After the victory at Ai, the Israelites build an altar to God as Moses had commanded them to do in Deuteronomy 27-28. This was the way of laying claim to the land the Lord had promised. This act rededicates the people to the covenant and announces to those in the Promised Land that God had come to claim the land. The Law, either the Ten Commandments or the blessings and curses, is written in stone to remind the people that God's Law has not gone away. Meanwhile, other inhabitants of Canaan joined forces against Israel, fearing that they would share the military fate of Jericho and Ai. In contrast, the leaders from Gibeon used humility and deception to gain a treaty with Israel that God had forbidden. The Israelies neglect to seek the Lord's counsel.