God planned to give the whole of Canaan to the people of Israel. Hundreds of yearsbefore, He had promised Abraham to give it to his and Sarah’s descendants. He also told Abraham why it would be so long before He kept His promise. The many different nations living in Canaan were cruel and wicked. But God would not drive them out while there was any chance that they would change their ways. He had waited a long time. Now He was sending the Israelites to take the land from them. While they were in the desert, God told Moses that Israel was not to make friendly agreements with any of the people in Canaan. He knew that if they joined with them they would soon copy their bad ways.

But the people of Gibeon, who lived only a short distance from Jericho, saw Israel’s success and wanted to make a treaty with them. They knew that Joshua would say “no” if he knew they lived in Canaan so they thought of a clever trick. They dressed in ragged clothes and worn-out sandals and put stale bread in their donkey’ packs. Then they journeyed to Israel’s camp “We want to make a peace agreement with you,” they said. “Where do you come from?” Joshua asked. “From far away,” they pretended. “Just look at our clothes and sandals--quite worn out. Our bread was hot from the oven when we left home, and look at these stale crusts now!” Joshua and the leaders did not wait to ask God’s advice. They made a peace treaty at once with the Gibeonites and promised to help them whenever they were in need.

Three days later, they discovered the trick. Now they would not be free to capture the cities of the Gibeonites or drive them out as God had told them to do. But the Gibeonites were very pleased with their bargain. Now they would have the Israelites to help them against their enemies.

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Things to know

• treaty- A formal agreement between two or more states, concerning the terms of peace or trade.

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