Learning From the Gibeonites
1, 2. Why is it good for us to analyze what the Bible says about the Gibeonites?
Answer 1: The Gibeonites had a close relationship with the Israelites for centuries. The accounts about them contain practical lessons that can strengthen our faith.
Answer 2: Their history began when Israel was conquering the Promised Land, but it did not end there. Seeing how Jehovah treated them highlights beautiful qualities of his personality.
Answer 3: Analyzing this account helps us appreciate that Jehovah observes faith, humility, and loyalty. It also teaches us how to act when facing difficult situations.
3. a) Who were the Gibeonites?
Answer 1: The Gibeonites lived in Gibeon, a fortified city in Canaan. They belonged to the Hivites, one of the seven Canaanite nations.
Answer 2: Although they were part of a nation more numerous and stronger than Israel, Gibeon also had a large army. They were not a weak people.
Answer 3: Knowing who they were makes their later decision even more noteworthy. Rather than trusting in their military strength, they recognized what Jehovah was doing for Israel.
3. b) Why did they ask Israel for peace?
Answer 1: The Gibeonites understood that they had no possibility of defeating Israel, because Jehovah was fighting for his people and would fulfill his promise to drive out the Canaanites.
Answer 2: After the conquest of Jericho and Ai, they sent representatives to Gilgal to ask for peace. They acted convinced that Jehovah would give the land to Israel.
Answer 3: Their decision reveals that they took seriously what they knew about Jehovah. We too demonstrate faith when we allow his promises to guide our decisions.
4. a) According to Joshua 9:8-13, how did the Gibeonites make a peace covenant with the Israelites? (See also the picture.)
Joshua 9:8-13 — They replied to Joshua: “We are your servants.” Then Joshua said to them: “Who are you, and where do you come from?” At this they said to him: “Your servants have come from a very distant land out of regard for the name of Jehovah your God, because we have heard about his fame and about all he did in Egypt and about all he did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan, who was in Ashtaroth. So our elders and all the inhabitants of our land told us, ‘Take provisions with you for the journey and go to meet them. Tell them: “We will be your servants; now make a covenant with us.”’ This bread that we took as our provisions was still hot on the day we left our houses to come here to you. Now you can see it is dry and crumbly. And these wineskins were new when we filled them, but now they have burst. And our garments and sandals have worn out because of the great length of the journey.”
Answer 1: The Gibeonites claimed that they came from a very distant land. To make this believable, they showed dry bread, burst wineskins, and worn-out clothing and sandals.
Answer 2: They spoke about what Jehovah had done in Egypt and against Sihon and Og, but they did not mention Jericho or Ai. Thus, their account seemed like that of travelers who had been on the road for a long time.
Answer 3: The picture helps us visualize how they tried to convince Joshua: They knelt down and pointed to their worn provisions and clothing while asking for a peace covenant.
4. b) What happened when it was discovered that everything was a deception?
Answer 1: The Israelites soon discovered that the Gibeonites lived nearby. However, they respected the agreement because they had confirmed it with an oath by Jehovah.
Answer 2: The Gibeonites were assigned to gather wood and draw water for the people and for Jehovah’s altar. They accepted a humble task as part of that agreement.
Answer 3: This case underscores the importance of keeping our word, even when doing so is inconvenient. The Israelites took seriously the oath they had made.
5. In what ways did the Gibeonites demonstrate faith in Jehovah?
Answer 1: They demonstrated faith by seeking peace with Israel. They recognized that Jehovah was fighting for his people and would fulfill his promise regarding Canaan.
Answer 2: When five Amorite kings attacked Gibeon, they did not seek support from other Canaanites. They begged Joshua for help, and Jehovah gave them the victory.
Answer 3: Their trust was not based on their own army. We imitate that faith when we turn to Jehovah and seek spiritual support when facing threats or problems.
6. What does this account teach us about Jehovah?
Answer 1: The account teaches us that Jehovah is humble and merciful. Although Israel did not consult him before making the covenant, Jehovah allowed the Gibeonites to live.
Answer 2: Jehovah supported the peace agreement and used his power to help Israel fulfill it. In this way, he saved the Gibeonites from their enemies.
Answer 3: This gives us confidence that Jehovah deals mercifully with those who want to do what is right. His decisions always reflect justice and goodness.
7. How can we imitate the faith and humility of the Gibeonites? (See also the picture.)
Answer 1: We can cultivate strong faith in Jehovah. Since we know much more about him than the Gibeonites did, we have ample reason to trust him completely.
Answer 2: We also imitate their humility by being willing to perform simple tasks in God’s service. No assignment done for Jehovah is insignificant.
Answer 3: The picture of the Gibeonite carrying water and the brother working in the garden reminds us that humility is seen in what we willingly choose to do.
8. What injustice did King Saul commit against the Gibeonites?
Answer 1: Centuries later, Saul attacked the Gibeonites who lived in Israel. By doing so, he broke the peace covenant that Israel had made with them.
Answer 2: Driven by the zeal he felt for Israel and Judah, Saul tried to annihilate the Gibeonites. Many of them were killed.
Answer 3: It was a serious injustice against a people protected by an oath. The account shows that covenants and promises must not be treated lightly.
9. When did Jehovah intervene to correct the injustice suffered by the Gibeonites?
Answer 1: Jehovah intervened during the reign of David, Saul’s successor. By then, some time had passed since the attack on the Gibeonites.
Answer 2: There was a famine in Israel for three years. When David asked why, Jehovah indicated that Saul and his house were guilty of bloodshed.
Answer 3: Although justice did not come immediately, Jehovah had not forgotten what happened. This encourages us to wait patiently for his time to act.
10. How did the Gibeonites show respect for God’s Law? (2 Samuel 21:3-6)
2 Samuel 21:3-6 — David said to the Gibeonites: “What should I do for you, and how can I make atonement, so that you will bless the inheritance of Jehovah?” The Gibeonites said to him: “It is not a matter of silver or gold for us in connection with Saul and his household; nor can we put any man to death in Israel.” At that he said: “Whatever you say, I will do for you.” They said to the king: “The man who exterminated us and schemed to annihilate us from living anywhere in the territory of Israel— let seven of his sons be given to us. We will hang their dead bodies before Jehovah in Gibeah of Saul, the chosen one of Jehovah.” The king then said: “I will hand them over.”
Answer 1: When David asked how he could make amends to them, they did not demand silver or gold. They respected the Law, which did not allow a ransom to free a murderer from the death penalty.
Answer 2: Nor did they take justice into their own hands. They recognized that they could not kill anyone without legal authorization and presented their request to King David.
Answer 3: Their reaction shows that, even after suffering a terrible injustice, they wanted to respect Jehovah’s standards. It is an example of self-control and respect for his justice.
11. What does this account teach us about Jehovah?
Amos 1:9 — This is what Jehovah says, ‘For three revolts of Tyre, and for four, I will not reverse it, Because they handed over a whole group of exiles to Edom, And because they did not remember the covenant of brothers.
Answer 1: Jehovah is a just God, and he wants everyone to be treated fairly, including those who often suffer discrimination, such as foreigners and minorities.
Answer 2: The fact that Jehovah brought Saul’s guilt to light confirms that he does not overlook injustices. At the proper time, he will correct them.
Answer 3: In addition, Jehovah expects us to keep our promises. The covenant with the Gibeonites had to be respected because it had been made in his name.
12. How can we imitate the Gibeonites when we suffer an injustice?
Answer 1: We can wait patiently for Jehovah to act, even if a brother treats us unjustly. In this way, we show confidence that he will intervene at the right time.
Answer 2: Laura French did not allow a false accusation to turn her away from Jehovah’s service. Although she was hurt, she remained busy as a pioneer for four years.
Answer 3: Her example teaches us to keep doing what is right rather than feeding a complaint. Jehovah can give us peace and take care of the situation at the proper time.
13. Who were the “Nethinim,” and what did they do when the exile in Babylon ended?
Ezra 2:58 — All the temple servants and the sons of the servants of Solomon were 392.
Answer 1: The Nethinim were temple servants or ministers who were not Israelites. Many of them were probably descendants of the Gibeonites.
Answer 2: When the exile ended, families of Nethinim returned to Jerusalem with the groups that returned under Zerubbabel and later with Ezra.
Answer 3: Their return was significant because they showed that they wanted to support the restoration of pure worship, even though this involved sacrifices and major changes.
14. How did the Gibeonites show that they were loyal to Jehovah? (1 Chronicles 9:2 and footnote)
1 Chronicles 9:2 — The first inhabitants to return to their possession in their cities were some Israelites, the priests, the Levites, and the temple servants.
Answer 1: Some descendants of the Gibeonites returned to Jerusalem after the exile to serve at the temple. They are mentioned among the temple servants.
Answer 2: Not all the Jews in Babylon returned, since many had a prosperous life there. The Nethinim were willing to make sacrifices to support pure worship.
Answer 3: Although they had no land inheritance in Israel, they fulfilled their obligations at the temple and even helped repair the walls. Their loyalty was demonstrated by their actions.
15. What does this account teach us about Jehovah?
Answer 1: Jehovah highly values his loyal servants and cares for them. He continued blessing the descendants of the Gibeonites many centuries after the days of Joshua.
Answer 2: They survived the destruction of Judah and Jerusalem, and after the exile they continued serving alongside the Levites in connection with the temple.
Answer 3: Jehovah does not forget loyal service. This account assures us that he appreciates the sustained efforts of those who faithfully support pure worship.
16. How can we imitate the loyalty of the Gibeonites?
Answer 1: We imitate their loyalty by doing all we can to support pure worship. Our love for Jehovah moves us to make sacrifices willingly.
Answer 2: Alwin left a well-paying job to look for one that would allow him to be a regular pioneer. His decision was the result of prayer and his desire to do more for Jehovah.
Answer 3: Each of us can ask what we can do according to our circumstances to serve Jehovah more fully. He values every sacrifice made out of loyalty and cares for his servants.
17. What have we learned by analyzing what the Bible says about the Gibeonites?
Answer 1: We have learned that Jehovah is humble, merciful, just, and loyal. He also rewards those who serve him faithfully.
Answer 2: The Gibeonites teach us to have strong faith and to rely on Jehovah when complicated situations arise, rather than trusting only in ourselves.
Answer 3: Their example also encourages us to be humble, patient when facing injustices, and loyal by enthusiastically supporting pure worship.
How can we imitate the faith and humility of the Gibeonites?
Joshua 9:8-13 — They replied to Joshua: “We are your servants.” Then Joshua said to them: “Who are you, and where do you come from?” At this they said to him: “Your servants have come from a very distant land out of regard for the name of Jehovah your God, because we have heard about his fame and about all he did in Egypt and about all he did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan, who was in Ashtaroth. So our elders and all the inhabitants of our land told us, ‘Take provisions with you for the journey and go to meet them. Tell them: “We will be your servants; now make a covenant with us.”’ This bread that we took as our provisions was still hot on the day we left our houses to come here to you. Now you can see it is dry and crumbly. And these wineskins were new when we filled them, but now they have burst. And our garments and sandals have worn out because of the great length of the journey.”
Answer 1: We imitate their faith when we fully trust in Jehovah, especially when facing problems that seem overwhelming. We know that he always fulfills his promises.
Answer 2: We imitate their humility when we willingly accept simple tasks in God’s service. True humility is reflected in our decisions and actions.
Answer 3: We can ask Jehovah to help us not to seek recognition. Rather, we want to be available to do whatever contributes to pure worship.
How can we follow the example of the Gibeonites when we suffer an injustice?
2 Samuel 21:3-6 — David said to the Gibeonites: “What should I do for you, and how can I make atonement, so that you will bless the inheritance of Jehovah?” The Gibeonites said to him: “It is not a matter of silver or gold for us in connection with Saul and his household; nor can we put any man to death in Israel.” At that he said: “Whatever you say, I will do for you.” They said to the king: “The man who exterminated us and schemed to annihilate us from living anywhere in the territory of Israel— let seven of his sons be given to us. We will hang their dead bodies before Jehovah in Gibeah of Saul, the chosen one of Jehovah.” The king then said: “I will hand them over.”
Answer 1: We can patiently wait for Jehovah to correct the injustice. The Gibeonites did not seek revenge on their own; instead, they respected the principles of the Law.
Answer 2: Although an injustice can be very painful, we do well to continue serving Jehovah faithfully and avoid allowing resentment to control the way we act.
Answer 3: Jehovah saw the injustice suffered by these people and acted at the proper time. That certainty helps us maintain peace and do what is right.
How can we imitate the loyalty of the Gibeonites?
1 Chronicles 9:2 — The first inhabitants to return to their possession in their cities were some Israelites, the priests, the Levites, and the temple servants.
Answer 1: We imitate their loyalty by wholeheartedly supporting pure worship. The Nethinim returned to Jerusalem to serve at the temple, even though doing so required sacrifices.
Answer 2: Their example encourages us to put our service to Jehovah ahead of comfort or material opportunities that could draw us away from our spiritual goals.
Answer 3: Jehovah appreciates the loyal support we give according to our abilities. We can demonstrate it by enthusiastically sharing in congregation assignments and activities.
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