When the Gibeonites rush to make a treaty with Joshua because they recognize he is a stronger party, they pretend to be peoples from a distant kingdom (Josh 9:3-14). They speak of themselves as his “servants” (Josh 9:8). By entering into the treaty, Joshua will be obligated to protect them. Their deception works. Joshua does not attack them, because “the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath to them by the LORD, the God of Israel” (Josh 9:18).
