Short Study About the Gibeonites (Joshua 9-10)

We all know the story of the Fall of Jericho in the hands of Joshua and the Israelites (Joshua 6) and maybe the story that comes after where one man, Achan, sinned against the LORD and his sin caused the defeat of Israel against the people of Ai (Joshua 7). The sin of Achan was revealed by the LORD and was dealt with by Israel. After which the LORD finally gave victory to Israel against the people of Ai (Joshua 8).

What did this people (Jericho, Ai, and all the people in Canaan) do that they deserve to perish in the hands of Joshua and the Israelites? They have been defiling the land for hundreds of years with their detestable sexually-perverted practices and unspeakable practice of sacrificing their children to the fires of their evil gods. (Gen 15:16; Lev 18, Lev 18:3,24-37; Lev 20:1-5). The LORD is a God of Justice (Is 30:18) and the sins of the people of Canaan for hundreds of years has finally reached the point where God has to move in Justice and remove them (Lev 18:25).

The Gibeonites (Joshua 9-10) are also people of Canaan who has also practiced the aforementioned unspeakable wickedness and they are also part of those who deserved to be removed and destroyed by God’s Justice (through His people, the Israelites). But when they heard of what happened to Ai, the Gibeonites resorted to deception to save their lives. They put on worn-out and ragged clothes and pretended to be poor people from faraway lands (Jos 9:5-6). They succeeded in deceiving Joshua and the Israelites and they were spared from destruction but are now forever slaves to Israel with the duty to chop wood and carry water for the altar of God (Jos 9:26-27).

Now, one would wonder, why did God not rebuke Joshua and Israel for violating His clear command (Deut 20:15-18) to absolutely avoid making peace treaties to the people of Canaanites for they needed to be removed from the land (Deut 20:17). He has previously rebuked and disciplined them because they failed to inquire to Him about attacking Ai (Josh 7) yet now, God is being silent about the Israelites being deceived and offering peace to the Gibeonites who were also wicked Canaanites like Ai. God also allowed the Gibeonites to serve Him as woodcutters and water carriers for His altar (Josh 7:27).

Here in this story was one of the many revelations for me of God as a Forgiving God. When the Gibeonites made a decision to offer surrender and become slaves to Israel and their God in order to save their lives, God saw this act of repentance. When they chose to put on the worn-out ragged cloths, God saw this act of humility. The Gibeonites were one of the largest Canaanite tribes and their warriors were very strong (Jos 10:2). Yet they willingly subjected themselves to Israel and to their God, so that they can live. God honored that just as He honored the act of humility of Israel when they broke their covenant with Him in Mt. Sinai (Ex 33:4,7). In that mountain, He became known to the world as the Forgiving God (Ex 34:6-7):

“And HE passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”

Later on in the story, when the rest of Canaan of heard what the Gibeonites did, they gathered and tried to destroy them (Jos 10:3-5). When the Gibeonites cried for help to Joshua, it was God Himself who assured Joshua that they will be victorious in protecting the Gibeonites (Josh 10:8). This battle was also one of those rare times that GOD Himself participated in the battle to protect His servants, the Gibeonites. The LORD sent hail that killed more enemies and HE even caused the sun to stand still (Josh 10:11b,13). All of this is to protect His servants, the Gibeonites, who cried for help (Josh 10:6).

Hundreds of years later, GOD caused famine in the time of David because His servants, the Gibeonites, suffered injustice under King Saul (2 Sam 21:1). And hundreds of years later, when the exiled Israelites were returning to Babylon, one of the few groups allowed to return to the Promised Land were the Gibeonites (Ezra 8, Nehemiah 7 & 3:7).

I personally really relate to the Gibeonites in a sense that I came from a place where I know I deserve God’s Judgement. I was resigned to my fate of eternal punishment for I know I deserve this for the sins that I have done.

Yet, God, in His steadfast love, overflowing mercy, and awesome grace, decided to show His compassion to me, not allowing me to perish. In response to His compassion, I surrendered my life to Him, to be His servant, and He has been unquestionably faithful to me ever since.

God is good and forever I give my thanks to Him.