Topical Bible: Servant: Gibeonites

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The Gibeonites were a group of people descended from the Hivites, one of the Canaanite tribes inhabiting the Promised Land before the arrival of the Israelites. They are most notably recognized for their cunning approach to securing a peace treaty with Israel during the conquest of Canaan under Joshua's leadership.

Deceptive Treaty with Israel

The account of the Gibeonites is primarily found in Joshua 9. As the Israelites advanced into Canaan, the Gibeonites, aware of the fate that had befallen other Canaanite cities, resorted to deception to save themselves. They disguised themselves as travelers from a distant land, wearing worn-out clothes and carrying moldy bread, and approached Joshua and the leaders of Israel. Without seeking the counsel of the LORD, the Israelites made a covenant of peace with them, swearing an oath to let them live (Joshua 9:14-15).

When the deception was uncovered, the Israelites honored their oath, but the Gibeonites were consigned to servitude. Joshua declared, "Now therefore you are under a curse and will perpetually serve as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God" (Joshua 9:23). This servitude was a fulfillment of their own proposal to become servants in exchange for their lives (Joshua 9:11).

Role in Israel

Despite their servitude, the Gibeonites held a significant role within Israel. They were assigned to assist the Levites in the service of the tabernacle, and later the temple, by performing menial tasks such as cutting wood and drawing water. This role, while humble, placed them in close proximity to the worship of Yahweh, the God of Israel.

Saul's Breach of the Covenant

The Gibeonites reappear in the narrative during the reign of King David. King Saul, in his zeal for Israel and Judah, violated the covenant by attempting to annihilate the Gibeonites. This breach of the oath brought a famine upon Israel during David's reign. In seeking to rectify this injustice, David asked the Gibeonites how he might make atonement. The Gibeonites requested the execution of seven of Saul's male descendants, which David granted, sparing Mephibosheth due to his covenant with Jonathan (2 Samuel 21:1-9).

Significance

The account of the Gibeonites serves as a profound reminder of the importance of seeking God's guidance and the binding nature of oaths made before Him. Their integration into Israelite society, albeit as servants, illustrates God's mercy and the potential for those outside the covenant community to find a place within God's people. The Gibeonites' presence in Israel also underscores the theme of God's sovereignty in using even the deceitful actions of men to fulfill His purposes.

Nave's Topical Index

Joshua 9:22-27
And Joshua called for them, and he spoke to them, saying, Why have you beguiled us, saying, We are very far from you; when you dwell among us?
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Library

Prologue. Who is a Faithful and Wise Servant? his Reward is ...
... the earth, He may say to me: "Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest ... the
son of Nun, who subdued five kings, and brought the Gibeonites into subjection ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/prologue who is a faithful.htm

Justice Should be Observed Even in War and with Enemies. ...
... On the other hand, Joshua did not attack the Gibeonites, who had tried the ... And Gehazi
the prophet's servant, seeing the army, began to fear that his life was ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xxix justice should be.htm

The Thirty-Eighth Chapter: the Right Ordering of External Affairs ...
... master and director of your actions, not a slave or a mere hired servant. ... read, Joshua
and the children of Israel were deceived by the Gibeonites because they ...
/.../kempis/the imitation of christ/the thirty-eighth chapter the right.htm

How Joshua, the Commander of the Hebrews, Made War with The
... land with our own weapons, but at the instigation of Moses thy servant for this ... But
the Gibeonites, who inhabited very near to Jerusalem, when they saw what ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 1 how joshua the.htm

Covenanting Provided for in the Everlasting Covenant.
... not obey; but when addressed by Moses, or any other servant of the ... Nethinims, a people
employed about the sanctuary, descendants of the Gibeonites, who, though ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter vi covenanting provided for.htm

Hope for the Heathen
... In the midst of the land a numerous people"the Gibeonites "renounced their heathenism
and ... It is a light thing that Thou shouldest be My servant to raise up ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 31 hope for the.htm

Covenanting a Duty.
... to his people, as well as to his Anointed, "Thou art my servant, O Israel ... statutes
that were of this description, when they made a league with the Gibeonites. ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter iii covenanting a duty.htm

Covenanting Confers Obligation.
... Joseph and the princes of the congregation of Israel with the Gibeonites, was kept ...
service, the Psalmist offers praise""O Lord, truly I am thy servant; I am ...
/.../the ordinance of covenanting/chapter v covenanting confers obligation.htm

Solomon's Temple Spiritualized
... Thy servant in the gospel ... not of the sons of Jacob nor of the house of Israel; they
were the servants of Hiram, king of Tyre, and the Gibeonites, namely, their ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/solomons temple spiritualized.htm

Book 4 Footnotes
... Matthew 26:15, and 27;3, was the old value of a bought servant or slave ... of consulting
the Urim was to Joshua himself, in the case of the Gibeonites, who put a ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 4 footnotes.htm