Joshua 9:3-4
But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai, they on their part acted with cunning and went and made ready provisions and took worn-out sacks for their donkeys, and wineskins, worn-out and torn and mended,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The Gibeonites acted not out of ignorance of God's power, but out of a desperate, albeit deceptive, recognition of it. They didn't just hear about Jericho and Ai; they heard what Joshua had done, signifying a decisive, miraculous intervention that demanded a strategic, not direct, response.
After witnessing the swift, miraculous destruction of Jericho and Ai, the surrounding Canaanite peoples were terrified. The people of Gibeon, a significant city in the region, decided to pursue a different strategy than outright war, opting instead for deception to secure their survival.
Two cities lay in ruins, their walls crumbled, their people scattered. The news reached distant lands, striking fear into the hearts of kings and commoners alike.
Joshua's swift and devastating victories at Jericho and Ai weren't just military triumphs; they were powerful declarations of God's might. The Canaanites, who had heard of Israel's God and His past acts in Egypt, now saw His power manifest in conquering their land. These conquests served as a stark warning and a terrifying spectacle, creating a widespread sense of dread. The Gibeonites, hearing this news, understood the immense power they were facing. Their decision wasn't just about survival, but about responding to a divine force that had already proven its devastating capability.
Fear can lead to desperate measures. For the Gibeonites, this meant a daring deception, a gamble with truth to secure their future.
The Gibeonites, unlike other Canaanite cities that chose open warfare, opted for cunning. They recognized that a direct confrontation with Israel, especially after the destruction of Jericho and Ai, was suicidal. Instead, they chose to 'act craftily.' This involved a carefully constructed illusion: old, worn-out provisions and garments, presented as evidence of a long journey from a distant land. Their goal wasn't to fight, but to deceive Joshua and the Israelites into believing they were a foreign delegation seeking an alliance. This was a strategic move born out of fear and a desire for self-preservation, even if it meant resorting to dishonesty.
Understand the original words
Gibeon · Hebrew Noun
A city of significance in the narrative, known for its strategic location. In this context, it represents a group that seeks survival and covenantal accommodation through deception rather than through direct military confrontation.
Yeriho · Hebrew Noun
A city whose destruction served as a sign of God's power and judgment. It serves as a monumental example of God's victory over the enemies of His people and the power of faith in overcoming strongholds.
Ai · Hebrew Noun
A location used to demonstrate God's judgment on sin and His provision for Israel's conquest. It represents a battlefield where human effort is secondary to divine decree and obedience.
ormah · Hebrew Noun
The Gibeonites' decision was driven by the terrifying news of Jericho and Ai's destruction, highlighting how decisive divine action in battle can instill widespread fear and prompt desperate measures from those who witness it.
c. 1400 BC
Israelites Cross the Jordan River
Led by Joshua, the Israelites miraculously cross the Jordan River, entering the land of Canaan and signaling the beginning of their conquest.
c. 1400 BC
Fall of Jericho
The heavily fortified city of Jericho falls after a week of marching around its walls, culminating in a miraculous collapse. This event is the first major victory in the conquest of Canaan.
c. 1400 BC— this verse
Defeat at Ai
Following Jericho, the Israelites suffer a surprising defeat at the city of Ai due to sin within the camp. This setback is quickly rectified after Achan's sin is exposed and punished.
c. 1400 BC
The Gibeonite Deception
The people of Gibeon, hearing of Israel's conquests, craftily pretend to be from a distant land to secure a treaty with Joshua, avoiding their own destruction.
This passage sets the stage for the command to drive out the Canaanites, highlighting the fear the people of the land would have of Israel, which the Gibeonites experienced.
Deuteronomy 20:10-11This passage reveals Israel's mandate to offer peace to cities outside of Canaan first, a principle that the Gibeonites exploited through their deceptive request for a league.
Judges 1:22-25This passage shows another instance where a city (Bethel) initially known by a different name (Luz) was spared by Israel due to an act of kindness, paralleling how Gibeon's strategy worked, albeit deceitfully.
1 Samuel 15:3This verse shows Saul failing to follow God's command to utterly destroy the Amalekites, similar to how Joshua's failure to consult God led to a treaty with the Gibeonites, demonstrating the consequences of disobedience.
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…
jfbJoshua 9:3-15: "And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,"
Jos 9:3-15. The Gibeonites Obtain a League by Craft.3-15. when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard—This town, as its name imports, was situated on a rocky eminence, about six miles northwest from Jerusalem, where the modern village of El Jib now stands. It was the capital of the Hivites, and a large important city (Jos 10:2). It seems to have formed, in union with a few other towns in the neighbor…
The Gibeonites acted not out of ignorance of God's power, but out of a desperate, albeit deceptive, recognition of it. They didn't just hear about Jericho and Ai; they heard what Joshua had done, signifying a decisive, miraculous intervention that demanded a strategic, not direct, response.
After witnessing the swift, miraculous destruction of Jericho and Ai, the surrounding Canaanite peoples were terrified. The people of Gibeon, a significant city in the region, decided to pursue a different strategy than outright war, opting instead for deception to secure their survival.
After witnessing the swift, miraculous destruction of Jericho and Ai, the surrounding Canaanite peoples were terrified. The people of Gibeon, a significant city in the region, decided to pursue a different strategy than outright war, opting instead for deception to secure their survival.
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Often carries the negative connotation of craftiness, deceit, or intellectual manipulation used to gain an advantage, frequently contrasted with the godly characteristic of truth and uprightness.
c. 1400 BC
Discovery of the Deception
After three days, the Israelites discover the Gibeonites' ruse. However, bound by their oath, they spare the Gibeonite cities and their people.
c. 1400 BC
Alliances Against Israel
Other Canaanite kings hear of the Gibeonites' treaty and Israel's actions, leading them to form alliances to fight against Israel.
"But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai, they on their part acted with cunning and went and made ready provisions and took worn-out sacks for their donkeys, and wineskins, worn-out and torn and me…" — The Gibeonites acted not out of ignorance of God's power, but out of a desperate, albeit deceptive, recognition of it. They didn't just hear about Jericho and Ai; they heard what Joshua had done, s…
