Scripture: 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, with worn-out, patched sandals on their feet, and worn-out clothes. And all their provisions were dry and crumbly. And they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant country, so now make a covenant with us.” But the men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you live among us; then how can we make a covenant with you?” They said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” And Joshua said to them, “Who are you? And where do you come from?” They said to him, “From a very distant country your servants have come, because of the name of the LORD your God. For we have heard a report of him, and all that he did in Egypt, and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon the king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth. So our elders and all the inhabitants of our country said to us, ‘Take provisions in your hand for the journey and go to meet them and say to them, “We are your servants. Come now, make a covenant with us.”‘ Here is our bread. It was still warm when we took it from our houses as our food for the journey on the day we set out to come to you, but now, behold, it is dry and crumbly. These wineskins were new when we filled them, and behold, they have burst. And these garments and sandals of ours are worn out from the very long journey.” 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.
So he did this to them and delivered them out of the hand of the people of Israel, and they did not kill them. But Joshua made them that day cutters of wood and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD, to this day, in the place that he should choose.
Joshua 9:3-15, 26-27 ESV
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Observation: Recapping Friday’s Daily Focus, Joshua follows Moses’ directive to build an altar of large, uncut stones, plaster them, write the law on them, and renew the covenant (confer Deuteronomy 27-28). Thus, Joshua reads the entire law (blessings and curses) before all the people (Israel and their company of god-fearing sojourners and native-born), with half standing to each side of the ark in the presence of the Levitical priests.
Today’s reading of chapter 9 is larger than the main story of the Gibeonites deceiving Joshua and his leaders and subjugating themselves to servitude to avoid the destruction of their cities and lives. It sets the tone for Israel’s conquest. Indeed, the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites had heard the report of Jericho and Ai’s utter defeat and of how Israel was on a mission to destroy all the inhabitants of Canaan and their cities (v.24). So these kings band together to provide a resistance army (vv.1-2).
But the Gibeonites were wiser. Even though Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities (10:2), its leaders wanted none of Israel. So they dressed in tattered clothes and doctored their bread and wineskins to support their story of being emissaries from a distant kingdom who now seek a covenant of peace where they will serve Israel in exchange for protection (vv.4-15 above). Joshua and his leaders (perhaps flattered) agree on terms and ratify a covenant of peace, only to learn of the Gibeonites’ deception (v.16). Meanwhile, the rest of Israel, spoiling for war, murmur against the leadership for striking a peace accord (v.18). But because Israel’s leaders took an oath before Yahweh to spare the Gibeonites’ lives, all agree to let the Gibeonites live and serve as manual laborers (vv.26-27 above) lest God’s wrath fall upon them (v.20).
Takeaway: The parallels to the earlier story of Rahab are remarkable here. The Gibeonites and Rahab heard of Israel’s God’s favor over the Egyptians and the Amorite kings, Sihon and Og (vv.9-10 above). And they believed that Yahweh would continue to grant Israel victories throughout their conquest of Canaan. But unlike Rahab, the Gibeonites’ deceit would cost them their freedom.
As for Israel’s leadership, they took a small step backward regarding following the Lord’s instructions. Their hasty decision to agree to a covenant of peace without discerning God’s will would soon require much of them to defend the Gibeonites when under attack by the Canaanite alliance for switching sides (tomorrow’s Daily Focus). Moreover, two centuries later, the wrath of God would fall on Israel for violating the covenant when Saul put the Gibeonites to death (2 Samuel 21:1-9).
Our takeaway? When we make commitments, no matter how small or large, without discerning God’s will, we will almost always settle for second best. Israel would gain indentured servants but pay the price of defending the Gibeonaties at the loss of lives. And a future generation would encounter God’s wrath for failing to uphold the covenant.
Our part? Regardless of our regrets for making ill-advised commitments, it is crucial to stand behind our word unless it violates God’s laws. Even better, if we patiently seek God’s will, we will ensure an outcome that accords God’s best.
Prayer: Father God, we thank you that even when we hastily make commitments without taking the necessary time to discern your will, you still redeem the fallout when we turn to you and confess our sins. But we desire your best from the start. So, please help us to lean on your Holy Spirit to grant us patience and humility in discerning your will before we make commitments. Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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