יהושע, פרק ט׳, פסוק כ״ב

Following an internal discussion within the Israelite camp, Joshua summons the Gibeonite representatives to confront them about the glaring gap between their earlier claims and the newly discovered reality [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. He demands to know why they resorted to deception. However, this inquiry is not merely a request for an explanation. Rather, Joshua aims to make it clear that the Gibeonites broke the treaty the very moment it was established. Because the Israelites had explicitly stated beforehand that they would not form a covenant with any neighboring nations, the Gibeonites' lie serves as a fundamental violation of the agreement [מלבי״ם].

To drive his point home, Joshua presents the Gibeonites with the stark contrast between their original story and the truth. He highlights the complete contradiction between their false declaration of living in a distant land and the reality that they actually dwell right among the Israelites [ביאור שטיינזלץ].