Joshua was deceived by the Hivites, specifically the people of Gibeon.
The Deception of the Gibeonites
The Hivites, inhabitants of Gibeon, orchestrated a clever scheme to mislead Joshua and the Israelites. Their primary goal was to secure a peace treaty with Israel, despite being one of the Canaanite nations that Israel was commanded to conquer.
Their strategy involved an elaborate act of deception:
- They cunningly disguised themselves as weary travelers who had journeyed from a very distant land.
- They wore old, worn-out clothes and sandals to appear as if they had endured a long journey.
- They carried stale bread, cracked wineskins, and old, mended sacks to further convince Joshua and his leaders of their fabricated story.
Approaching Joshua, they claimed to have come from a far-off country and requested to make a covenant of peace. Joshua, along with the Israelite leaders, was persuaded by their story and entered into a peace treaty with them, a critical decision made without seeking divine guidance.
Discovery and Consequences
Just three days later, the truth about the deception was uncovered: the Gibeonites were, in fact, close neighbors living within the land. Despite the blatant betrayal, the Israelites found themselves bound by the solemn oath they had sworn before the Lord to the Gibeonites. Therefore, they could not break the treaty by annihilating them.
Instead of destruction, Joshua and the Israelite leaders pronounced a lasting curse upon the Gibeonites. They were condemned to become perpetual servants to the Israelite community, specifically designated as:
- Woodcutters: Responsible for gathering wood.
- Water-carriers: Tasked with fetching water for the assembly and for the altar of the Lord.
This punishment ensured their survival while providing essential labor, serving as a tangible and ongoing consequence for their elaborate act of deception.
Summary of the Betrayal
To clarify the key aspects of this significant event, refer to the table below:
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Who Deceived | The Hivites, specifically the inhabitants of Gibeon. |
| Method | Employed an elaborate deception by feigning distant origins through disguise and the presentation of worn-out provisions to appear as if they had traveled from a far-off land. |
| Objective | To secure a peace treaty with the Israelites, thereby avoiding conquest and destruction by Joshua's army, despite being a local Canaanite nation. |
| Joshua's Action | Entered into a treaty with the Gibeonites, having been convinced by their false narrative, without first consulting the Lord for guidance. |
| Outcome | The deception was eventually discovered, but due to the sworn oath, the Gibeonites were not killed. Instead, they were reduced to lifelong servitude, compelled to serve the Israelites as woodcutters and water-carriers for the community and for the altar of the Lord. |
