This is how we will treat them: We will let them live, so that no wrath will fall on us because of the oath we swore to them." Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Joshua 9:20? 2. How does Joshua 9:20 demonstrate the importance of honoring our commitments to others? 3. What can we learn about God's expectations for integrity from Joshua 9:20? 4. How does Joshua 9:20 connect with Jesus' teachings on honesty in Matthew 5:37? 5. In what ways can we apply the principle of keeping promises in our lives? 6. How does Joshua 9:20 challenge us to uphold our word in difficult situations? 7. Why did the Israelites honor the Gibeonite treaty despite their deception in Joshua 9:20? 8. How does Joshua 9:20 reflect on the importance of keeping oaths? 9. What does Joshua 9:20 teach about the consequences of hasty decisions? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Joshua 9? 11. How does the absolute obedience in Joshua 11:12-15 align with prior instructions about sparing certain peoples? 12. In Joshua 14:9, how do we reconcile the promise made by Moses to Caleb with the sparse extrabiblical records of such a grant? 13. How does sparing the Gibeonites (Joshua 9:15) align with instructions to destroy all Canaanite inhabitants (Deuteronomy 20:16-17)? 14. Why would an omniscient God allow His leaders to be misled in such a strategic event (Joshua 9)? Discussion Questions 1. How does the account of the Gibeonites challenge us to consider the importance of seeking God's guidance in our decisions?2. In what ways can we ensure that we maintain integrity in our commitments, even when circumstances change? 3. How does the Israelites' experience with the Gibeonites illustrate the potential consequences of disobedience to God's commands? 4. What lessons can we learn from the Israelites' response to the Gibeonites about handling situations where we have been deceived? 5. How can we apply the principle of keeping our word, as taught by Jesus in Matthew 5:33-37, in our daily lives?1. How does the reaction of the local kings to Israel's victories in Joshua 9:1-2 reflect the influence that our victories and achievements can have on others? 2. The Gibeonites used deception to secure a peace treaty with the Israelites. What does this tell us about the lengths to which people might go to ensure their survival? 3. The Israelites were deceived because they did not consult God. How can this scenario be a cautionary tale for our decision-making processes today? 4. What are some modern-day examples of how appearances can be deceiving, similar to the Gibeonites' old clothing and moldy food? 5. How did the leaders of Israel react when they discovered they had been deceived? What does this say about the importance of keeping one's word, even when tricked? 6. The Israelites quickly made a treaty with the Gibeonites based on what they saw and heard. How does this speak to the importance of discernment and seeking God's guidance in our decisions? 7. How can the Israelites' mistake serve as a reminder to us to consult God in prayer before making significant decisions? 8. What does this event teach us about the consequences of making decisions based on incomplete information? 9. Why do you think the Gibeonites chose to deceive the Israelites rather than confront them openly or seek a genuine treaty? 10. How does this chapter show the importance of integrity in our dealings with others? 11. Discuss some ways that people today use manipulation or deceit to gain an advantage, like the Gibeonites did. How should Christians respond to such situations? 12. How does this story show that even wise and experienced leaders like Joshua can be deceived? 13. Why did the Israelite leaders honor the treaty with the Gibeonites, despite it being obtained through deception? 14. How would you have reacted if you were an Israelite who found out about the deception after the treaty was made? 15. What lessons can we learn about the importance of seeking divine guidance before making decisions? 16. How does this story show that God can bring about His purposes even when His people make mistakes? 17. How does the experience of the Gibeonites show the fear that the Israelites and their God instilled in other nations? 18. The Israelites made the Gibeonites their servants as a consequence of their deceit. What does this teach us about the repercussions of dishonest actions? 19. Can you share a personal experience when you felt deceived like the Israelites? How did you handle the situation? 20. Despite being deceived, the Israelites chose to respect the agreement they made. How can this situation speak to the importance of honoring our word in today's world, even when circumstances are challenging? Links Joshua 9:20 NIVJoshua 9:20 NLT Joshua 9:20 ESV Joshua 9:20 NASB Joshua 9:20 KJV Joshua 9:20 Commentaries Bible Hub |



