Why did the Gibeonites deceive Joshua and Israel?

The Gibeonites deceived Joshua and Israel because they were deeply afraid after hearing what God had done to Egypt, Jericho, Ai, and the Amorite kings. They knew God had commanded that Israel receive the land and destroy its inhabitants, so they believed open resistance would mean death. Out of fear for their lives, they pretended to come from a far country, using old clothes, worn wineskins, and moldy bread as props. Their plan mixed a kind of faith in God’s power with sinful dishonesty, choosing lies instead of open surrender and truth.

What does it mean that they "asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD"?

When the passage says they “asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD,” it means Joshua and the leaders made their decision without seeking God’s guidance. Even though they were suspicious and asked the Gibeonites questions, they relied only on what they saw and tasted, like the old bread and wineskins. They did not go to God in prayer or use the means He had given them to hear His will. This shows how easy it is to be misled when we trust our own judgment and skip asking God for direction.

Why did Israel keep the covenant with the Gibeonites after discovering the lie?

Israel kept the covenant with the Gibeonites because their leaders had sworn an oath by the name of the Lord. Once they realized the deception, the people wanted to act against the Gibeonites, but the princes said they could not touch them, or God’s wrath might fall on them for breaking their promise. Even though the treaty came from a foolish and misled decision, the leaders treated the oath as binding because it had been made before God. This shows how seriously God’s people are to take promises made in His name.

Why were the Gibeonites made hewers of wood and drawers of water?

The Gibeonites were made hewers of wood and drawers of water as both a punishment and a protection. They had lied to Israel, so Joshua declared that they would never be free from being servants. Their work would support the whole congregation and especially the house of God, providing wood and water for the altar and later worship. At the same time, this spared their lives, honoring the oath Israel had made. So they were kept from destruction but placed in a lowly, ongoing service role among God’s people.

What does this passage teach about deception and faith?

This passage shows that fear of God’s power can lead people in very different directions. The Gibeonites believed God was with Israel and that His command to give them the land would stand, so they sought peace. That shows a real respect for the Lord. But they tried to gain safety through lies instead of trusting truthfully in His mercy, so their faith was mixed with sin. For Israel, the story warns that even when others speak well of God, their words may hide falsehood, and that God’s people must love truth and seek His counsel.

What does this story show about God’s character and human failure?

The story shows that God takes truth and promises very seriously, yet He is also merciful in human failure. Joshua and the leaders made a rash covenant because they did not seek God’s counsel. They had to live with the hard results of that choice, serving as a warning. Still, God did not abandon them. He allowed their mistake to be turned into a settled arrangement where the Gibeonites served in God’s house. This shows that while God disciplines careless choices, He can weave even our errors into His larger purposes.

How can this passage guide believers in making decisions today?

This passage encourages believers to slow down and seek God before making binding decisions, especially about alliances and commitments. The leaders of Israel used their senses and human reasoning, but they did not ask God, and they were deceived. Today, this points us toward prayer, careful listening to God’s word, and not being ruled by appearances or pressure. It also reminds us to keep our word, even when it becomes costly, because our promises reflect on God’s name when we claim to follow Him.

What was happening historically when the Gibeonites came to Joshua?

Historically, Israel had just crossed the Jordan and defeated Jericho and Ai. Word of these victories, and of what God had done in Egypt and against Sihon and Og, spread through the region. The kings of Canaan responded by joining together to fight Israel. Gibeon, however, chose a different path. As a nearby Hivite city, they knew they were under the threat of destruction. Instead of fighting, they quickly devised a plan to appear as distant travelers so they could secure a peace treaty and be allowed to live among Israel.

Why did the congregation murmur against the princes in this passage?

The congregation murmured against the princes because they realized the leaders’ decision had put the whole nation in a difficult spot. God had commanded that the Canaanite peoples be destroyed, yet now Israel had sworn in God’s name to spare these nearby Hivites. The people feared God’s anger for this failure and were upset that their leaders had been so easily deceived. The princes answered by saying they must still keep the oath to avoid greater wrath, showing the tension between dealing with sin and honoring a promise made before the Lord.

Josh.9.1

Joshua 9:1

King James Version (KJV)

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;

Chapter:

The Deceit of the Gibeonites

1 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;

2 That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.

3 ¶ And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,

4 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;

5 And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy.

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 country: now therefore make ye a league with us.

7 And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you?

8 And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye?

9 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,

10 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.

11 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.

12 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:

13 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.

14 And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord.

15 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.

16 ¶ 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.

17 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.

18 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.

19 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.

20 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.

21 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.

22 ¶ 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?

23 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.

24 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.

25 And now, behold, we are in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do.

26 And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not.

27 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.

Context:

The Deceit of the Gibeonites

Cross References

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