The Gibeonites were in sore straits. Their defenses were in adequate against so powerful a coalition. They appealed to Joshua, in the hope that he, despite their fraud, would come to their aid. The way in which they looked to their allies for help in time of trouble may be thought of as illustrating how we may call upon God for assistance when we are hard pressed by spiritual foes. We may feel unworthy of divine aid because of our sins, but we may also know for certain that no sincere prayer for help will be unanswered.

 Reference is to the central range called “the hill country,” in which were situated some of the five cities mentioned previously (ch. 21:11). Others were in the Shephelah; but the Gibeonites, in their haste, probably did not trouble to make the distinction. As far as they were concerned the armies of the five nations were approaching them from the mountainous region of Jerusalem (vs. 3, 4). What may appear to be a contradiction is in reality an assurance of the authenticity of the record, inasmuch as the writer faithfully recorded what the messengers told Joshua even though it may not have been entirely correct geographically.