6, 7. (a) In what did the Gibeonites show interest, and what strategy did they adopt? (b) How did Joshua adjudge the matter?

⁶ Like Rahab before them, other non-Israelites now began to show an interest in survival. These were the inhabitants of Gibeon, a great city to the north of Jebus, or Jerusalem. They had heard of Jehovah’s mighty acts and determined that they would seek peace and security on Jehovah’s terms. But how? They sent to Israel’s camp at Gilgal men carrying dry and crumby provisions and worn-out sacks and skin-bottles, and wearing patched garments and sandals. Approaching Joshua, these men said: “It is from a very distant land that your servants have come in regard to the name of Jehovah your God, because we have heard of his fame.” Hearing this, “Joshua went making peace with them and concluding a covenant with them to let them live.”​—Joshua 9:3-15.

⁷ However, Israel soon learned that the Gibeonites were in fact ‘dwelling in their very midst’! How did Joshua now regard their ruse? He honored the oath previously made to them, ‘to let them live, and become gatherers of wood and drawers of water for all the assembly.’​—Joshua 9:16-27; compare Deuteronomy 20:10, 11.

9. (a) What crisis next arose? (b) How did Joshua respond, and with what assurance?

⁹ When Adoni-zedek, king of Jerusalem, got to hear that the Gibeonites had made peace with Israel, “he became very much afraid, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities, . . . and all its men were mighty ones.” He joined forces with four other kings, and they laid siege to Gibeon. Immediately, the Gibeonites appealed to Joshua: “Come up to us quickly and do save us and help us.” At once, Joshua responded, and Jehovah reassured him, saying: “Do not be afraid of them, for into your hand I have given them. Not a man of them will stand against you.” Joshua and his valiant mighty men marched up “all night long” so as to take the enemy completely by surprise.​—Joshua 10:1-9.

Jehovah Fights for Israel

12. What miracles does Jehovah perform in fighting for Israel in defense of the Gibeonites? (Compare Habakkuk 3:1, 2, 11, 12.)

¹² But look, now, at Gibeon. Jehovah is throwing those enemy forces into confusion. Israel is pursuing them with a mighty slaughter. And what do we see hurled down from the heavens? Great chunks of ice! More are being killed by these huge hailstones than by the warriors of Israel. Now, listen. Joshua is speaking to Jehovah, and what does he say “before the eyes of Israel”? This: “Sun, be motionless over Gibeon, and, moon, over the low plain of Aijalon.” Another awesome miracle! “For about a whole day,” the sun illuminates that battlefield, until God’s vengeance is completely executed. It is not for us to debate how Jehovah performed that miracle, any more than we question how he ‘made’ two great luminaries to shine through on his fourth creative “day.” (Genesis 1:16-19; Psalm 135:5, 6) The record is conclusive: “No day has proved to be like that one, either before it or after it, in that Jehovah listened to the voice of a man, for Jehovah himself was fighting for Israel.”​—Joshua 10:10-14.