Name the people groups that were on “this side of the Jordan” and had heard about the Israelites. Where were their territories?

What did the kings of those groups do together?

How did the inhabitants of Gibeon think differently? What tactics did they use?

Where did the Gibeonites say that they were from? What did they request from Joshua?

What was Joshua suspicious of?

Why did the Gibeonites say they had come from their “far country?”

What evidence did they present that they had come on a long journey?

What did the men of Israel fail to do in this situation?

What did Joshua and the men of Israel agree to do?

What did they learn after three days?

Where did the children of Israel journey to? How long did it take them to get there? What were the names of their neighbors’ four cities?

Why didn’t the Israelites attack them? What was the reaction of the Israelite congregation?

What did the rulers decide that the Gibeonites would do for them as a result of their oath?

What reason did the Gibeonites give for their deceptive plan?

Where, specifically, were the Gibeonites to serve as woodcutters and water carriers?

Thought Questions

What do you think is the key verse that this story hinges on (particularly regarding how the Israelite rulers dealt with the Gibeonites)?

What is your response to the mighty acts of God that you have personally witnessed? Fear? Retaliation? Or would you prefer to find a way to get “on the good side?”

Have you ever thought it was possible to fight against God? Even if you made a league with multiple other powerful parties? Why do you think the Canaanite kings believed they could fight against the power of the Israelites? Are there any ways in which you might be fighting against God, in less obvious ways?

Why do you think the Gibeonites resorted to such sneaky measures, rather than surrendering themselves honestly to the Israelites and their God?

Do you think the Gibeonites were right or wrong in what they did? What do you think they did right? What do you think they did wrong? What could they have done differently, and what might have been the outcome if they had?

Why do you think Joshua and the elders, after everything they witnessed God do and what they knew about Him, still failed to ask counsel of Him?

Are you in the habit of asking counsel of the Lord? Have you ever been guilty of not asking counsel of the Lord, and have suffered the consequences? Has there ever been a situation that seemed obvious to you (by human wisdom), yet turned out entirely different from what you expected?

My prayer is:

That I would seek to make peace with God and His people, instead of fighting futility against Him;

That I would be honest and trusting of God, not inventing crafty ways to avoid trouble but surrendering my heart to Him;

And that I would seek counsel of God on everything, and not rely on human wisdom.