Joshua 9: The Gibeonite Deception
Fearing Israel, the Gibeonites trick Joshua into a covenant with worn-out provisions, and Israel is bound by an oath made without seeking God.
Joshua 9 (WEB)
1 When all the kings who were beyond the Jordan, in the hill country, and in the lowland, and on all the shore of the great sea in front of Lebanon, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard of it
2 they gathered themselves together to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.
3 But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai,
4 they also resorted to a ruse, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks on their donkeys, and wine skins, old and torn and bound up,
5 and old and patched shoes on their feet, and wore old garments. All the bread of their provision was dry and moldy.
6 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.”
7 The men of Israel said to the Hivites, “What if you live among us. How could we make a covenant with you?”
8 They said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” Joshua said to them, “Who are you? Where do you come from?”
9 They said to him, “Your servants have come from a very far country because of the name of Yahweh your God; for we have heard of his fame, 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 to Og king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth.
11 Our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, ‘Take provision in your hand for the journey, and go to meet them, and tell them, “We are your servants. Now make a covenant with us.”’
12 This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we went out to go to you; but now, behold, it is dry, and has become moldy.
13 These wine skins, which we filled, were new; and behold, they are torn. These our garments and our shoes have become old because of the very long journey.”
14 The men sampled their provisions, and didn’t ask counsel from the mouth of Yahweh.
15 Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them, to let them live. The princes of the congregation swore to them.
16 At the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, they heard that they were their neighbors, and that they lived among them.
17 The children of Israel traveled and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim.
18 The children of Israel didn’t strike them, because the princes of the congregation had sworn to them by Yahweh, the God of Israel. All the congregation murmured against the princes.
19 But all the princes said to all the congregation, “We have sworn to them by Yahweh, the God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them.
20 This we will do to them, and let them live; lest wrath be on us, because of the oath which we swore to them.”
21 The princes said to them, “Let them live, so they became wood cutters and drawers of water for all the congregation, as the princes had spoken to them.”
22 Joshua called for them, and he spoke to them, saying, “Why have you deceived us, saying, ‘We are very far from you,’ when you live among us?
23 Now therefore you are cursed, and some of you will never fail to be slaves, both wood cutters and drawers of water for the house of my God.”
24 They answered Joshua, and said, “Because your servants were certainly told how Yahweh 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 afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this thing.
25 Now, behold, we are in your hand. Do to us as it seems good and right to you to do.”
26 He did so to them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, so that they didn’t kill them.
27 That day Joshua made them wood cutters and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of Yahweh, to this day, in the place which he should choose.
Joshua 9 (KJV)
1 And it came to pass, when all the kings which were on this side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard thereof;
2 That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.
3 And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,
4 They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up;
5 And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy.
6 And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us.
7 And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you?
8 And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye?
9 And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the Lord thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt,
10 And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which was at Ashtaroth.
11 Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants: therefore now make ye a league with us.
12 This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is mouldy:
13 And these bottles of wine, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey.
14 And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord.
15 And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.
16 And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, that they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt among them.
17 And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjath–jearim.
18 And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the Lord God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes.
19 But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the Lord God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them.
20 This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them.
21 And the princes said unto them, Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had promised them.
22 And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, We are very far from you; when ye dwell among us?
23 Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.
24 And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the Lord thy 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 sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing.
25 And now, behold, we are in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do.
26 And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not.
27 And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the Lord, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose.
Joshua 9 (ASV)
1 And it came to pass, when all the kings that were beyond the Jordan, in the hill-country, and in the lowland, and on all the shore of the great sea in front of Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard thereof;
2 that they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.
3 But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,
4 they also did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine-skins, old and rent and bound up,
5 and old and patched shoes upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and was become mouldy.
6 And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We are come from a far country: now therefore make ye a covenant with us.
7 And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a covenant with you?
8 And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye?
9 And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of Jehovah thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt,
10 and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth.
11 And our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take provision in your hand for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants: and now make ye a covenant with us.
12 This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and is become mouldy:
13 and these wine-skins, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they are rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey.
14 And the men took of their provision, and asked not counsel at the mouth of Jehovah.
15 And Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.
16 And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors, and that they dwelt among them.
17 And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim.
18 And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by Jehovah, the God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes.
19 But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by Jehovah, the God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them.
20 This we will do to them, and let them live; lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them.
21 And the princes said unto them, Let them live: so they became hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation, as the princes had spoken unto them.
22 And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, We are very far from you; when ye dwell among us?
23 Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall never fail to be of you bondmen, both hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.
24 And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that Jehovah thy 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 sore afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this thing.
25 And now, behold, we are in thy hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do.
26 And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not.
27 And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of Jehovah, unto this day, in the place which he should choose.
Summary
As the kings of Canaan unite to fight Israel, the inhabitants of Gibeon take a different approach. Hearing what Joshua did to Jericho and Ai, they resort to a cunning ruse, dressing as far-off ambassadors with worn-out sacks, cracked wineskins, patched sandals, and dry, moldy bread. They come to the camp at Gilgal and ask Israel to make a covenant with them, claiming to have traveled from a very distant country because of the fame of Yahweh and all he did in Egypt and to the kings beyond the Jordan. The men of Israel sample their provisions as evidence but crucially do not ask counsel from the Lord. Joshua makes peace and a covenant to let them live, and the leaders confirm it with an oath. Three days later the truth emerges: the Gibeonites are near neighbors living among them. The congregation murmurs, but the leaders refuse to break their sworn oath to the Lord, so the Gibeonites are spared. Joshua summons them and rebukes their deceit, placing them under a curse to become woodcutters and water-carriers for the house of God. The Gibeonites explain that fear for their lives drove them, and they submit to Israel's mercy. The episode warns of the danger of acting on appearances without seeking God, while showing that even a flawed people honor their word.
Main Characters
- The Gibeonites — Canaanite neighbors who, fearing Israel, disguise themselves as distant travelers to secure a covenant of peace and so save their lives.
- Joshua and the leaders — Israel's leaders, who are deceived because they judge by appearances and fail to seek God, yet keep their sworn oath once the truth is known.
- The congregation of Israel — The people who murmur against the leaders when the deception is uncovered, yet are bound by the oath sworn in the name of the Lord.
- Yahweh (the LORD) — The God whose counsel was not sought and in whose name the oath was sworn, so that even a covenant gained by deceit is honored by his people.
Key Verse
Joshua 9:14 (WEB)
The men sampled their provisions, and didn’t ask counsel from the mouth of Yahweh.
Lessons Learned
- Acting on appearances without seeking God's counsel leads us into avoidable error.
- Even the wisest leaders can be deceived when they neglect prayer.
- Keeping our word matters to God, even when an agreement was reached unwisely.
- Fear can drive people to deception, but it can also drive them to seek mercy.
- Seek God's counsel before deciding. Israel “didn’t ask counsel from the mouth of Yahweh” (Joshua 9:14, WEB), and so they were deceived. Prayerless decisions invite mistakes.
- Appearances can mislead. The Gibeonites' worn sacks and moldy bread (Joshua 9:4-5, WEB) seem to confirm their story. Evidence judged without God can deceive.
- God's people keep their word. “We have sworn to them by Yahweh… now therefore we may not touch them” (Joshua 9:19, WEB). An oath in God's name is binding even when entered unwisely.
- Mercy can flow from a flawed beginning. Though gained by deceit, the Gibeonites are spared and given a place serving “the house of my God” (Joshua 9:23, WEB). God can bring outsiders near even through tangled circumstances.
- What does Israel fail to do before entering into a covenant with the Gibeonites?
- How does the Gibeonites' disguise expose the danger of judging by appearances?
- Why do the leaders keep their oath even after discovering they were tricked?
- What does the Gibeonites' explanation in verse 24 reveal about why they deceived Israel?
- Before what kinds of decisions are you most tempted to act on appearances without first seeking God's counsel?
- The key failure is in verse 14: they examined the provisions but did not inquire of the Lord. Self-reliant reasoning, however careful, left them open to deception. Help the group see prayerful dependence as essential to wise decisions.
- The Gibeonites' staged evidence, cracked wineskins, patched shoes, and moldy bread, made their false story persuasive (9:4-13). Appearances, even convincing ones, are no substitute for seeking God. Encourage the group to weigh more than surface impressions.
- Because the oath was sworn in the name of the Lord, the leaders treat it as binding even though they were tricked (9:18-20). Honoring God's name matters more than escaping a bad bargain. This models integrity, while also warning against making vows hastily.
- The Gibeonites admit they acted out of fear, having heard that God commanded Israel to destroy the land's inhabitants (9:24). Their deceit was driven by terror, but it also led them to seek mercy and a place among God's people. Note how fear can move people toward, not only away from, the true God.
- This is a personal-application question. Invite members to identify situations, perhaps urgent or seemingly obvious ones, where they tend to skip prayer. As leader, encourage practical habits of seeking God before committing, and extend grace to those who recall past hasty decisions.