to them, “Who are you and where do you come from?”
9 They said to him, “Your servants have come from a very distant country because of the fame of the Lord your God; for we have heard the report about Him and all that He did in Egypt,
10 And all that He did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon and to Og king of Bashan who was in Ashtaroth.
11 So our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, ‘Take provisions in your hand for the journey, and go to meet them, and say to them, “We are your servants; now then, make a covenant with us.” ’
12 This bread of ours was hot when we took it for our provisions from our houses on the day that we left to come to you; but now behold, it is dry and has become crumbled.
13 And these wineskins which we filled were new, and behold, they are split open; and these clothes of ours and our sandals are worn out from the very long journey.”
14 So the men of Israel took some of their provisions, and did not ask for the counsel of the Lord.
15 And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live; and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them.
Covenant with the Gibeonite
Two different reactions
The first two verses are an explanation of the political situation of the land of Canaan at that time. Indigenous nations (the kings of the Hittite, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite) gathered themselves to form an alliance to fight Israel. Previously, they were enemies to each other but now were in accord with the presence of a common enemy of Israel. In the midst of such an alliance, the Gibeonites decided to come under Israel’s wings in order to survive. Gibeon is a city on a hilltop, located 9.6 kilometers (about 6 miles) northwest of Jerusalem and about the same distance southwest from Ai. The residents of Gibeon racially were Hivites. In Genesis Chapter 34, Jacob’s daughter Dinah was defiled by the prince of the land, Shechem, the son of Hamor the Hivite. Simeon and Levi, who heard of this disgrace, tricked Shechem and Hamor and killed all the males of Gibeon. The Israelites deceived the Hivites then, but in this passage, the Hivites deceived the Israelites—an irony in history.
The deception of the Gibeonites
Following were the ways the Gibeonites used to deceit Israel. (1) They disguised as worn travelers from afar having on themselves such things as worn-out sacks, worn-out sandals, and worn-out clothes. Israel was commanded not to make covenants with neighboring nations (Deut. 7:1–2), so they needed to disguise themselves. (2) First, they offered Israel to make a covenant with them. (2) However, as Joshua declined the offer, they offered to subject themselves and serve Israel. The Israelites agreed to make a covenant with them without asking for the counsel of the Lord. The phrase, “took some of their provisions,” means that they had a covenant meal. From this passage, we could condemn Joshua for his carelessness, but it is probably more appropriate to admit the Gibeonites’ cunningness and zeal. To be subject to Israel means to worship the God of Israel. Therefore, they set themselves apart from their idolatry and decided to follow the true God. Even in the Old Testament time, one who came near God in faith received God’s provision. This is still true today. Let us learn from this to have the zeal in depending on the Lord.
Today's prayer
God of Israel, You are a God of grace, a God of forgiveness. Today, I place my utmost faith in You. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.