The submission of Gibeon to the Israelites filled the kings of Canaan with dismay. Steps were at once taken for revenge upon those who had made peace with the invaders. Under the leadership of Adonizedek, king of Jerusalem, five of the Canaanite kings entered into a confederacy against Gibeon. Their movements were rapid. The Gibeonites were unprepared for defense, and they sent a message to Joshua at Gilgal: "Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us." The danger threatened not the people of Gibeon alone, but also Israel. This city commanded the passes to central and southern Palestine, and it must be held if the country was to be conquered.

De kanaanæiske konger blev grebet af frygt, fordi gibeonitterne underkastede sig israelitterne. Der blev straks truffet foranstaltninger til at tage hævn over dem, der havde sluttet fred med landets angribere. Under ledelse af Jerusalems konge, Adonizedek, sluttede fem af de kanaanæiske konger sig sammen imod Gibeon. De handlede hurtigt. Gibeonitterne var ikke forberedt på at forsvare sig og sendte bud til Josua i Gilgal og lod sige: "Lad ikke dine trælle i stikken, men kom hurtigt op til os, hjælp os og stå os bi; thi alle amoritterkongerne, som bor i bjergene, har samlet sig imod os!" Faren truede ikke alene gibeonitterne, men også Israel. Denne by beherskede bjergpassene til det mellemste og sydlige Palæstina, og den måtte absolut holdes, hvis landet skulle erobres.