Joshua 9 – Study

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Josh 9:1-15

1 Now when all the kings west of the Jordan heard about these things – the kings in the hill country, in the western foothills, and along the entire coast of the Mediterranean Sea as far as Lebanon (the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites) – 2 they came together to wage war against Joshua and Israel.

3 However, when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, 4 they resorted to a ruse: they went as a delegation whose donkeys were loaded[i] with worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended. 5 They put worn and patched sandals on their feet and wore old clothes. All the bread of their food supply was dry and mouldy. 6 Then they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the Israelites, ‘We have come from a distant country; make a treaty with us.’

7 The Israelites said to the Hivites, ‘But perhaps you live near us, so how can we make a treaty with you?’

8 ‘We are your servants,’ they said to Joshua.

But Joshua asked, ‘Who are you and where do you come from?’

9 They answered: ‘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, 10 and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan – Sihon king of Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth. 11 And our elders and all those living in our country said to us, “Take provisions for your journey; go and meet them and say to them, ‘We are your servants; make a treaty with us.’” 12 This bread of ours was warm when we packed it at home on the day we left to come to you. But now see how dry and mouldy it is. 13 And these wineskins that we filled were new, but see how cracked they are. And our clothes and sandals are worn out by the very long journey.’

14 The Israelites sampled their provisions but did not enquire of the Lord. 15 Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath.

A. Find out:

1. Who came to make war against Joshua? v.1,2
2. Who decided to deceive Joshua? v.3,4
3. What appearance did they give? v.4,5,12,13
4. What did they want to do? v.6
5. What was Israel ‘s fear? v.7
6. What did Israel not do? v.14
7. How did they confirm the treaty? v.15

B. Think:

1. What was it that prompted Gibeon into acting this way?
2. What error did Israel make? (clue: 1 Samuel 16:7b)
3. How would you describe the Gibeonites?

C. Comment:

     We come to an interesting interlude that appears bad at first, but which eventually seems to be for the good. Israel had moved into the central area of Canaan and naturally made some of the inhabitants of the land defensive, with the result that they banded together against Israel. One group of the Hittites however, the Gibeonites, having heard what Israel had already done, decided to come in SUBMISSION to Israel. We have said previously that relinquishing the land of Canaan would have been one means of survival for the inhabitants, and the Gibeonites resorted to another means (which God apparently did not object to, we’ll see later).

      Israel ‘s obvious mistake here, is that they didn’t enquire of the Lord. If it had been another city to take they might have done that, but this was a different problem, and they hadn’t yet learnt to take every problem to the Lord. Thus Israel were deceived and had the peace treaty ratified by a solemn oath. They bound themselves to it in the name of the Lord. How will they cope when they realize what has happened? We’ll see in the next study.

D. Application?

1. Everything that glitters is not gold, the saying goes. Are we open to being deceived?
2. To overcome deception, you need to have a close walk with the Lord.

Passage: Josh 9:16-27

16 Three days after they made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites heard that they were neighbours, living near them. 17 So the Israelites set out and on the third day came to their cities: Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth and Kiriath Jearim. 18 But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath to them by the Lord, the God of Israel.

The whole assembly grumbled against the leaders, 19 but all the leaders answered, ‘We have given them our oath by the Lord, the God of Israel, and we cannot touch them now. 20 This is what we will do to them: we will let them live, so that God’s wrath will not fall on us for breaking the oath we swore to them.’ 21 They continued, ‘Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water-carriers in the service of the whole assembly.’ So the leaders’ promise to them was kept.

22 Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, ‘Why did you deceive us by saying, “We live a long way from you,” while actually you live near us? 23 You are now under a curse: you will never be released from service as woodcutters and water-carriers for the house of my God.’

24 They answered Joshua, ‘Your servants were clearly told how the Lord your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you the whole land and to wipe out all its inhabitants from before you. So we feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we did this. 25 We are now in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you.’

26 So Joshua saved them from the Israelites, and they did not kill them. 27 That day he made the Gibeonites woodcutters and water-carriers for the assembly, to provide for the needs of the altar of the Lord at the place the Lord would choose. And that is what they are to this day.

A. Find out:

1. How soon was the deception realized? v.16
2. Why wouldn’t Israel attack Gibeon? v.18,19
3. What did Israel say should happen? v.21
4. What did Joshua impose on them? v.23,27
5. What reason did the Gibeonites give for their actions? v.24
6. What was their response? v.25

B. Think:   

1. Israel would have sworn by the name of the Lord. Why did the leaders therefore do what they did?
2. Why do you think the people grumbled? 

3. What does this passage teach about Israel now?

C. Comment:

  Shortly after making the treaty with the Gibeonites, Israel hear through some means that they have been deceived. As they march on to take the land, they come to the Gibeonites, who they purposefully leave alone. The people grumble, perhaps fearing that they will incur God’s judgement, but the leaders are adamant: they have made a solemn promise using the Lord’s name and it is more important that this name be upheld than anything else. What they had previously done they had done in good faith. It had been against God’s original orders and was wrong, but it had been done in good faith and they had used the Lord’s name. For the sake of the people, the Gibeonites, and anyone else who might hear about this, it is important that they maintain supreme respect for the name of the Lord.

  Rather like Rahab previously, the Gibeonites have come over to Israel. God’s instructions and warnings against treaties with the inhabitants of the land meant, “Don’t make treaties with them as they are” i.e. don’t make treaties with people who remain against Me. Gibeon had changed and now became servants, even for the house of the Lord. What a picture of grace!

D. Application?

1. Is the honor of the name of the Lord a top priority in our lives?
2. If it’s not, ask His forgiveness today.