JOSHUA 9 Introduction: In the last chapter, God encouraged Joshua to take Ai, and was directed as to what method

he should use. Accordingly he set an ambush and the rest of the army then advanced towards its gates. The Israelites, pretending they were beaten, were pursued by the king and it's men and on this occurring the ambush rose, entered the city, and set it on fire. Then they slew all the inhabitants, took the spoil, and hanged its king. After this Joshua built an altar at Ebal, where he wrote the law on stones, and read the blessings and the curses in it before all Israel. In this chapter, Canaanite kings tried to unite themselves upon hearing the news of Israelites' victories. But the Gibeonites rely on deceit in a desperate effort to survive. The Israelites failed to seek divine guidance, they were taken in, and concluded a peace treaty with the Gibeonites. After three days, they learned that the Gibeonites were near neighbors. But the treaty was made in the name of God, therefore it could not be broken. The Gibeonites survived, but they became servants for the congregation and for the altar of the Lord. A. Canaanite Kings (vv.1-2): 1 And it came to pass when all the kings who were on this side of the Jordan, in the hills and in the lowland and in all the coasts of the Great Sea toward Lebanonthe Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusiteheard about it, 2 that they gathered together to fight with Joshua and Israel with one accord. a. What can we learn from the Canaanites on these verses? (Ans. Here the Canaanites had to defend themselves; hence, they consult each other to attack Israel. They are often hostile to each other, yet here they tried to unite against Israel. We should learn how to sacrifice our own interests to the welfare of everyone, and to lay aside all the quarrels and differences among ourselves, that we may unite against the enemies of the kingdom of God!) B. Gibeonites' Deception (vv.3-6): 3 But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, 4 they worked craftily, and went and pretended to be ambassadors. And they took old sacks on their donkeys, old wineskins torn and mended, 5 old and patched sandals on their feet, and old garments on themselves; and all the bread of their provision was dry and moldy. 6 And they went to Joshua, to the camp at Gilgal, and said to him and to the men of Israel, We have come from a far country; now therefore, make a covenant with us. b. But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho 1

and Ai... (v.3): People of v.1 who also heard what the Israelites had done, gathered together to make war upon Israel. But the Gibeonites did differently, they made peace with them. Even today, upon hearing the Gospel, to some it is a savour of life unto life, but to others a savour of death unto death (2Co 2:16). In other words, when they heard of the Gospel, some are offended and some are blessed. The same sun softens the wax and hardens the clay. c. They worked craftily... (v.4): As you recall, Israel's conquest of Jericho required total dependence to God or by faith. Just like in the world today, you need faith to overcome it. Hence, Jericho represents the world. As for Ai, Israelite people were able to take it by dealing with sin or overcoming the flesh, likewise today, by recognizing our weakness, confessing to God, and letting the Spirit of God get the victory. Hence, Ai represents the flesh. How about the Gibeonites, who or what does they represent? (Ans. Now we have the third enemy, the Gibeonites, who represent for us the devil. Eph. 6:11 tells us, Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil". Men of Israel should have been aware of the wiles of the Gibeonites; likewise, the believers of today should watch for the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (Eph. 6:12). Our real enemy today is not a flesh and blood enemy, but a spiritual enemy. He is Satan. Now how do we overcome this enemy? James 4:7 says, Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.) d. We have come from a far country; now therefore, make a covenant with us. (v.6): This lie of the Gibeonites is not and cannot be justified just like the lie of Rahab. We must not do evil so that good things may come; the end does not justify the mean. C. Gibeonites' Lies (vv.7-13): 7 Then the men of Israel said to the Hivites, Perhaps you dwell among us; so how can we make a covenant with you? 8 But they said to Joshua, We are your servants. And Joshua said to them, Who are you, and where do you come from? 9 So they said to him: From a very far country your servants have come, because of the name of the LORD your God; for we have heard of His fame, and all that He did in Egypt, 10 and all that He did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordanto Sihon king of Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth. 11 Therefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, Take provisions with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say to them, We are your servants; now therefore, make a covenant with us. 12 This bread of ours we took hot for our provision from our houses on the day we departed to come to you. But now look, it is dry and moldy. 13 And these wineskins which we filled were new, and see, they are torn; and these our garments and our sandals have become old because of the very long journey. 2

e. Because of the name of the Lord your God; for we have heard of His fame, and all that He did in Egypt (v.9): What do you think is the reason why Gibeonites did not fight with the Israelites? (Ans. It is because God fights for Israel and they know that it would be useless and futile to fight against God.) f. We are your servants..." (v.11): This implies total submission and their faith and prudence are to be commended. In submitting to Israel they submitted to the God of Israel, which also meant forsaking their idolatries for they know they were at God's mercy. And we can do the same thing, putting ourselves upon the mercy of the God. Remember, to avoid judgment is by repentance. Let us do what the Gibeonites did, seek peace with God in all humility, so that our sin shall not be our ruin. Let us be servants to Jesus, our blessed Joshua, and we shall live. D. Israel's Oath (vv.14-15): 14 Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions; but they did not ask counsel of the Lord. 15 So Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them to let them live; and the rulers of the congregation swore to them. g. They did not ask counsel of the Lord (v.14): The Gibeonite's deception was clever and therefore very effective. But the real problem was that Joshua and the leaders of Israel did not ask counsel of the Lord. They trusted their senses instead of the Lord; they walked by sight, not by faith. h. So Joshua made peace with them (v.15): Because they were made to believe that the Gibeonites were from a distant land, they made the treaty with them. God allowed Israel to make treaties with distant nations, but not with the Canaanites. E. Gibeonites' Lies Uncovered (vv.16-20): 16 And it happened at the end of three days, after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors who dwelt near them. 17 Then the children of Israel journeyed and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kirjath Jearim. 18 But the children of Israel did not attack them, because the rulers of the congregation had sworn to them by the Lord God of Israel. And all the congregation complained against the rulers. 19 Then all the rulers said to all the congregation, We have sworn to them by the Lord God of Israel; now therefore, we may not touch them. 20 This we will do to them: We will let them live, lest wrath be upon us because of the oath which we swore to them. i. The rulers of the congregation had sworn to them... (v.18) If an oath is 3

unlawful, do you think it would be binding? (Ans. No, but it was not unlawful to spare the Canaanites who submitted, left their idolatry, and desiring only that their lives might be spared. Let us learn from this, we ought to keep our promises, be responsible to all agreement we made, and we ought to make of our words honorable.) j. "We have sworn to them by the Lord God of Israel; now therefore, we may not touch them..." (v.19): It is a mark of godliness to hold to an oath, even when it is difficult. Psa 15:4 says, "But he honors those who fear the LORD; he who swears to his own hurt and does not change. The rulers of Israel were wise in not allowing one sin (making the oath without seeking the Lord) followed by another sin (wiping out the Gibeonites), amidst public pressure and complaint. k. "We will let them live, lest wrath be upon us because of the oath which we swore to them" (v.20): King Saul broke this vow to the Gibeonites and his sin brought famine upon Israel in the days of David (2Sa 21:1-9). F. Gibeonites' Faith (21-27): 21 And the rulers said to them, Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for all the congregation, as the rulers had promised them. 22 Then Joshua called for them, and he spoke to them, saying, Why have you deceived us, saying, We are very far from you, when you dwell near us? 23 Now therefore, you are cursed, and none of you shall be freed from being slaveswoodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God. 24 So they answered Joshua and said, Because your servants were clearly told that the Lord your God commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you; therefore we were very much afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this thing. 25 And now, here we are, in your hands; do with us as it seems good and right to do to us. 26 So he did to them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, so that they did not kill them. 27 And that day Joshua made them woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation and for the altar of the Lord, in the place which He would choose, even to this day. l. Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for all the congregation..." (v.21): Does this mean they are condemned to domestic slavery to the Israelites? (Ans. The Gibeonites became the Nethinim. The word means given"; that is, devoted to the Sanctuary of God. Because of their deceit, they were condemned to be drawers of water to the House of the Lord. They were not condemned to domestic slavery to the Israelites, but rather to the congregation, which refers to the Tabernacle, and later the Temple. m. Now therefore, you are cursed, and none of you shall be freed from being slaves...(v.23): This is a curse justly pronounced by Law; but by Grace, it 4

becomes a Blessing as the psalmist said in Psalms 84:10. In fact, David and the princes appointed them to high position in the Temple (Ezra 8:20). n. We were very much afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this thing". (v.24): The Gibeonites were not trying to justify their lie, but pleaded that they did it just to save their lives. And they feared the Israelite people not because of their strength and might, but because of the power of God himself, which they saw directed against them. o. "And now, here we are, in your hands; do with us as it seems good and right to do to us". (v.23): Let us, in like manner, submit to our Lord Jesus, we can say the same words, "We are in your hands, do unto us that seems good and right unto you, only save our souls". If He appoints us to bear His cross, and serve Him, consider it a great blessing, privilege, and honor. Because the lowest place in Gods service will entitle us to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of our life. Conclusion: The Gibeonites knew that their neighbors were fighting a losing battle, for God was fighting for Israel, and no army could match Him. So, they decided to use guile instead of muscle. If Satan does not defeat you by coming as the devouring lion, he will try again as the deceiving serpent. He never gives up. The humiliating defeat at Ai should have taught Joshua and the leaders to take time to pray and seek the mind of the Lord. After all, the Lord was the Commander of the army. But they walked by sight and not by faith. This is another defeat, but Joshua did not give up; rather, he made his mistakes work for him. That is the mark of a great leader.