Joshua 9
Following the destruction of Jericho and Ai, one group of people decide to make an attempt at a defensive pact with Israel - Gibeon sent a delegation to Joshua and the Israelites with mouldy old bread, old wineskins and generally clapped out clothes, transport and pretended to come from a long way away. (i.e. far enough away that Israel may not have been ordered to wipe them out).
Joshua and the leaders quiz them to make sure that they are genuine and fall for the line that the mouldy bread was just out of the oven when they set off and their clothes were brand new.
Joshua and the leaders believe the tale and swear an oath that Israel would not attack them or harm them in any way.
3 days later, Israel came across their cities and actually honoured their vow not to harm the Gibeonites.
Though there was some grumbling about this. The Gibeonites would be allowed to live in their cities but would supply labour for the Israelite economy.
Joshua 10
Since Gibeon had formed a pact with Israel and abandoned their existing overlords and neighbouring cities - 5 local rulers join forces to attack Gibeon.
Israel comes to the defence of their ally when requested and defend Gibeon and the people. In the process they defeat the joint armies of Jerusalem,.
During the battle the sun stood still in the sky while the Israelites continued to attack the Amorite army.
There is reference here to another book that is lost to history, the book of Jashar.
Some critics would accuse the church of suppressing this book in favour of its propaganda, however if the church wanted to suppress dodgy books I would put Dan Brown way higher up the list than most of the "alternative biblical accounts" that you can actually buy if you look for them!
Anyway back to the story - the 5 kings that led the attack are now taking a brave stand by hiding in a cave while their armies run away. Joshua ordered the cave blocked while they deal with the rest of the army, and later let the kings out.
The kings are then forced to let Israelite leaders put their feet on their necks - a mark of total defeat and defencelessness. The kings are then killed, displayed on poles for the day and then buried unceremoniously in the cave where they had hidden.
Over the next few weeks, Israel conquer the south of the country.
Following the destruction of Jericho and Ai, one group of people decide to make an attempt at a defensive pact with Israel - Gibeon sent a delegation to Joshua and the Israelites with mouldy old bread, old wineskins and generally clapped out clothes, transport and pretended to come from a long way away. (i.e. far enough away that Israel may not have been ordered to wipe them out).
Joshua and the leaders quiz them to make sure that they are genuine and fall for the line that the mouldy bread was just out of the oven when they set off and their clothes were brand new.
Joshua and the leaders believe the tale and swear an oath that Israel would not attack them or harm them in any way.
3 days later, Israel came across their cities and actually honoured their vow not to harm the Gibeonites.
Though there was some grumbling about this. The Gibeonites would be allowed to live in their cities but would supply labour for the Israelite economy.
Joshua 10
Since Gibeon had formed a pact with Israel and abandoned their existing overlords and neighbouring cities - 5 local rulers join forces to attack Gibeon.
Israel comes to the defence of their ally when requested and defend Gibeon and the people. In the process they defeat the joint armies of Jerusalem,.
During the battle the sun stood still in the sky while the Israelites continued to attack the Amorite army.
There is reference here to another book that is lost to history, the book of Jashar.
Some critics would accuse the church of suppressing this book in favour of its propaganda, however if the church wanted to suppress dodgy books I would put Dan Brown way higher up the list than most of the "alternative biblical accounts" that you can actually buy if you look for them!
Anyway back to the story - the 5 kings that led the attack are now taking a brave stand by hiding in a cave while their armies run away. Joshua ordered the cave blocked while they deal with the rest of the army, and later let the kings out.
The kings are then forced to let Israelite leaders put their feet on their necks - a mark of total defeat and defencelessness. The kings are then killed, displayed on poles for the day and then buried unceremoniously in the cave where they had hidden.
Over the next few weeks, Israel conquer the south of the country.
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