The Gibeonite Treaty of Deception: 9:1–2 A new phase of possessing the land begins here, and conquering the hill country is the next challenge for possessing the land. The narrator tells of independent ethnic enclaves who plot war against the tribal threat (9:1). These ethnic groups live in the hill country, in the western foothills (Shephelah), and along the coast of the Mediterranean, or Great Sea, as far north as Lebanon. The narrator tells readers that the nations in Canaan came together to make war against Joshua and Israel (9:2).

9:3–11 The narrator also tells of Hivites in Gibeon who decide to take advantage of the migration. News of Joshua’s victories at Jericho and Ai (9:3) inspires the Gibeonites to plan a ruse to convince Joshua and the tribal leaders that they live in a far coun…