Joshua 9: The Gibeonites' Trick

The kings of Canaan gather to fight Israel, but the people of Gibeon use a trick. They come with old sacks, torn wineskins, patched sandals, old clothes, and dry, moldy bread, pretending to come from a far country. The men of Israel sample their food but do not ask counsel from Yahweh. Joshua makes peace and a covenant with them. Three days later Israel learns they are neighbors. Because the leaders swore by Yahweh, Israel keeps its oath and lets them live, and the Gibeonites become wood cutters and drawers of water.

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Read Joshua 9

World English Bible · 27 verses

¹ When all the kings who were beyond the Jordan, in the hill country, and in the lowland, and on all the shore of the great sea in front of Lebanon, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard of itThis verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² they gathered themselves together to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ they also resorted to a ruse, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks on their donkeys, and old, torn-up and bound up wineskins,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ and old and patched sandals on their feet, and wore old garments. All the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ They went to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal, and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a far country. Now therefore make a covenant with us.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ The men of Israel said to the Hivites, “What if you live among us? How could we make a covenant with you?”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ They said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” Joshua said to them, “Who are you? Where do you come from?”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ They said to him, “Your servants have come from a very far country because of the name of Yahweh your God; for we have heard of his fame, all that he did in Egypt,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon and to Og king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ Our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, ‘Take supplies in your hand for the journey, and go to meet them. Tell them, “We are your servants. Now make a covenant with us.”’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² This our bread we took hot for our supplies out of our houses on the day we went out to go to you; but now, behold, it is dry, and has become moldy.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ These wineskins, which we filled, were new; and behold, they are torn. These our garments and our sandals have become old because of the very long journey.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ The men sampled their provisions, and didn’t ask counsel from Yahweh’s mouth.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them, to let them live. The princes of the congregation swore to them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁶ At the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, they heard that they were their neighbors, and that they lived among them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁷ The children of Israel traveled and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁸ The children of Israel didn’t strike them, because the princes of the congregation had sworn to them by Yahweh, the God of Israel. All the congregation murmured against the princes.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁹ But all the princes said to all the congregation, “We have sworn to them by Yahweh, the God of Israel. Now therefore we may not touch them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁰ We will do this to them, and let them live; lest wrath be on us, because of the oath which we swore to them.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²¹ The princes said to them, “Let them live.” So they became wood cutters and drawers of water for all the congregation, as the princes had spoken to them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²² Joshua called for them, and he spoke to them, saying, “Why have you deceived us, saying, ‘We are very far from you,’ when you live among us?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²³ Now therefore you are cursed, and some of you will never fail to be slaves, both wood cutters and drawers of water for the house of my God.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁴ They answered Joshua, and said, “Because your servants were certainly told how Yahweh your God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you. Therefore we were very afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this thing.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁵ Now, behold, we are in your hand. Do to us as it seems good and right to you to do.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁶ He did so to them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, so that they didn’t kill them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁷ That day Joshua made them wood cutters and drawers of water for the congregation and for Yahweh’s altar to this day, in the place which he should choose.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

Worksheets

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Open Preschool on its own page

Joshua 9 · Preschool

Ask God First

Name Date

Color the moldy bread and the old sandals. The Gibeonites played a trick!

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them, to let them live. The princes of the congregation swore to them.”

Joshua 9:15 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Say: Israel forgot to ask God. We can pray and ask God for help before we choose.

Open Grade 4 on its own page

Joshua 9 · Grade 4

A Costly Shortcut

Name Date

Read and Think

Kings across Canaan gathered to fight Israel, but Gibeon chose another way. Its people dressed as weary travelers from a far country. They had old sacks, torn wineskins, patched sandals, worn garments, and bread that was dry and moldy.

Joshua asked who they were. They gave a long story and pointed to their old supplies as proof. The men sampled their provisions, and didn't ask counsel from Yahweh's mouth. They trusted what they could see and taste instead of seeking God, and Joshua made a covenant of peace.

Three days later the truth came out. Even so, the leaders kept their oath, because they had sworn by Yahweh, the God of Israel. Joshua made the Gibeonites wood cutters and drawers of water for the house of God. Israel learned that a promise made in God's name must be kept even when it is costly.

Show What You Know

How did the Gibeonites dress?
What did Israel trust instead of seeking God?
Why did the leaders keep their oath?
What lesson did Israel learn about promises?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

GodoathbreadGibeon

Kings across Canaan gathered to fight Israel, but chose another way.
They had old sacks, torn wineskins, patched sandals, worn garments, and that was dry and moldy.
They trusted what they could see and taste instead of seeking , and Joshua made a covenant of peace.
Even so, the leaders kept their , because they had sworn by Yahweh, the God of Israel.

Think About It

When are you tempted to decide something without praying first?
Why is it important to keep a promise even when it becomes hard?

Memory Verse

“The men sampled their provisions, and didn’t ask counsel from Yahweh’s mouth.”

Joshua 9:14 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for giving wisdom when I ask. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

Why is it risky to trust only what we see?
What does it mean to keep your word?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

Joshua 9 · Grade 5

When Appearances Deceive

Name Date

Read and Think

Joshua 9 opens with a coalition of kings preparing for war. Gibeon, a great city, chooses deception instead. Its men take old sacks, old, torn-up and bound up wineskins, patched sandals, and old garments, and all the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy. They pose as ambassadors from a distant land seeking a treaty.

The deception works because Israel relies on evidence alone. The Gibeonites even name what Yahweh did in Egypt and to Sihon and Og, while carefully leaving out Jericho and Ai, which travelers from far away would not yet have heard. The key verse is a verdict: The men sampled their provisions, and didn't ask counsel from Yahweh's mouth. Israel had a God who spoke, yet they made a major decision without asking Him.

Three days later the truth comes out, and the congregation murmurs. The leaders reply that they have sworn by Yahweh and cannot break the oath, or wrath would come upon them. Israel keeps its word, and the Gibeonites serve as wood cutters and drawers of water for Yahweh's altar. In the New Testament, Jesus teaches simple honesty: let your Yes be Yes and your No be No (Matthew 5:37).

Show What You Know

Why did the deception work?
Which events did the Gibeonites leave out of their story?
What does the key verse say Israel failed to do?
Why could the leaders not break the oath?
What New Testament teaching about honesty connects to this chapter?

Crossword

Across

The princes would not break what they swore.
The city whose people tricked Israel.
All the bread of their food supply was dry and ____.

Down

drawers of ____ for all the congregation
and didn't ask ____ from Yahweh's mouth.

Think About It

Israel's mistake was not seeking God's guidance. What habits help you ask God before big choices?
God later used the Gibeonites to serve at His altar. How can God bring good even out of a mistake?

Memory Verse

“The men sampled their provisions, and didn’t ask counsel from Yahweh’s mouth.”

Joshua 9:14 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for giving wisdom when I ask. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

What did the Gibeonites say they had heard?
How can we seek God's guidance in our decisions?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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Joshua 9: The Gibeonites' Trick

Read Joshua 9

Worksheets

Ask God First

Prayer

Take It Home

Ask God

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

Draw It

Prayer

Take It Home

Moldy Bread

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

The Gibeonite Trick

Prayer

Take It Home

A Trick With Old Bread

Read the Story

Show What You Know

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

Look Closely, Ask God

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

The Gibeonite Trick

Prayer

Take It Home

A Costly Shortcut

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

When Appearances Deceive

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Crossword

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

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