Joshua 9:14-15
So the men took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel from the LORD. And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore to them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The Gibeonites' deception was so elaborate that the Israelites didn't just believe their story – they took some of their provisions as proof. Yet, the text highlights their real failure wasn't their credulity, but their complete neglect to ask God for wisdom, missing the divine guidance readily available to them.
Facing overwhelming opposition from surrounding kings, the people of Gibeon decided to use deceit rather than fight. They traveled to Joshua and the Israelite camp pretending to be from a far-off land, presenting old provisions as proof of their long journey to secure a league for peace. In their haste, the Israelites accepted the Gibeonites' story based on the evidence of their worn-out food and garments, failing to consult the Lord about this significant decision.
Imagine seeing old, moldy bread and worn-out sacks. What's the first thing you think? For Joshua and the Israelites, it was the convincing proof of a long journey. But was it?
The Gibeonites masterfully used appearances to deceive the Israelites. Their old sacks, worn-out shoes, and dry, moldy bread were carefully staged props.
A Calculated Performance
This highlights a crucial lesson: outward appearances can be deceiving. What looks true isn't always true, and relying solely on what we see can lead us astray.
The Israelites had a direct line to God's wisdom, yet they chose not to use it. What happened when they skipped this vital step?
The most critical error the Israelites made wasn't just being deceived by the Gibeonites; it was failing to consult God.
The Cost of Neglect
Understand the original words
sha'al · Hebrew Verb
To seek divine direction or instruction, acknowledging the sovereignty of God and the need for His guidance in making decisions or determining a course of action.
YHWH · Hebrew Noun
The personal, covenant name of God in the Old Testament, representing His holiness, faithfulness, and self-existence; He is the God who enters into a redemptive relationship with His people.
shalom · Hebrew Noun
A state of harmony, completeness, and wholeness; in the Bible, it signifies more than the absence of war, representing divine blessing, reconciliation, and restored order.
edah · Hebrew Noun
The collective body of God's people, gathered together for worship, decision-making, or national identity, signifying the unity and covenantal bond of the community.
This story highlights the critical need for seeking God's guidance in all matters, especially those involving treaties with other nations. The Israelites' haste and failure to consult the Lord led to a lasting complication for the people of God.
c. 1446 BC
Conquest of Canaan Begins
After 40 years in the wilderness, Joshua leads the Israelites across the Jordan River to begin the conquest of the Promised Land.
c. 1446 BC
Fall of Jericho and Ai
Joshua and the Israelites miraculously conquer Jericho and then the city of Ai, striking fear into the hearts of the surrounding Canaanite peoples.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Gibeonites Deceive Israel
The Hivites of Gibeon, hearing of Israel's victories, disguise themselves as travelers from a distant land and trick Joshua into a peace treaty.
c. 1446 BC
Discovery of the Deception
Three days later, the Israelites discover the Gibeonites are their neighbors, but are bound by their oath not to harm them.
This passage shows the dire consequences of seeking guidance from the wrong sources or, in this case, not seeking God's counsel at all, mirroring Israel's error.
Proverbs 3:5-6This proverb directly contrasts Joshua's actions by urging complete trust in the LORD and acknowledging Him in all our ways, which the Israelites failed to do.
Judges 1:27-31This passage illustrates the ongoing negative repercussions of Israel not driving out or fully conquering Canaanite tribes, a direct result of the poorly made covenant initiated by neglecting God's counsel.
2 Samuel 21:1-6This passage shows a severe famine and punishment that came upon Israel because Saul had broken the covenant made with the Gibeonites, highlighting how their initial failure to consult God had long-term, devastating consequences.
calvinJoshua 9:1-15: "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;"
- 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 Canaan…
clarkeJoshua 9:14: "And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD."
The men took of their victuals - This was done in all probability in the way of friendship; for, from time immemorial to the present day, eating together, in the Asiatic countries, is considered a token of unalterable friendship; and those who eat even salt together, feel themselves bound thereby in a perpetual covenant. But the marginal reading of this clause should not be hastily rejected. And a…
The Gibeonites' deception was so elaborate that the Israelites didn't just believe their story – they took some of their provisions as proof. Yet, the text highlights their real failure wasn't their credulity, but their complete neglect to ask God for wisdom, missing the divine guidance readily available to them.
Facing overwhelming opposition from surrounding kings, the people of Gibeon decided to use deceit rather than fight. They traveled to Joshua and the Israelite camp pretending to be from a far-off land, presenting old provisions as proof of their long journey to secure a league for peace. In their haste, the Israelites accepted the Gibeonites' story based on the evidence of their worn-out food and garments, failing to consult the Lord about this significant decision.
Facing overwhelming opposition from surrounding kings, the people of Gibeon decided to use deceit rather than fight. They traveled to Joshua and the Israelite camp pretending to be from a far-off land, presenting old provisions as proof of their long journey to secure a league for peace. In their haste, the Israelites accepted the Gibeonites' story based on the evidence of their worn-out food and garments, failing to consult the Lord about this significant decision.
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This bypass of divine counsel led to a significant problem: a treaty with a people who should have been dealt with according to God's command to clear the land. While God did not condemn them for the resulting treaty (as the Gibeonites were spared and became servants), their initial neglect had serious consequences and nearly compromised God's directive for the Promised Land.
shaba' · Hebrew Verb
A solemn invocation of God’s name to witness to the truth of a statement or the sincerity of a promise, binding the speaker to the fulfillment of an obligation under the threat of divine judgment.
c. 1446 BC
Gibeonites Become Servants
The Gibeonites are spared but reduced to servitude, performing tasks like woodcutting and drawing water for the Israelites and the sanctuary.
c. 1000 BC
David's Covenant Violation
Centuries later, King David's administration unjustly slaughters some Gibeonites, violating the ancient treaty made by Joshua.
c. 1000 BC
Famine and Atonement
A severe famine strikes Israel, which God reveals is a punishment for the broken covenant with the Gibeonites. David seeks atonement, resulting in the execution of seven of Saul's descendants.
"So the men took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel from the LORD. And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore to them." — The Gibeonites' deception was so elaborate that the Israelites didn't just believe their story – they took some of their provisions as proof. Yet, the text highlights their real failure wasn't thei…
