Joshua and the Flow of Biblical History - Ch. 8

Chapter 8 - The Gibeonites

I. Introduction

A. Recap - last week
B. The conquest continues

II. Recap - last week

A. Ch. 7 - Mt. Ebal & Gerizim
B. Blessings and Curses

III. The Conquest Continues

A. Lesson this week focuses on events found in Joshua Ch. 9 and 10.
B. Tale of alliances, deception, and oathes
C. 5 city-state kings unite in attempt to defeat Israelites
D. Gibeonites employ different strategy
1. realize God is on the side of the Israelites and they won't be defeated
2. deceive Israelites and get them to enter an Alliance
3. Israelites don't consult God and take an oath on His name
E. 5 city-state kings jointly attack Gibeonites
1. Gibeonites appeal to their Israelite allies
2. Joshua responds despite protests from the people
3. Save Gibeon but Gibeonites are forced into slavery serving the Israelites
F. 5 kings run away and hide in cave
1. Joshua commands his generals to trap the kings inside the cave
2. Joshua then commands them to attack city states
3. Each is destroyed
4. 5 kings then removed from the cave and killed
G. Life lessons
1. Not much to gather from this chapter
2. Author compares Rahab and Gibeonites
a. they came to believe in the Israelite God and struck bargains with the Israelites to avoid destruction
b. both integrated into the Israelite community

BIBLIOGRAPHY

(1) Joshua and the Flow of Biblical History, Frances Schaeffer, InterVarsity Press 1975