Treaty With Gibeon

"However, when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, they resorted to a ruse: They went as a delegation whose donkeys were loaded with worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended. They put worn and patched sandals on their feet and wore old clothes. All the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy. Then they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the Israelites, “We have come from a distant country; make a treaty with us" Josh:9:3-6

As the people of Israel crossed the Jordan River and entered the Promised Land, they began the conquest that was intended to secure Palestine for them as their home land. Israel faced the   Canaanites , some these nations even formed an alliance to oppose Israel in their conquest.

The Lord had warned the people of  Israel to remove all the pagan peoples who lived in the Promised Land so that there would nothing to be a problem for them and an impermanent to His people.

"Now when all the kings west of the Jordan heard about these things—the kings in the hill country, in the western foothills, and along the entire coast of the Mediterranean Sea as far as Lebanon (the  

kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites)— they came together to wage war against Joshua and Israel."Josh:9:1-2

As Israel met and defeated each of the challenges which had risen against them and after the defeat of the cities of Jericho and Ai, the men of Gibeon heard of the defeats they then developed a plan by which they hoped would allow them to remain in Canaan and not  be driven out by the armies of Israel.

 "However, when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, they resorted to a ruse:(3)

Gibeon

The region of Gibeon was in central Canaan and lay directly in the path of the advancing people of Israel.  The men of this region used a ruse and  hoped that they would be able to deceive the people of Israel and remain in their land.

"They went as a delegation whose donkeys were loaded with worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended. They put worn and patched sandals on their feet and wore old clothes. All the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy. Then they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the Israelites, “We have come from a distant country; make a treaty with us"(4-6)

Gibeon sent a delegation to the people Israel wearing old clothing and with supplies that seemed dated. What they did, was to create the appearance and impression that they were from a far-off land and bore no threat to Israel. This was done to induce Israel to sign a binding treaty with them under these false pretenses. A treaty that, unbeknownst to Israel, would prevent Israel from removing the people of Gibeon from the land.

At first,  the men of Israel are a bit  suspicious and put forth the idea that maybe the delegation is from nearby and not from far off as they claim.

"The Israelites said to the Hivites, “But perhaps you live near us, so how can we make a treaty with you?”(7)
 

To this inquiry the Gibeonites become subtly deceptive so that Israel will lower their guard and will believe that they are no threat to them, "we are your servants”.

"we are your servants" they said to Joshua" (8)

Joshua pressed them for answers but, again a vague and distant answer is given to draw Israel's attention away from the truth. The delegation even adds that it because of the "fame of the Lord God" that they have come from their "distant country" wherein they had heard of the power of God and all that the Lord had done for Israel. (9-10)

The Gibeonites presented a story that their delegation was dispatched by the "Elders and everyone living in their country”, to come and establish a diplomatic relationship and with Israel, again, presenting the notion that they are no threat to Israel "we are your servants”, that is, “we are no problem for you”. (11)

As evidence of their story, the Gibeonites presented the moldy bread and cracked wine skins which they claimed was fresh and new when they departed on their journey and the worn clothing that was upon them. All this was done to create the illusion that they have come from a "distant country” (9).

A Binding Treaty

The men of Israel looked at the "evidence" which the Gibeonites showed them and they then proceed to establish a treaty with them, one which would prove to be a burden on the people of Israel. 

This treaty was then ratified by the Joshua and leaders of Israel, and it is unfortunately done without seeking the guidance of the Lord, and then, as if to compound the mistake they establish it with a binding oath.

"The Israelites sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the Lord. Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath”. (14-15)

Not So Far Off

Within three days after the establishment of this treaty with Gibeon it is discovered that they are not from far off but are rather are "neighbors" close at hand, that Gibeon has deceived the people of Israel, but it is too late,  Israel is now bound by the treaty to allow Gibeon to remain in the midst of the land. They have sworn an oath before the Lord so that Israel cannot move against the Gibeonites cities. These cities are now a fixed problem for Israel.

"Three days after they made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites heard that they were neighbors, living near them. So the Israelites set out and on the third day came to their cities: Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth and Kiriath Jearim. But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath to them by the Lord, the God of Israel”. (16-18)

The whole problem could have been dealt with and avoided if Israel had only " inquired of the Lord”, but they did not seek God's input into the matter, had they done so, future problems would have been avoided. 

Gibeon Made Slaves

When the truth is discovered, Joshua, now understood the mistake which, that he, and all of Israel had made and the "curse" which they have allowed and the challenge that is now before them in the midst of the Land.   Israel then realized that they had allowed Gebeon to remain in their midst and are protected by Israel's oath.

With the treaty biding and under compulsion of an oath, Israel attempts to cope with the Gibeonite problem through subjugation them to slavery that relegating the Gibeonites to being wood cutters and water carriers, but they could not be removed.

Joshua calls the delegation to himself and bitterly asked why Gibeon has done this? The Gibeonites then explaind using the words of God to remind Joshua that the Lord Himself previously instructed Moses that all inhabitants of Canaan   should be removed before the people of Israel and that they feared what would happen. (19-26)

Israel Never Whole

Due to the Gibeon cities which was occupying the central regions of Israel there arose a feeling within Israel of division between the northern and southern provinces Israel. These cites kept Israel from being "whole”. It created a sectarianism within Israel dividing north from south. They never could be whole with Gibeon in their midst.

As well , Israel found itself bound to protect Gibeon when they came under attack Joshua:10.

In the years to come King Saul mistreated of the Gibeonites, and after killing seven males God sent a famine of the land for three years.2Samuel:21

What Lesson(s) for Christians 

When we come to believe in the person of Jesus Christ and enter into the Promises of the Kingdom of God and all which the Lord God has set us free from the power of Egypt sin and death, when we have crossed the River Jordan to that Land of Promises.

When God has given us great victories over many adversaries through our Lord Jesus and His work of Salvation for each of us, we need to be careful about what may lay within the Canaan of our lives. Though we are forgiven through the Saving work of Jesus we still might encounter a Gibeon within us, that is, something that decisive us as Gibeon’s deception convinced Israel. 

We need to see our lives in light of Jesus and the Word of God, things that may seem a far off at a great distance from sin, may like Gibeon be close at hand. 
If something comes before us, we need to ask ourselves “is this something that we need to remove from before us?” Should this be removed from the Canaan of our lives? We can't look at only the face value as did Israel, this can deceive us, we need to do what Israel should have done and "inquire of the Lord”.  

We need to look to the word of God and if what we find there is contrary to His revealed word, then it should be removed and no "treaty” be made with it, that is allow it to remain. If we do, these Gibeonite cities will become a curse to us.

We are to do as St. Paul wrote "mortify the works of the flesh" Rm: 8:13

We cannot make peace with anything that would prevent us from walking fully in all that God has for us in his Son. If we make a "treaty" with these things in our lives we will find that will suffer from an internal self-division or who we are in Christ. Like Israel , we will be a divided land, never completely experiencing that of being whole in the Lord Jesus Christ.  

We may even find ourselves expending time and resources coming to our sins defense, as Israel did when they were forced to protect Gibeon. 

We may even realize our mistake in allowing a sinful behavior to remain and then attempt to relegate sin to our submission as Gibeon was forced to "cut wood and carry water”, but in the end it will be curse and bring a famine upon us as Gibeon was to Israel.  Our Christian lives will never be as full as our Lord intends for us.

 Whatever it is that might before us, if it is something that will hinder us from being whole, from walking in the Christian life, it must be removed so that we can be whole as Israel never was able to be with Gibeon in the midst of the land. 

 Our Christian lives will never be full as our Lord intends for us if we make a "treaty” with the sin of Gibeon to remain in our lives.

Benediction: May we each and all, never make a treaty with Gibeon, that we might be whole, today, tomorrow and forevermore Amen

Rev.Todd Crouch, Norman, Oklahoma