The Gibeonites were a group of people living in the ancient city of Gibeon, located in the land of Canaan. They are known from the biblical narrative in the Book of Joshua, where they tricked the Israelites into making a peace treaty with them. The Gibeonites claimed to be from a distant land, presenting worn-out provisions and old clothes to deceive the Israelites. After the truth was revealed, the Gibeonites were spared from destruction but were made to serve the Israelites as woodcutters and water carriers. This arrangement is mentioned in the Book of Joshua and highlights the complexities of ancient alliances and the consequences of deception.