The Gibeonites' request is a significant event recorded in the Old Testament, specifically in the book of Joshua and later referenced in 2 Samuel. This event highlights themes of covenant, deception, and justice within the narrative of Israel's conquest of Canaan.

Background and Deception

The Gibeonites were a group of Hivites, inhabitants of the city of Gibeon, located within the land of Canaan. As Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land, the Gibeonites, aware of the fate that had befallen other Canaanite cities, resorted to deception to secure their survival. In Joshua 9, they disguised themselves as travelers from a distant land, wearing worn-out clothes and carrying moldy provisions, to give the impression of having journeyed from afar. They approached Joshua and the leaders of Israel, requesting a treaty of peace.

Joshua 9:14-15 states, "Then the men of Israel sampled their provisions, but did not seek the counsel of the LORD. And Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them."

The Discovery and Consequences

Three days after making the treaty, the Israelites discovered that the Gibeonites were actually their neighbors, living within the land they were commanded to conquer. Despite the deception, the Israelites honored the treaty due to the oath they had sworn before God. The Gibeonites were spared but were assigned to be woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation and the altar of the LORD (Joshua 9:21, 27).

The Gibeonites in the Time of Saul and David

The Gibeonites reappear in the narrative during the reign of King Saul and later King David. In 2 Samuel 21, a famine during David's reign is attributed to Saul's breach of the treaty with the Gibeonites. Saul, in his zeal for Israel and Judah, had sought to annihilate them, violating the oath made by the Israelites.

David, seeking to rectify this injustice and end the famine, inquired of the LORD and then approached the Gibeonites to determine what could be done to make amends. The Gibeonites requested the execution of seven of Saul's male descendants, which David granted, sparing Mephibosheth due to his covenant with Jonathan, Saul's son (2 Samuel 21:1-9).

Theological and Moral Implications

The Gibeonites' request and the subsequent events underscore the importance of oaths and covenants in the biblical narrative. The Israelites' commitment to their word, even when obtained through deception, reflects the seriousness with which covenants were regarded. The episode also illustrates the consequences of failing to seek divine guidance, as seen in Joshua's initial decision to make a treaty without consulting the LORD.

Furthermore, the narrative highlights God's justice and the necessity of atonement for broken covenants. The resolution of the conflict with the Gibeonites during David's reign serves as a reminder of the enduring nature of covenants and the need for reconciliation and restitution in the face of wrongdoing.