Topical Bible: Lying: Gibeonites

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Topical Encyclopedia

The account of the Gibeonites and their deception is found in the Old Testament, specifically in the book of Joshua. The Gibeonites were a group of Hivites who resided in the land of Canaan. As the Israelites, led by Joshua, were conquering the Promised Land, the Gibeonites resorted to deception to secure a peace treaty with Israel, fearing the fate that had befallen other Canaanite cities.

Biblical Account:

In Joshua 9, the Gibeonites, aware of the Israelites' victories over Jericho and Ai, devised a cunning plan to save themselves. They disguised themselves as travelers from a distant land, wearing worn-out clothes and carrying moldy bread and cracked wineskins. They approached Joshua and the leaders of Israel, claiming to be from a far-off country and seeking a covenant of peace. The Israelites, without seeking counsel from the LORD, were deceived by the appearance and account of the Gibeonites and made a treaty with them. Joshua 9:14-15 states, "Then the men of Israel sampled their provisions, but did not seek the counsel of the LORD. And Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them."

Moral and Theological Implications:

The account of the Gibeonites highlights several important themes in biblical theology. Firstly, it underscores the importance of seeking divine guidance in decision-making. The Israelites' failure to consult God led to their being deceived, demonstrating the necessity of reliance on God's wisdom rather than human judgment.

Secondly, the narrative illustrates the concept of covenant faithfulness. Despite the deception, the Israelites honored their oath to the Gibeonites, showing the seriousness with which covenants were regarded. This reflects the biblical principle that oaths and promises, once made, are binding and must be upheld, even when entered into under false pretenses.

Consequences and Legacy:

The Gibeonites' deception had lasting consequences. Although they were spared from destruction, they were subjected to servitude. Joshua 9:27 records, "On that day he made them woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD at the place He would choose, and they remain to this day." This servitude was a direct result of their deceit, yet it also allowed them to live among the Israelites and serve in the tabernacle, integrating them into the community of God's people.

The Gibeonites reappear in later biblical narratives, notably during the reign of King Saul and King David. Saul's violation of the treaty by attempting to annihilate the Gibeonites led to a famine during David's reign, as recorded in 2 Samuel 21. This incident further emphasizes the enduring nature of covenants and the divine expectation of faithfulness to them.

Conclusion:

The account of the Gibeonites serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of deceit and the importance of seeking God's guidance. It also highlights the gravity of covenants and the expectation of faithfulness, even when agreements are made under less than ideal circumstances. The Gibeonites' account is a testament to God's sovereignty and the unfolding of His purposes, even through human failings and deceptions.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Joshua 9:9-13
And they said to him, From a very far country your servants are come because of the name of the LORD your God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt,
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Courage in War was not Wanting in Our Forefathers...
... [298] Again, when he fought against the Gibeonites and feared ... utterly crushed, together
with his Eastern and Assyrian forces, that he left 48,000 lying on the ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xl courage in war.htm

The Judges.
... A covenant was held binding and sacred as in the case of the Gibeonites; (c) They ...
and abstain from wine and unclean food but give himself over to lying and to ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter ix the judges.htm

Matt. Ii. 2
... How then saith Luke, that He was lying in the manger? ... descendants; and Noah's saying
again about Canaan, came to pass in the Gibeonites, Canaan's descendants. ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily viii matt ii 2.htm

Five Kings in a Cave
... The story of the Gibeonites is also interesting. ... They found me next day lying beside
the track; and when they got me to a hospital, as I hope for pardon, that ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chapman/and judas iscariot/five kings in a cave.htm

The Antiquities of the Jews
... How The Hebrews Were Delivered From A Famine When The Gibeonites Had Caused ... CHAPTER
9. How Jadon The Prophet Was Persuaded By Another Lying Prophet And ...
//christianbookshelf.org/josephus/the antiquities of the jews/

Job's Regret and Our Own
... the case most plain when she entered into hasty alliance with the Gibeonites, but
she ... I know this in my own experience, for when lying sick I have frequently ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/jobs regret and our own.htm

A Paradox
... Lord, quicken me out of my death in sin""if I saw you lying down before ... Thus the
Gibeonites overreached them, as we also shall be overreached when we are so ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 34 1888/a paradox.htm

Shoes of Iron, and Strength Sufficient: a New Year's Promise
... Asher is made rich and iron and copper lying beneath his feet. ... "Old shoes and clouted"
were good enough for Gibeonites, but they are not fit for Israelites. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 35 1889/shoes of iron and strength.htm

The Barren Fig-Tree;
... entering by the door. 1. There is the way of lying and dissembling, and at
this gap the Gibeonites got in (Joshua 9 &c). 2. There is ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the barren fig-tree.htm

Acts v. 17, 18
... And yet, either they ought to have convicted them of lying, or if they could not ...
you know how it fared with him, for his oath in the matter of the Gibeonites. ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xiii acts v 17.htm