The Gibeonites were a group of people who inhabited the city of Gibeon and its surrounding towns during the time of Joshua's conquest of Canaan. They are most notably recognized for their cunning approach to securing a peace treaty with the Israelites, as recorded in the Book of Joshua.

Historical Context

The Gibeonites were part of the Hivite nation, one of the Canaanite tribes that occupied the land promised to the Israelites. Gibeon itself was a significant city, described as "a great city, like one of the royal cities" (Joshua 10:2). The Gibeonites, aware of the fate that had befallen Jericho and Ai, feared the advancing Israelite forces and sought to protect themselves through deception.

The Deceptive Treaty

In Joshua 9, the Gibeonites resorted to a ruse to secure a covenant with Israel. They disguised themselves as travelers from a distant land, wearing worn-out clothes and carrying moldy provisions, to give the impression of having journeyed from afar. They approached Joshua and the leaders of Israel, requesting a treaty. The Israelites, without seeking counsel from the LORD, were deceived by the Gibeonites' appearance and agreed to make a peace treaty with them, swearing an oath to let them live (Joshua 9:14-15).

Discovery and Consequences

Three days after the treaty was made, the Israelites discovered that the Gibeonites were actually their neighbors, living within the land of Canaan. Despite the deception, the leaders of Israel honored the oath they had sworn by the LORD, refusing to attack the Gibeonites. Instead, they subjected them to servitude, making them "woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD" (Joshua 9:27).

The Gibeonites in Israel's History

The Gibeonites continued to live among the Israelites, and their city became a significant location in Israel's history. During the time of King Saul, a breach of the treaty occurred when Saul sought to annihilate the Gibeonites, leading to a famine in Israel as divine retribution (2 Samuel 21:1-2). King David later rectified this by seeking the Gibeonites' forgiveness and fulfilling their request for justice.

Religious and Cultural Significance

The account of the Gibeonites serves as a reminder of the importance of seeking divine guidance in decision-making. The Israelites' failure to consult the LORD before making the treaty highlights the potential consequences of relying solely on human judgment. Additionally, the Gibeonites' integration into Israelite society illustrates the broader theme of God's mercy and the inclusion of Gentiles into His covenant community.

The Gibeonites' account is a testament to the complexities of covenant relationships and the enduring nature of oaths made before God. Their presence in Israelite history underscores the themes of deception, justice, and the fulfillment of divine promises.Joshua 9:15
And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation swore to them.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Antiquities of the Jews
... In War; And How He Made A League With The ... Were Delivered From A Famine When The
Gibeonites Had Caused ... King Of Syria And Pekah King Of Israel, Made War; And How ...
//christianbookshelf.org/josephus/the antiquities of the jews/

Covenanting Confers Obligation.
... to carry up his bones from Egypt.[347] The covenant made by Joseph and the princes
of the congregation of Israel with the Gibeonites, was kept by ...
/.../the ordinance of covenanting/chapter v covenanting confers obligation.htm

His Name --The Counsellor
... Israel made a league with Gibeon ... of their victuals, and they asked not counsel at
the mouth of the Lord, and they found out that the Gibeonites had deceived ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/his namethe counsellor.htm

How Joshua, the Commander of the Hebrews, Made War with The
... Divided Their Land By Lot To The Tribes Of Israel. ... Now when the Gibeonites saw these
kings, which were ... Accordingly, Joshua made haste with his whole army to ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 1 how joshua the.htm

Job's Regret and Our Own
... Israel, without consulting God, made a league with her enemies; she thought the
case most plain when she entered into hasty alliance with the Gibeonites, but ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/jobs regret and our own.htm

Joshua
... of a blow on the part of Israel, for this ... would lead us to believe, is made highly
probable by ... In particular, the story of the Gibeonites suggests the permanent ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/joshua.htm

Manner of Covenanting.
... performed by Abraham, when the Lord made a covenant ... and the princes of the congregation,
and the Gibeonites.[143] In the commands forbidding Israel to enter ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter ii manner of covenanting.htm

Covenanting a Duty.
... unto thee."[199] Joshua and the princes of Israel did not violate the statutes that
were of this description, when they made a league with the Gibeonites. ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter iii covenanting a duty.htm

A Paradox
... His sense of inability to believe has made him look ... from the perpetual guard of him
that keepeth Israel. ... Thus the Gibeonites overreached them, as we also shall ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 34 1888/a paradox.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... Ephraim. It was not until the prophetic period that, together with Eli, he
was made to figure as Judge of all Israel. The Philistine ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

Who were the Nethinim? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Mephibosheth? | GotQuestions.org

What is the significance of Gibeah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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