Joshua 9:11

Wherefore our Elders and all the inhabitants of our countrey, spake to vs, saying, Take victuals with you for the iourney, and goe to meete them, and say vnto them, Wee are your seruants: therefore now make ye a league with vs. Joshua 9:11 (KJV)

Context: The book of Joshua tells the story of the Israelites’ conquest of the Promised Land under the leadership of Joshua. In this particular passage Joshua and the Israelites have already conquered Jericho and are preparing to attack Ai. The Gibeonites, a nearby Canaanite tribe, decide to deceive Joshua and make a treaty with Israel.

Deception of the Gibeonites: The Gibeonites had heard about the mighty victories of Israel and were fearful for their own lives. Rather than fight, they resorted to a plan of deception. They disguised themselves, took old sacks, and patched their clothes and sandals so that they appeared to have travelled from a far‑away land. They approached Joshua and the Israelites, pretending to be from a distant country, and requested to make a covenant of peace with them.

The Request for a Treaty: In verses 9‑10 the Gibeonites explain that their elders and inhabitants advised them to take provisions and go to meet the Israelites, presenting themselves as servants and asking for a league, or a treaty, with Israel. Their goal was to secure safety and avoid destruction.

Joshua’s Response: Despite the Gibeonites’ deceitful approach, Joshua and the Israelite leaders did not seek guidance from the Lord but relied solely on their own judgment. They examined the evidence presented to them, including the old provisions and worn‑out clothes, and did not consult God through prayer or the priestly Urim and Thummim. Consequently, they made a treaty with the Gibeonites without seeking the Lord’s counsel.