Place: At Gibeon. Street scene.
The inhabitants are discussing the victories of the Israelites. They are afraid of Joshua, the leader. Messengers report that he is advancing toward Gibeon. The Gibeonites plan to make a league with him so that he will not destroy their city. They decide to deceive Joshua by dressing as strangers from a far country, wearing old garments and taking moldy bread and wine.
SCENE II
Place: Joshua's tent at the camp of Gilgal.
The men from Gibeon come to Joshua and tell him that they are from a far country. They say that they have heard of his great victories and wish to make a league with him. The conversation between Joshua and these strangers is interestingly given in the Bible and may be quoted almost exactly. Joshua makes the treaty with them.
SCENE III
Place: At Gibeon.
The Israelite soldiers rush into Gibeon to take it, but find that the inhabitants are the same ragged strangers with whom they made the league. The Israelites reproach them, but cannot go back on their word, so spare their lives. In order to punish the Gibeonites for their deception, Joshua makes them slaves of the Israelites.
There is much opportunity for construction work in the dramatizing of this story. Costumes, pieces of armor, and weapons may be made in a simple manner by the children.