1. The DETERMINED Opposition
Vs. 1-2
1) Their CONCERN is based on what Israel did in Jericho and Ai.
Josh 5:1
2) Their CONFEDERACY with each other was against Israel.
Vs. 2
The city-states in Canaan were not always friendly with one another, but local rivals can
often come together when they have a common enemy (Ps. 2:1–2; Luke 23:12).
2. The DECEPTION and Disguise
Vs. 3-13
1) The REASON for the deception was they had heard about the defeat of Jericho and Ai.
Vs. 3
Josh 10:2-3
2) The RESPONSE they planned to give to Joshua.
Vs.9
-1 Their APPROACH
Vs. 4 they worked craftily, and went and pretended to be ambassadors.
-2 Their APPEARANCE
Vs. 5 old and patched sandals on their feet, and old garments on themselves;
-3 Their lack of ABUNDANCE
-4 Their ATTITUDE
Twice they tell Joshua they are his “servants” (vv. 8, 9), that they are submissive to
him.
-5 The AREA they come from
Vs. 9
In fact, Gibeon is less than twenty miles away and should certainly be devoted to
destruction.
3) The REQUEST that they made to Joshua.
Vs. 6
Make a covenant with us.
Satan knows how to use “religious lies” to give the impression that people are
seeking to know the Lord.
4) The REASON they sought a treaty.
Vs. 9-10
It was the fame of the Lord God of Israel
Did they also know the details of what God had commanded in Deuteronomy
20:10–18? Num 27:21
3. The DISOBEDIENCE of Israel.
Vs. 14
Vs. 14 constitutes the turning-point in the story.
The men “sampled” (NIV) some of the provisions, “but did not ask counsel from the LORD.”

Nobody is asking why this official delegation has shown up looking like they just
came from a homeless camp.
James 1:5
They did not pray (v. 14).
How often the Lord is waiting for us to seek him, to pray that he will direct our
steps.
Basically, Satan is an imitator:
Satan has a counterfeit gospel (Gal. 1:6–12) that involves a different savior and a
different spirit.
2 Cor 11:13-15
Three times, Paul used the word transform in referring to their work (see 2 Cor.
11:13–15). This Greek word simply means “to disguise, to masquerade.”

5. The DECISION of Joshua to make peace with them.
Vs. 15
The leaders rightly assume responsibility for what has happened (v. 19
6. The DISCOVERY of the deception.
Vs. 16-21
Suddenly the horror of the reality hits them. The Gibeonites are in fact their neighbors,
living among them.
7. The DECLARATION of Joshua to resolve the problem.
Vs. 22-27
1) The REMORSE of Joshua and the leaders.
Vs. 16
Ps 15:4
2) The leaders rightly assume RESPONSIBILITY for what has happened.
Vs. 19
3) The RESOLUTION for the Gibeonite people.
Vs. 22
For the Gibeonites, it meant their lives were spared, but their future was one of servitude
(v. 21).
4) The REASON they choose to deceive.
Vs. 24
They were motivated by two fears.
The first was common human fear for one’s life in the face of a powerful enemy.
But the second was the fear of Israel’s God, brought out in the phrase “for a certainty” (v.
24).
5) The REALITY of future generations would be altered.
Vs. 27
The note at the end of verse 27 that the Gibeonites continued in Israel “to this day” is a
significant pointer to the future.
1 Chron. 9:2; Ezra 2:43, 58; Neh. 3:26
2 Samuel 21:1, 2
Neh 3:7-8
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We are a non-denominational fellowship of believers in the God of the Bible, who simply seek to know and walk with Him in Spirit and in Truth. A distinctive of Calvary Chapel is that we place an emphasis on the Word of God, simply and yet diligently studying and teaching it book-by-book, chapter-by-chapter, verse-by-verse. Please join us at Calvary Chapel Windward as we worship God and study his word.

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