When they arrived at Israel’s camp at Gilgal, they said to Joshua and the Israelites: “We’ve come from a far country to propose that you make a treaty with us.”
While encamped at Gilgal, not far from Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Feast of Passover in the evening of the fourteenth day of the month of Abib.
The Gibeonites replied: “Your servants come from a very distant land because we’ve heard of the fame of your God, Yahweh. We’ve heard of his wonders and all that he did in Egypt.
The people experienced the miracle-crossing of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month of the Jewish calendar. They established their base camp at Gilgal, east of Jericho,
The Gibeonites sent out a call for help to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal: “Don’t abandon us, for we are your servants! Come quickly and save us! Help us, for the Amorite kings of the hill country have surrounded us!”