יהושע, פרק ט׳, פסוק ט״ז

The deception orchestrated by the Gibeonites unraveled quickly, coming to light just a short time after Joshua and the leaders signed a peace treaty guaranteeing their survival. Exactly three days after the agreement was finalized, the truth emerged [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The timing of this discovery is critical. Because the reality of the situation was revealed only after the covenant had already been sealed, it was no longer possible for the Israelites to back out or cancel the agreement [מלבי״ם].

The Israelites soon discovered that these people were actually their immediate neighbors, living just south of Mount Ebal, where the Israelites were encamped at the time [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The reality of their location carried two distinct and important implications. First, their close geographic proximity was the exact reason why the Israelites were strictly forbidden from making a treaty with them in the first place. Second, it established that the Gibeonites were permanent residents of the land. While other local nations, such as the Girgashites, chose to leave the region and migrate to Africa, the Gibeonites decided to remain within the borders. By choosing to stay as permanent residents rather than flee, they became subject to the legal requirements of paying taxes and accepting servitude [מלבי״ם].