No covenant made with the Canaanites — There was not a city that made peace with the Israelites (לֹא־הָיְתָה־עִיר אֲשֶׁר־הִשְׁלִימָה אֶל־בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל) except the Hivites, the inhabitants of Gibeon (כִּי אִם־הַחִוִּים יוֹשְׁבֵי גִבְעוֹן); all the others they took by war. The exception of Gibeon (the Hivites who deceived Israel and received covenant status) stands in stark contrast to the universal destruction imposed on all other cities. Gibeon alone survives because of the covenant made (despite deception); all other cities fall to the ban.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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