9
1 When
all the kings
who were beyond
the Jordan, in
the hill country,
and in the
lowland, and on
all the shore
of the great
sea in front
of Lebanon, the
Hittite, the Amorite,
the Canaanite, the
Perizzite, the
Hivite, and the
Jebusite, heard of
it
2 they
gathered themselves
together to fight
with Joshua and
with Israel, with
one accord.
3 But
when the
inhabitants of
Gibeon heard what
Joshua had done
to Jericho and
to Ai,
4 they
also resorted to
a ruse, and went
and made as if
they had been
ambassadors, and
took old sacks
on their donkeys,
and old, torn-up
and bound up
wineskins,
5 and
old and patched
sandals on their
feet, and wore
old garments. All
the bread of
their food supply
was dry and moldy.
6 They
went to Joshua
at the camp
at Gilgal, and said
to him and
to the men
of Israel, “We
have come from
a far country. Now
therefore make a
covenant with us.”
7 The
men of Israel said
to the Hivites,
“What if you live
among us? How could
we make a
covenant with you?”
8 They said to
Joshua, “We are your
servants.”
Joshua said to them, “Who
are you? Where do
you come from?”
9 They
said to him, “Your
servants have come
from a very
far country because
of the name
of the LORD
your God; for
we have heard
of his fame,
all that he
did in Egypt,
10 and
all that he
did to the
two kings of
the Amorites who
were beyond the
Jordan, to Sihon
king of Heshbon
and to Og
king of Bashan,
who was at
Ashtaroth.
11 Our
elders and all
the inhabitants of
our country spoke to
us, saying, ‘Take
supplies in your
hand for the
journey, and go
to meet them.
Tell them, “We
are your servants.
Now make a
covenant with
us.” ’
12 This
our bread we
took hot for
our supplies out
of our houses
on the day
we went out
to go to
you; but now,
behold, it is
dry, and has
become moldy.
13 These
wineskins, which
we filled, were
new; and behold,
they are torn.
These our garments
and our sandals
have become old
because of the
very long journey.”
14 The
men sampled their
provisions, and didn’t
ask counsel from
the LORD’s mouth.
15 Joshua
made peace with
them, and made
a covenant with
them, to let them
live. The princes
of the
congregation swore
to them.
16 At
the end of
three days after
they had made
a covenant with
them, they heard
that they were
their neighbors,
and that they
lived among them.
17 The
children of Israel
traveled and came
to their cities
on the third
day. Now their
cities were Gibeon,
Chephirah, Beeroth, and
Kiriath Jearim.
18 The
children of
Israel didn’t strike
them, because the
princes of the
congregation had
sworn to them
by the LORD,
the God of
Israel. All the
congregation murmured
against the
princes.
19 But
all the
princes said to
all the
congregation, “We
have sworn to
them by the
LORD, the God
of Israel. Now
therefore we may
not touch them.
20 We
will do this
to them, and
let them live; lest
wrath be on
us, because of
the oath which we
swore to them.”
21 The
princes said to
them, “Let them
live.” So they
became wood cutters
and drawers of
water for all
the congregation,
as the princes
had spoken to
them.
22 Joshua
called for them,
and he spoke
to them, saying,
“Why have you
deceived us,
saying, ‘We are
very far from
you,’ when you
live among us?
23 Now
therefore you
are cursed, and
some of you
will never fail
to be slaves,
both wood cutters
and drawers of
water for the
house of my
God.”
24 They
answered Joshua,
and said, “Because
your servants were
certainly told how
the LORD your
God commanded his
servant Moses to
give you all
the land, and
to destroy all
the inhabitants of
the land from
before you.
Therefore we were
very afraid for
our lives because
of you, and
have done this
thing.
25 Now,
behold, we are
in your hand.
Do to us
as it seems
good and right
to you to
do.”
26 He
did so to
them, and
delivered them out
of the hand
of the children
of Israel, so
that they didn’t
kill them.
27 That
day Joshua made
them wood cutters
and drawers of
water for the
congregation and
for the LORD’s
altar to this
day, in the
place which he
should choose.