Joshua 9:24
And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the LORD thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing.
The verse concerns the Gibeonites, a numerous people dwelling in the midst of the land. They knew that the Lord had commanded His servant Moses to give Israel all the land and to destroy all its inhabitants from before them. From the report of the mighty workings of the God of the Hebrews they had learned that He alone is the true God. Because they were sore afraid for their lives that Israel would destroy them, they resorted to deceiving Joshua and his people in order to preserve their lives.
In response to what they had learned they renounced their heathenism and united with Israel so as to share in the blessings of the covenant. Together with the salvation of Rahab, their experience proves that mercy is extended to idolaters who acknowledge divine authority, and that hers was not an isolated case.
Their submission secured their lives, but their deception brought disgrace and servitude, making them cutters of wood and carriers of water for generations. They could instead have honestly renounced heathenism and joined Israel as resident strangers, sharing the privileges and blessings of the covenant without deceit. Their lasting servitude stands as a testimony to God's hatred of falsehood.