9:24,25
The Gibeonites now seek to explain their actions. Somehow they had heard that God had given the whole land to the Israelites, and that they were to wipe out all the inhabitants. So, the Gibeonites had nothing to lose by their actions. They took God’s word seriously and were happy for Israel to do whatever they thought best.
9:26,27
So Joshua saved the Gibeonites. They were not killed, but served as woodcutters and water carriers. This involved providing for the needs of the altar of the Lord. They were in effect enslaved. Later in Israel’s history King Saul broke the agreement and attacked the Gibeonites, then David, when he was king, sought to correct this (2 Sam 21). In Neh 3:7 they are listed as helping with the repair work, and are listed among the men of Israel in Neh 7:25.
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