“And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,” (Joshua 9:3)
This is the story of deception and certainly not a new one. Deception of this sort has its roots in antiquity and continues to the present day.
The Back Story
After the defeat of Jericho and Ai, the kingdoms throughout Canaan knew that Israel was a strong nation. All of the Kings in the land of Canaan built a coalition to destroy Israel. There is always that one group that wishes to appease Israel and in case Israel is destroyed they can appease the enemy coalition. This begins with a sad story.
The Sad Story
The Hivites dressed themselves as a destitute people. They had clothes that were covered in dirt, shoes that were full of holes. They brought wine that was spoiled and bread that was dry and moldy. They told Joshua that they had traveled from a far country to be servants of Israel.
The Story of the Truth
Joshua and the princes of the congregation made a promise to them that Israel would not harm them.
After three days Joshua discovered that the Hivites were not from a far land, they were from next door. They were actually from Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjathjearim. The people of Israel were very angry at this and wanted to kill them all. But Joshua stopped them.
Joshua said, “20This 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.
21And 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.
22And 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?
23Now 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.
24And 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.
25And now, behold, we are in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do.
26And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not.
27And 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 9:20-27)
Stay tuned…
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