After reading chapter 9:
*Since the Israelites had defeated two local cities, the Kings in other cities near the Jordan were worried. They formed a coalition against the Israelites. Who can blame them? An exception was the people of Gibeon. Some Gibeonites went to Joshua pretending to be poor people from a distant country, saying they had heard of the Israelites and Yahweh's deeds, and they wanted to make a peace treaty. The men of Israel believed the Gibeonites and made a treaty with them, ratifying it with an oath. However, they forgot to consult Yahweh first. Three days later, the fact that the Gibeonites were really a nearby tribe was revealed.
*The Israelites were miffed, but they had given their oath in Yahweh's name which made it binding. The leaders decided they had to let them live, but nothing was stopping them from making the Gibeonites do menial labor. Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and told them they were now under a curse because of their deception. The Gibeonites believed it and grovelled. Their lives were spared, and "to this day" they are wood cutters and water carriers for the Israelites.
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