Joshua 9:3 - Meaning and Application

The Gibeonites wanted to make peace with Israel because they were frightened by the report of Jericho’s destruction (Joshua 9:3). Other people heard the same news and were stirred up to fight Israel. The Gibeonites heard it and decided to seek peace instead. In this, the same gospel message that shows God’s glory and grace brings life to some and judgment to others (2 Corinthians 2:16). The same sun softens wax and hardens clay.

Scripture does not mention a king of Gibeon here. If they had been ruled by one strong man, he may have been too proud to yield to Israel and might have joined the other kings against them. But these four united cities, mentioned later (Joshua 9:17), seem to have been ruled by elders or leaders (Joshua 9:11). They cared more about the safety of the people than their own honor. The people of Gibeon acted wisely for their own preservation.

They also used a clever plan to save themselves. They knew that all the people of Canaan were marked for destruction. Perhaps some spies among those who gathered at Ebal heard the law read and reported Israel’s command (Deuteronomy 7:1-3). Israel was told not to show mercy to the Canaanites and not to make a covenant with them. That made the Gibeonites afraid to fight, and it also meant they could not hope for any benefit from open negotiation. So the only way left was to disguise themselves and make Joshua think they had come from a very distant land, one with which Israel was allowed to make peace, or even required to offer peace (Deuteronomy 20:10, Deuteronomy 20:15). If they could not be received under that claim, then their fate would be the same as Jericho and Ai. Though the neighboring rulers knew their men were strong (Joshua 10:2), and the Gibeonites knew it too, they still did not dare oppose Israel, because God Almighty was on Israel’s side.

They carried out this plan very skillfully. They came as if they were ambassadors from a foreign nation, thinking this would flatter the leaders of Israel. People are often pleased to be honored by those who come from far away, as Hezekiah was later pleased by visitors from a distant land (Isaiah 39:3). They also pretended to have made a very long journey and showed what seemed to be proof of it. In those days, travelers often carried their own food, unlike the many inns now available to us, for which we should be thankful. Their provisions looked old and worn out, though they claimed they had once been fresh. Their sacks were worn, their wineskins were torn, their shoes and clothes looked older than those of the Israelites after forty years, and their bread was moldy (Joshua 9:4-5, Joshua 9:12-13). In this way, God’s people have often been tricked by something that only looked ancient. As Bishop Hall said, errors are not older just because they have been patched up to seem old. Anyone fooled by this Gibeonite trick has not sought counsel from God. In the same way, some people use signs of poverty and distress to make themselves seem needy, while they still have wealth (Proverbs 13:7). That misdirects charity away from the people who truly need help.

When the Israelites suspected something was wrong and asked where they came from, the Gibeonites carefully avoided naming their land until the agreement was made. The men of Israel sensed a trick and said, “Perhaps you live among us, and then we cannot make a covenant with you” (Joshua 9:7). That warning might have stopped them, but the Gibeonites knew they had no hope if they stood firm, so they bravely chose surrender. They seemed to reason that Israel might still spare their lives, even if the promise had been gained by trickery, and if not, they would die anyway.

Joshua also questioned them: Who are you, and where do you come from? He knew he had to guard against deceit, not just open attack. We also must watch for the devil’s schemes in spiritual conflict, because he is both a crafty serpent and a roaring lion. In all friendships and alliances, we should test first and trust later, so we do not later regret agreements made too quickly.

Still, they would not name their country. They kept repeating that they had come from a very far country (Joshua 9:9). They wanted Joshua to think it was a place he knew nothing about, and therefore would not be able to check their story.

They also spoke respectfully about the God of Israel to win Joshua’s favor. We may charitably believe they were sincere in this part of their speech: “We have come because of the name of the LORD your God” (Joshua 9:9). They had heard of that name, and what they had heard convinced them that it was above every other name. They wanted that name and its protection.

They also pointed back to things God had done earlier in Moses’ time, reports that would likely have reached far countries by now. They mentioned the plagues of Egypt and the destruction of Sihon and Og (Joshua 9:9-10), but they said nothing about Jericho and Ai, even though those events were the real reason for their coming (Joshua 9:3). They wanted Joshua to think they had arrived before those victories happened. In truth, there is no shortage of reasons to submit to the God of Israel, whether from old works or new ones.

At last they made a general surrender, saying, “We are your servants,” and they asked for a covenant, “Make a league with us” (Joshua 9:11).

They do not argue for special terms, but are glad to have peace on any terms. They also know they cannot waste time, because delay might expose their trick. They want the deal settled at once. If Joshua will only make a treaty with them, they have gotten what they came for, and they hope their torn clothes and patched shoes will not be held against them. God and Israel do not refuse anyone because they are poor.

Still, there is both good and bad in what they do. Their deceit cannot be defended, and it should never be used as an example. We must never do evil so that good may come. If they had honestly admitted where they lived, but renounced the idol worship of their land and given up their country to Israel and themselves to the God of Israel, it is reasonable to think Joshua would have been guided by God’s answer to spare their lives. Then they would not have needed these lies.

It is worth noticing that once they said, “We have come from a far country” (Joshua 9:6), they had to say it again (Joshua 9:9), and then they had to tell more lies about their bread, their wineskins, and their clothes (Joshua 9:12, Joshua 9:13). One lie leads to another, and then to another. That path goes downhill.

But their faith and good sense deserve real praise. Our Lord even praised the dishonest manager because he had acted wisely for his own future (Luke 16:8). In submitting to Israel, these men were also submitting to the God of Israel. That meant turning away from the false gods they had served and accepting the true religion of God’s law.

They had heard enough to be convinced of the great power of the God of Israel. From that, they could also see his wisdom and goodness. And what could be better than giving ourselves up to perfect wisdom and throwing ourselves on the mercy of a God who is perfectly good?

Their submission was especially worthy because it was unusual. Their neighbors took a different path and expected them to join in. It was also quick. They did not wait until Israel had surrounded their cities, because then it would have been too late to ask for peace. They came while Israel was still at a distance and asked for terms then.

The way to escape judgment is to meet it with repentance. Let us follow these Gibeonites and make peace with God in the rags of humility, godly sorrow, and turning from sin, so our sin will not be our ruin. Let us become servants of Jesus, our blessed Joshua, and make a treaty with him and with the Israel of God, and we will live.