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For teachers and parents. Prints separately from the student sheets.

Joshua 9 · For teachers and parents

Answer Key: The Gibeonites' Trick

Answers here are a guide. Welcome any answer that shows a child is thinking about the story, and celebrate their effort. Talk About It questions are open, so they have no set answers.

PreschoolAsk God First

breadsandalsdonkeypeopleperson

Coloring and finding page: any careful coloring is a win. Help your child point to and name each picture above.

KindergartenAsk God

BREAD → picture 3SANDALS → picture 1DONKEY → picture 4ASK GOD → picture 2

Grade 1Moldy Bread

Some men came to Joshua. → picture 4Their bread was dry and moldy. → picture 3Their sandals were old. → picture 1Israel did not ask God. → picture 5Joshua made peace with them. → picture 2

Order:

1. the inhabitants of Gibeon heard2. old and patched sandals on their feet3. didn’t ask counsel from Yahweh’s mouth4. Let them live

Grade 2A Trick With Old Bread

  1. Where did the men say they came from? A land far away (circle)
  2. What was their bread like? Dry and moldy (circle)
  3. What did Israel forget to do? Ask God what to do
  4. When did Israel find out the truth? Three days later (circle)
  5. What work did the men do? They cut wood and got water.
WOCOUNSELHIAWGFWVASVNTKDYAMAFGEHOLOMNSBISNJKODRRIBKLPLALEGJEIFDLTASHYONYSUDVKSLNS

Grade 3Look Closely, Ask God

  1. What did the Gibeonites put on their donkeys? Old sacks and torn wineskins
  2. What did they say about where they came from? A very far country
  3. What did the men of Israel not do? Ask counsel from Yahweh's mouth
  4. Why did Israel keep the promise? They had sworn to them by Yahweh.
  5. What work did the Gibeonites do? They became wood cutters and drawers of water.
1: the inhabitants of Gibeon heard2: old and patched sandals on their feet3: didn’t ask counsel from Yahweh’s mouth4: Let them live

Grade 4A Costly Shortcut

  1. How did the Gibeonites dress? As weary travelers from a far country
  2. What did Israel trust instead of seeking God? What they could see and taste
  3. Why did the leaders keep their oath? They had sworn by Yahweh, the God of Israel.
  4. What lesson did Israel learn about promises? A promise made in God's name must be kept even when it is costly.

Word bank: 1. Gibeon; 2. bread; 3. God; 4. oath

Think About It: answers will vary. Look for answers that connect to the passage.

Grade 5When Appearances Deceive

  1. Why did the deception work? Israel relied on evidence alone.
  2. Which events did the Gibeonites leave out of their story? Jericho and Ai
  3. What does the key verse say Israel failed to do? Ask counsel from Yahweh's mouth
  4. Why could the leaders not break the oath? They had sworn by Yahweh, and wrath would come upon them.
  5. What New Testament teaching about honesty connects to this chapter? In the New Testament, Jesus says, let your Yes be Yes and your No be No (Matthew 5:37).
4GIBEON1WATR2C3OUSELATH5MODY

Think About It: answers will vary. Look for answers that connect to the passage.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.