For the Israelites to break a covenant, even one that was made under the pretense of a lie, would’ve been disobedient and would incur God’s anger.

The text specifically notes here that the Israelites had failed to consult God in this matter. There were several red flags in play here that the Israelites should’ve picked up on. For one, why would people from a distant land try to make a peace treaty with a nation not technically in charge of really anything yet. At this point they had only won a handful of battles and not necessarily at the point of making international treaties just yet.

What truly motivated the Gibeonites was survival and fear of the Lord, God of Israel. Which becomes apparent in verse 9-11 which says,

They said to him, “From a very distant country your servants have come, because of the name of the Lord your God. For we have heard a report of him, and all that he did in Egypt,

1and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon the king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth.

So our elders and all the inhabitants of our country said to us, ‘Take provisions in your hand for the journey and go to meet them and say to them, “We are your servants. Come now, make a covenant with us.” ’

Because the name of the Lord your God. Just as the Fear of God drove Rahab, it had driven the Gibeonites.

An interesting parallel here is that the Gibeonites came to Joshua seeking a treaty because of the NAME of the Lord, your God. They feared the God of the Israelites and therefore called on His name.

The prophet Joel wrote “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” Joel 2:32

Therefore Joshua and the leaders, without consulting God, made a covenant with people who lived in the land of Canaan. While they did call on the name of the Lord, The Gibeonites brought ungodly influence into the community of Israel. This covenant also made it Israels responsibility to defend the Gibeonites in battle which raised their level of responsibility in the land.

This should serve as a reminder to us today that we should never do anything in life without first making it a matter of prayer.