Joshua 9:15
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 text emphasizes that Joshua and the princes swore to the Gibeonites, an act that carries immense weight in the ancient covenantal world. This oath signifies their solemn commitment to the covenant, even though it was based on a clever deception, highlighting the gravity with which they viewed their sworn word.
After learning about Israel's devastating victories at Jericho and Ai, the inhabitants of Gibeon, a prominent Hivite city, hatched a clever deception. They disguised themselves as weary travelers from a distant land, presenting old provisions and worn-out belongings to trick Joshua and the Israelite leaders into making a peace treaty with them. This pact, sealed by Joshua and the princes' sworn oath, promised to spare their lives, unknowingly binding Israel to a covenant with a people within the very land God commanded them to conquer.
Ever felt tricked by someone's words, only to realize it later? The Gibeonites pulled off a masterful deception, but it reveals a lot about how we approach God and His commands.
The Gibeonites heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, and they knew Israel was on a mission from God to conquer the land. Instead of surrendering or fighting, they chose deception.
A Clever Ruse
They disguised themselves as travelers from a far-off land, wearing old clothes, carrying stale bread, and using worn-out bags and sandals. Their goal? To trick Joshua and the Israelites into making a peace treaty with them.
The Motivation Behind the Lie
As Calvin notes, the Gibeonites weren't just trying to save themselves; they recognized the power of God. They came "because of the name of the Lord thy God." Their deception was rooted in a strategic, albeit flawed, recognition of God's might, hoping to exploit it for their own survival.
The Warning Bell
This story is a stark reminder that deceit, even when seemingly beneficial, is a dangerous foundation. The Gibeonites' actions highlight how easily we can be swayed by appearances and quick judgments, especially when not seeking God's wisdom.
Joshua made a promise, even an oath, but it was based on a lie. What does this teach us about the weight of our promises and God's perspective on them?
Joshua and the Israelite leaders were deceived by the Gibeonites. They examined the Gibeonites' provisions and, instead of consulting God, they decided to honor the supposed treaty. This led to a covenant that was flawed from the start.
The Israelites' Oversight
As Henry points out, "We make more haste than good speed, when we stay not to take God with us." The Israelites' failure to seek God's counsel meant they entered into a covenant without divine approval, based solely on the Gibeonites' fabrication.
Understand the original words
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.
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.
This pivotal moment highlights the critical importance of seeking God's wisdom in all decisions. Joshua's failure to consult the Lord, swayed by outward appearances and a clever ruse, led to a binding covenant with a people destined for destruction, with consequences that rippled through generations.
c. 1400 BC
Conquest of Canaan Begins
Following the death of Moses, Joshua leads the Israelites across the Jordan River to begin their military campaign to conquer the land of Canaan, as commanded by God.
c. 1400 BC
Fall of Jericho and Ai
The Israelites achieve stunning victories, first by miraculously destroying the walls of Jericho and then by conquering the city of Ai, instilling fear in the surrounding nations.
c. 1400 BC
Gibeonites Hear of Israel's Victories
The inhabitants of the city of Gibeon, hearing about the swift and decisive conquests of Jericho and Ai, become fearful of the approaching Israelite army.
c. 1400 BC
Gibeonite Deception
The Gibeonites devise a cunning plan, dressing as travelers from a distant land, to deceive Joshua and the Israelite leaders into making a peace treaty with them.
This passage directly contrasts Joshua's action by commanding Israel not to make a covenant with the Canaanites, highlighting the Gibeonites' deceptive success in circumventing this divine directive.
Deuteronomy 20:10-11These verses lay out the general policy of offering peace to distant cities before engaging in war, which the Gibeonites attempted to mimic through their deception, showing a parallel in strategy, albeit with deceit.
2 Samuel 21:1-2This passage demonstrates the severe consequences of breaking the covenant made with the Gibeonites centuries later, underscoring the solemnity and divine protection afforded to the sworn oath, even one obtained by trickery.
1 Samuel 15:3This verse reiterates God's command to utterly destroy the Amalekites, similar to the command regarding the Canaanites, providing context for why Joshua's decision with the Gibeonites was so unusual and potentially problematic.
Psalm 15:4This Psalm describes a righteous person as one who 'swears to his own hurt and does not change,' which directly applies to the Israelites' situation with the Gibeonites, as they were bound by their oath even when they discovered the deception.
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…
gillJoshua 9:15: "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."
And Joshua made peace with them,.... Upon the report the princes made of having examined what they had said, and which they found to be true, particularly concerning their victuals: and made a league with them, to let them live; and not destroy them as he did the Canaanites, and was ordered to do; they being supposed not to belong to them by the rep…
The text emphasizes that Joshua and the princes swore to the Gibeonites, an act that carries immense weight in the ancient covenantal world. This oath signifies their solemn commitment to the covenant, even though it was based on a clever deception, highlighting the gravity with which they viewed their sworn word.
After learning about Israel's devastating victories at Jericho and Ai, the inhabitants of Gibeon, a prominent Hivite city, hatched a clever deception. They disguised themselves as weary travelers from a distant land, presenting old provisions and worn-out belongings to trick Joshua and the Israelite leaders into making a peace treaty with them. This pact, sealed by Joshua and the princes' sworn oath, promised to spare their lives, unknowingly binding Israel to a covenant with a people within the very land God commanded them to conquer.
After learning about Israel's devastating victories at Jericho and Ai, the inhabitants of Gibeon, a prominent Hivite city, hatched a clever deception. They disguised themselves as weary travelers from a distant land, presenting old provisions and worn-out belongings to trick Joshua and the Israelite leaders into making a peace treaty with them. This pact, sealed by Joshua and the princes' sworn oath, promised to spare their lives, unknowingly binding Israel to a covenant with a people within the very land God commanded them to conquer.
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The Binding Nature of Oaths
Despite the deception, the covenant was made, and an oath was sworn. As Benson and Wesley note, God ultimately held the Israelites accountable for this covenant. This is seen centuries later when David punished the Gibeonites for Saul's violation of the treaty (2 Samuel 21:1).
God's Grace Within Flawed Human Action
This doesn't mean God endorses lying. Instead, it shows His commitment to upholding the integrity of covenants, even those made under false pretenses. It also implies that God's plan can unfold even through human error, as He used this situation to provide rest for Israel and to teach them about His justice and faithfulness.
c. 1400 BC— this verse
Joshua Makes a Covenant with Gibeon
Joshua and the Israelite leaders, misled by the Gibeonites' disguise and old provisions, enter into a covenant of peace, swearing to let them live.
c. 1400 BC
Deception Revealed
Three days later, the Israelites discover the Gibeonites are their neighbors, residing within the land they are meant to conquer, revealing the successful deception.
c. 1000 BC
Violation of the Covenant
Centuries later, during the reign of King David, the covenant with the Gibeonites is violated, leading to a devastating famine in Israel as punishment.
"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 text emphasizes that Joshua and the princes swore to the Gibeonites, an act that carries immense weight in the ancient covenantal world. This oath signifies their solemn commitment to the coven…
