And it came to pass, when all the kings which were on this side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard thereof;
That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.
And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,
They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up;
And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy.
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 country: now therefore make ye a league with us.
And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you?
And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye?
And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the Lord thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt,
And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which was at Ashtaroth.
Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants: therefore now make ye a league with us.
This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is mouldy:
And these bottles of wine, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey.
And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord.
And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.
And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, that they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt among them.
And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjath–jearim.
And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the Lord God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes.
But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the Lord God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them.
This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them.
And the princes said unto them, Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had promised them.
And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, We are very far from you; when ye dwell among us?
Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.
And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the Lord thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing.
And now, behold, we are in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do.
And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not.
And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the Lord, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose.
Joshua 9 recounts a pivotal moment in Israel's conquest of Canaan, highlighting both the fear God instilled in the inhabitants of the land and the consequences of Israel's failure to seek divine guidance. The chapter serves as a potent reminder of the importance of consulting God in all our decisions and the subtle ways deception can infiltrate even the most devout communities. This chapter also shows us that God's fame precedes His people, and that even those who are not part of the covenant community can be impacted by the stories of His power.
The Kings Unite (Joshua 9:1-2)
The victories at Jericho and Ai had a ripple effect. News of Israel's military prowess and the power of their God spread like wildfire throughout Canaan. Joshua 9:1-2 tells us that the kings west of the Jordan River, in the hill country, the western foothills, and along the entire coast of the Great Sea as far as Lebanon, heard what Israel had done. United by fear, these kings—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—formed an alliance to stand against Joshua and Israel. They recognized the threat Israel posed and sought to combine their strength in a unified front. However, not all the inhabitants of the land were eager for a fight.
The Gibeonite Deception (Joshua 9:3-13)
The inhabitants of Gibeon, a significant city (Joshua 10:2), were particularly alarmed. Unlike the other kingdoms, they opted for a different strategy: deception. Knowing they were unlikely to win in battle, they crafted an elaborate ruse to secure a treaty with Israel. As Joshua 9:3-4 details, they acted shrewdly, disguising themselves as travelers from a distant land.
Their deception was meticulously planned. They donned worn-out clothes and sandals and carried provisions that appeared old and moldy (Joshua 9:4-5, 13). Approaching Joshua and the Israelites at Gilgal, they claimed to have journeyed from a faraway country, motivated by the renown of the LORD God of Israel (Joshua 9:6, 9). They presented themselves as humble servants seeking a covenant of peace. They proclaimed, "Your servants have come from a very distant country because of the fame of the LORD your God. For we have heard reports of him: all that he did in Egypt and all that he did to the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan—to Sihon king of Heshbon and to Og king of Bashan, who were in Ashtaroth" (Joshua 9:9-10).
The Gibeonites’ story was carefully constructed, and they even appealed to the Israelites' senses. "Look at our clothes and sandals, worn out by the very long journey because of the exceedingly great distance" (Joshua 9:13). In the midst of their lies, they acknowledged the truth: they had come because of the reputation of the LORD. This is a reminder that even in deception, God's name can be acknowledged. When God does amazing things through you, people will take notice and may even try to get in on the blessings.
A Treaty Without Counsel (Joshua 9:14-15)
Joshua and the leaders of Israel, swayed by the Gibeonites' appearance and persuasive words, fell into their trap. Joshua 9:14 states a critical detail: "The men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not ask counsel from the LORD." This was a grave oversight. Despite interrogating and inspecting the travelers and their belongings, they failed to seek divine guidance. They relied solely on their own judgment, neglecting to consult the One who sees beyond appearances.
Without seeking God's will, Joshua made a treaty with the Gibeonites, promising to let them live, and the leaders swore an oath to them (Joshua 9:15). This rash decision, made without seeking divine counsel, would have significant consequences for Israel.
Israel relied solely on what their eyes saw and their ears heard. And because they did not seek God’s perspective on the situation, they allowed themselves to be deceived into doing exactly what God had commanded them not to do (see Deuteronomy 7:1-2). In a word, God’s people had been flimflammed. This is a reminder that Satan can deceive you into sinning, too. He can lure you into doing things that compromise the promises you’ve made to God. So since you can only see what you see, you need to maintain a spiritual connection to the one who sees what you cannot. You need to know what God’s Word says and ask him to help you live by it one moment at a time.
The Truth Revealed (Joshua 9:16-20)
Three days later, the truth emerged: the Gibeonites were not from a distant land but were neighbors, living nearby. Joshua 9:16 reveals the shocking discovery: "Three days after they made the treaty with them, they heard that they were neighbors, living near them." The Israelites were furious, and the community grumbled against the leaders (Joshua 9:18).
However, the leaders were bound by their oath. They had sworn in the name of the LORD, the God of Israel, and could not break their promise without incurring divine judgment. They had taken a self-maledictory oath—that means that if they were to break their promise of peace, judgment would fall upon them. Oaths are a serious thing in the Bible and are not to be taken lightly. Joshua 9:19 states, "But all the leaders answered, 'We have sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel, and now we cannot touch them.'" They understood the gravity of their oath and the consequences of breaking it.
Consequences and Servitude (Joshua 9:21-27)
The Israelites were forced to honor the treaty, but the Gibeonites did not escape unscathed. As a consequence of their deception, they were made servants of Israel. Joshua 9:21 states, "Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for the entire community." They would be relegated to the menial tasks of providing wood and water for the community and for the altar of the LORD (Joshua 9:23, 27).
Joshua confronted the Gibeonites, exposing their deceit and pronouncing their fate. "Why did you deceive us by saying, 'We live a long way from you,' while actually you live near us? Now you are condemned! You will always be servants—woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God" (Joshua 9:22-23). The Gibeonites accepted their punishment, acknowledging that they were in Joshua's hands (Joshua 9:24-25). From this point forward, they would be made to work for Him (Joshua 9:27).
Lessons for Today
Joshua 9 offers several important lessons for believers today:
- Seek God's Guidance: The most critical lesson is the importance of seeking God's counsel in all decisions, both big and small. We should not rely solely on our own understanding or the persuasive arguments of others.
- Discernment is Crucial: We must be discerning and not easily swayed by appearances. Satan can deceive us into sinning, too. He can lure you into doing things that compromise the promises you’ve made to God.
- Integrity Matters: The Gibeonites' deception ultimately led to servitude. Honesty and integrity are essential in our dealings with others.
- Oaths are Binding: The Israelites' commitment to their oath underscores the seriousness of making promises. We should be careful about the vows we make and strive to keep them.
- God's Fame Precedes Him: The Gibeonites were motivated by the fame of the Lord. Our lives should reflect God's glory, drawing others to Him.
- God Can Use Imperfect Situations: Even though the treaty was formed through deception, God used it to protect the Gibeonites and ultimately incorporate them into the fabric of Israelite society.
Joshua 9 serves as a cautionary tale and a reminder of the importance of seeking God's guidance, maintaining integrity, and honoring our commitments. By learning from Israel's mistake, we can avoid similar pitfalls and live in accordance with God's will.
And it came to pass, when all the kings which were on this side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard thereof;
That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.
And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,
They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up;
And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy.
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 country: now therefore make ye a league with us.
And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you?
And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye?
And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the Lord thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt,
And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which was at Ashtaroth.
Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants: therefore now make ye a league with us.
This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is mouldy:
And these bottles of wine, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey.
And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord.
And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.
And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, that they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt among them.
And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjath–jearim.
And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the Lord God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes.
But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the Lord God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them.
This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them.
And the princes said unto them, Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had promised them.
And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, We are very far from you; when ye dwell among us?
Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.
And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the Lord thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing.
And now, behold, we are in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do.
And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not.
And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the Lord, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose.
Joshua 9 recounts a pivotal moment in Israel's conquest of Canaan, highlighting both the fear God instilled in the inhabitants of the land and the consequences of Israel's failure to seek divine guidance. The chapter serves as a potent reminder of the importance of consulting God in all our decisions and the subtle ways deception can infiltrate even the most devout communities. This chapter also shows us that God's fame precedes His people, and that even those who are not part of the covenant community can be impacted by the stories of His power.
The Kings Unite (Joshua 9:1-2)
The victories at Jericho and Ai had a ripple effect. News of Israel's military prowess and the power of their God spread like wildfire throughout Canaan. Joshua 9:1-2 tells us that the kings west of the Jordan River, in the hill country, the western foothills, and along the entire coast of the Great Sea as far as Lebanon, heard what Israel had done. United by fear, these kings—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—formed an alliance to stand against Joshua and Israel. They recognized the threat Israel posed and sought to combine their strength in a unified front. However, not all the inhabitants of the land were eager for a fight.
The Gibeonite Deception (Joshua 9:3-13)
The inhabitants of Gibeon, a significant city (Joshua 10:2), were particularly alarmed. Unlike the other kingdoms, they opted for a different strategy: deception. Knowing they were unlikely to win in battle, they crafted an elaborate ruse to secure a treaty with Israel. As Joshua 9:3-4 details, they acted shrewdly, disguising themselves as travelers from a distant land.
Their deception was meticulously planned. They donned worn-out clothes and sandals and carried provisions that appeared old and moldy (Joshua 9:4-5, 13). Approaching Joshua and the Israelites at Gilgal, they claimed to have journeyed from a faraway country, motivated by the renown of the LORD God of Israel (Joshua 9:6, 9). They presented themselves as humble servants seeking a covenant of peace. They proclaimed, "Your servants have come from a very distant country because of the fame of the LORD your God. For we have heard reports of him: all that he did in Egypt and all that he did to the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan—to Sihon king of Heshbon and to Og king of Bashan, who were in Ashtaroth" (Joshua 9:9-10).
The Gibeonites’ story was carefully constructed, and they even appealed to the Israelites' senses. "Look at our clothes and sandals, worn out by the very long journey because of the exceedingly great distance" (Joshua 9:13). In the midst of their lies, they acknowledged the truth: they had come because of the reputation of the LORD. This is a reminder that even in deception, God's name can be acknowledged. When God does amazing things through you, people will take notice and may even try to get in on the blessings.
A Treaty Without Counsel (Joshua 9:14-15)
Joshua and the leaders of Israel, swayed by the Gibeonites' appearance and persuasive words, fell into their trap. Joshua 9:14 states a critical detail: "The men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not ask counsel from the LORD." This was a grave oversight. Despite interrogating and inspecting the travelers and their belongings, they failed to seek divine guidance. They relied solely on their own judgment, neglecting to consult the One who sees beyond appearances.
Without seeking God's will, Joshua made a treaty with the Gibeonites, promising to let them live, and the leaders swore an oath to them (Joshua 9:15). This rash decision, made without seeking divine counsel, would have significant consequences for Israel.
Israel relied solely on what their eyes saw and their ears heard. And because they did not seek God’s perspective on the situation, they allowed themselves to be deceived into doing exactly what God had commanded them not to do (see Deuteronomy 7:1-2). In a word, God’s people had been flimflammed. This is a reminder that Satan can deceive you into sinning, too. He can lure you into doing things that compromise the promises you’ve made to God. So since you can only see what you see, you need to maintain a spiritual connection to the one who sees what you cannot. You need to know what God’s Word says and ask him to help you live by it one moment at a time.
The Truth Revealed (Joshua 9:16-20)
Three days later, the truth emerged: the Gibeonites were not from a distant land but were neighbors, living nearby. Joshua 9:16 reveals the shocking discovery: "Three days after they made the treaty with them, they heard that they were neighbors, living near them." The Israelites were furious, and the community grumbled against the leaders (Joshua 9:18).
However, the leaders were bound by their oath. They had sworn in the name of the LORD, the God of Israel, and could not break their promise without incurring divine judgment. They had taken a self-maledictory oath—that means that if they were to break their promise of peace, judgment would fall upon them. Oaths are a serious thing in the Bible and are not to be taken lightly. Joshua 9:19 states, "But all the leaders answered, 'We have sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel, and now we cannot touch them.'" They understood the gravity of their oath and the consequences of breaking it.
Consequences and Servitude (Joshua 9:21-27)
The Israelites were forced to honor the treaty, but the Gibeonites did not escape unscathed. As a consequence of their deception, they were made servants of Israel. Joshua 9:21 states, "Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for the entire community." They would be relegated to the menial tasks of providing wood and water for the community and for the altar of the LORD (Joshua 9:23, 27).
Joshua confronted the Gibeonites, exposing their deceit and pronouncing their fate. "Why did you deceive us by saying, 'We live a long way from you,' while actually you live near us? Now you are condemned! You will always be servants—woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God" (Joshua 9:22-23). The Gibeonites accepted their punishment, acknowledging that they were in Joshua's hands (Joshua 9:24-25). From this point forward, they would be made to work for Him (Joshua 9:27).
Lessons for Today
Joshua 9 offers several important lessons for believers today:
- Seek God's Guidance: The most critical lesson is the importance of seeking God's counsel in all decisions, both big and small. We should not rely solely on our own understanding or the persuasive arguments of others.
- Discernment is Crucial: We must be discerning and not easily swayed by appearances. Satan can deceive us into sinning, too. He can lure you into doing things that compromise the promises you’ve made to God.
- Integrity Matters: The Gibeonites' deception ultimately led to servitude. Honesty and integrity are essential in our dealings with others.
- Oaths are Binding: The Israelites' commitment to their oath underscores the seriousness of making promises. We should be careful about the vows we make and strive to keep them.
- God's Fame Precedes Him: The Gibeonites were motivated by the fame of the Lord. Our lives should reflect God's glory, drawing others to Him.
- God Can Use Imperfect Situations: Even though the treaty was formed through deception, God used it to protect the Gibeonites and ultimately incorporate them into the fabric of Israelite society.
Joshua 9 serves as a cautionary tale and a reminder of the importance of seeking God's guidance, maintaining integrity, and honoring our commitments. By learning from Israel's mistake, we can avoid similar pitfalls and live in accordance with God's will.