Jos

Josh 10:1-2

It wasn't long before My-Master-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had taken Ai and destroyed it and its king under a holy curse, just as he had done to Jericho and its king. He also learned that the people of Gibeon had come to terms with Israel and were living as neighbors. 2 He and his people were alarmed: Gibeon was a big city — as big as any with a king and bigger than Ai — and all its men were seasoned fighters    

They only based what they chose to do on what they COULD see!  That’s a human problem which began with Adam and Eve!