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Joshua

Joshua 9

Treaty with the Gibeonites

9 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 Lebanon-the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite-heard about it, that they gathered together to fight with Joshua and Israel with one accord.

It is supposedly an old proverb that says, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend."  We might also see darkness partnering with darkness against the light.  It's been this way from the beginning of time that men will bring their armies to bear against God and God's people with no real understanding of why.

 

But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, they worked craftily (demonstrating the skill of deception), and went and pretended to be ambassadors. And they took old sacks on their donkeys, old wineskins torn and mended, old and patched sandals on their feet, and old garments on themselves; and all the bread of their provision was dry and moldy. 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."

Then the men of Israel said to the Hivites, "Perhaps you dwell among us; so how can we make a covenant with you?"

But they said to Joshua, "We are your servants."

And Joshua said to them, "Who are you, and where do you come from?"

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 Jordan-to 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."

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.

Once again the Israelites are caught walking by sight and not by faith.  They had previously failed to counsel the Lord in war, now they failed to counsel the Lord in peace and in treaties.  Before we criticize them too much we ought to look at our own walk and our own life.  We often get caught walking by sight and not faith and failing to counsel the Lord about our own life.

The Gibeonites lied and presented a false appearance for the sole purpose of leading them to compromise.  Israel failed to see through this ruse.  This is an example of the enemy playing on the good graces of God's people.  

 

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." 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."

It's fascinating that they were good to their word even though the covenant was made under false pretense.  They knew they had to remain true to their word or wrath would fall on them.  Read 2 Samuel 21:1;

Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David inquired of the Lord. And the Lord answered, "It is because of Saul and his bloodthirsty house, because he killed the Gibeonites."

 

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 slaves-woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God."

The duty of Israel was to remain true to their word.  They represented the Lord and their actions should reflect the God they serve.  God is then able to take care of the Gibeonites for their deception. 

We often get confused at this and feel that we can go back on our word as long as we have a good excuse.  We then feel as though we need to play God and punish the enemy.

 

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.

See Deuteronomy 7 for the rules they were given for dealing with those in the land.  See Deuteronomy 20 where they had rules for dealing with those far away.  Of the 7 listed in Deuteronomy 7 only 6 of the nations are listed here. 

The Gibeonites were Hivites and figured they were going to be wiped out anyway so they got a treaty with Israel.  Hivite means snake or serpent; this may be very appropriate since Satan's way is deception and disguise.  However, we must at least consider that these men had surrendered to God's will, content to live the life given them, at the mercy of God. 

©2015 Doug Ford