DECEIVED BY THE GIBEONITES
(vs.1-27)
The calm deliberation with which the Lord was acting gave time for the forces of the enemy to be marshaled against Israel. Six nations, the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perezites, Hivites and Jebusites, on hearing of Israel's invasion across the Jordan, gathered together to join forces in opposition to this alarming threat (vs.1-2). Human military strategy would have urged Israel to attack quickly, so as to prevent any united resistance against them, but God is wiser than men. He allowed time for the nations to unite against His people, so that He might show His superior power by defeating them together in a very short time.
But Satan knows well how to work by deceit as well as by outward opposition. The inhabitants of Gibeon evidently discerned that they would not be able to defeat Israel, so they sent men posing as ambassadors from a far country, having old sacks on their donkeys, old wineskins torn and mended, old and patched sandals, wearing old garments, and with dry and moldy food (vs.3-4).
Coming to Joshua they flatly lied to him in saying they came from a far country, asking him to make a covenant with them (v.6). The men of Israel suspected that this might be deception (v.7), but the Gibeonites told Joshua, "We are your servants." Notice that they did not speak like Rahab did, acknowledging the God of Israel as the true God, and when Joshua pressed them as to who they were and where they came from, they did not answer this specifically, but said again they were from a very far country. Then they brought in God's name, saying they had heard of His fame and of His victories in Egypt and over Sihon and Og (vs.9-10). Actually, the reports had only awakened fear in their hearts, not faith, as in Rahab's case.
What the Gibeonites said sounded plausible, and it may be that their reference to Israel's God had a deciding effect with Joshua, but he and Israel made the fatal mistake of receiving them on their own word without asking counsel from the Lord (v.14). They made and confirmed a covenant with them by an oath (v.15). If we think Israel was not to blame since they were deceived, then let us think again: if they had taken the matter to God, would they have been deceived? No! If we are in proper communion with the Lord, we shall not be deceived, for the Lord is not deceived.
Three days following this Israel found that these people lived close to them (v.16), and as Israel journeyed they came to their four cities, But these cities had to be spared because of the oath Israel had made to them. This led the congregation to complain against the rulers, for this was contrary to what God had commanded (v.18)
Could they rescind the covenant now on the basis of having been deceived? Absolutely not! Why? Because, though others may act falsely, this never gives a Christian the right to act falsely in return. They had given their word. God would not allow them to go back on it in spite of the problems that might follow. Later on King Saul, "in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah" killed some of the Gibeonites (2 Samuel 21:1-2), and God sent a famine on Israel in the days of David because of this. Saul thus chose a foolish way of trying to correct the failure of his forefathers. What a lesson to teach us the importance of bowing to the governmental results of our failures, rather then to proudly think we can correct them!
However, there must be some discipline meted out because of the deception. The Gibeonites had said they were Israel's servants, therefore the rulers of Israel said, "let them be woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation" (v.21). They must be kept in total subservience to Israel. Joshua then gave them this message, telling them that, in spite of their being spared, they were under a curse for their deception and would never be freed from slavery (vs.22-23).
They answered Joshua that they knew that God had told Moses to destroy the people of the land and this deception was the only means they could think of to be preserved from death, for they were filled with fear (v.24). If it had been faith that brought them, they would have found the God of Israel full of compassion, as He was with Rahab, but God knew that these nations had given themselves up to idolatry and unbelief.
However, they did not by any means resist Joshua's words and declared themselves ready to submit to whatever Joshua thought right. This is similar to what will take place at the end of the Great Tribulation. There will be those from foreign nations who will hear of Christ in His great conquests. Psalms 18:43-45 tells us, "A people I have not known shall serve Me. As soon as they hear of Me they obey Me; the foreigners submit to Me. The foreigners fade away, and come frightened from their hideouts." These people will not be serving the Lord Jesus because of love for Him, but because of fear, and they will be kept under strict control. Joshua knew this had to be done as regards the Gibeonites.