Joshua 9:3
“But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai,”
What does Joshua 9:3 mean?
The people of Gibeon have just learned that Joshua's army has arrived in Canaan and has already destroyed two major cities through military conquest. This verse opens a moment of decision for them, setting up their choice between joining the resistance against Israel or finding another way to survive. What they've heard about Joshua's victories makes clear that direct confrontation would likely mean their destruction, so they begin calculating their options. It's a sobering reminder that news travels fast, especially when it brings fear, and it shows how people under threat often scramble to find any path forward.