The Gibeonites’ trick
1 All the kings on the west side of the Jordan heard about this, including those in the highlands, the lowlands, and along the entire coast of the Mediterranean Sea toward Lebanon. They were Hittites and Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.
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They formed an alliance to fight Joshua and Israel.
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In contrast, when the population of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,
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they acted cleverly. They set out pretending to be messengers. They took worn-out sacks for their donkeys and worn-out wineskins that were split and mended.
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They had worn-out, patched sandals on their feet and were wearing worn-out clothes. All the bread in their supplies was dry and crumbly.
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They went to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal. They said to him and to Israel, "We have come from a distant country. So now, make a treaty with us."
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Israel said to the Hivites, "Perhaps you live among us. How then could we make a treaty with you?"
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Then they said to Joshua, "We are your servants." Joshua said to them, "Who are you? Where have you come from?"
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They said to him, "Your servants have come from a very distant country because of the reputation of the LORD your God. We have heard a report about him and everything he did in Egypt.
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We heard about everything he did to the two kings of the Amorites on the east side of the Jordan, Heshbon's King Sihon and Bashan's King Og, who was in Ashtaroth.
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Our elders and all the population of our land said to us, ‘Take along supplies for the journey. Go meet them and say to them, 'We are your servants. So now make a treaty with us.''
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This is our bread. On the day we left to come to you we took it warm from our houses as supplies. But now here it is, dried up and crumbly.
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These wineskins were new when we filled them. But here they are, split open. These clothes and sandals of ours are worn out from the very long journey."
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The Israelites took some of their supplies, but they didn't ask for any decision from the LORD.
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Joshua made peace with them. He made a treaty with them to protect their lives. The leaders of the community made a solemn pledge to them.