Joshua 9

16–21 When the deception came to light three days later, there was nothing the Israelites could do about it. They had confirmed the treaty with an oath by the LORD (verse 18)—in the Lord’s name—and it could not be canceled (see Exodus 20:7; Leviticus 19:12).

All the Israelites grumbled against their leaders (verse 18), most likely because they had been prevented from plundering the Gibeonite cities. But the leaders of Israel warned the people that if they harmed the Gibeonites, wrath would fall on them for breaking their oath (verse 20). Years later, wrath did fall on Israel when King Saul tried to destroy the Gibeonites (2 Samuel 21:1–9).

As punishment for their deception, the Gibeonites were forced to become servants—woodcutters and water carriers⁴¹—for the entire community (verse 21).

22–27 Joshua placed the Gibeonites under a permanent curse, the curse of servitude. They were to become woodcutters and water carriers for the house of . . . God, the tabernacle⁴² (verse 23). In serving the tabernacle, the Gibeonites would be serving the entire community of Israel (verse 21). The location of the tabernacle had not yet been established, but it would be located at the place the LORD would choose (verse 27), as Moses had instructed (Deuteronomy 12:5).

It is well to ask: Who were the more dangerous enemies of Israel: the armed men of Canaan or the unarmed Gibeonites? The answer: the Gibeonites. One of SATAN’S greatest weapons is deception. He is more dangerous to us as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14) than as a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8). Because of the Gibeonites’ deception, there would now be pagan Canaanites remaining perpetually among the Israelites, along with the risk that they might seduce the Israelites into worshiping their gods. When Satan fails to defeat us head on, he resorts to deception (John 8:44); we need to pray for wisdom to keep from being deceived (James 1:5).