9:1 Now when all the kings west of the Jordan heard about these things–those in the hill country, in the western foothills, and along the entire coast of the Great Sea as far as Lebanon (the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites)–
9:2 they came together to make war against Joshua and Israel.
9:3 However, when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,
9:4 they resorted to a ruse: They went as a delegation whose donkeys were loaded with worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended.
9:5 The men put worn and patched sandals on their feet and wore old clothes. All the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy.
9:6 Then they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant country; make a treaty with us.”
9:7 The men of Israel said to the Hivites, “But perhaps you live near us. How then can we make a treaty with you?”
9:8 “We are your servants,” they said to Joshua. But Joshua asked, “Who are you and where do you come from?”
9:9 They answered: “Your servants have come from a very distant country because of the fame of the LORD your God. For we have heard reports of him: all that he did in Egypt,
9:10 and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan–Sihon king of Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth.
9:11 And our elders and all those living in our country said to us, ‘Take provisions for your journey; go and meet them and say to them, “We are your servants; make a treaty with us.” ‘
9:12 This bread of ours was warm when we packed it at home on the day we left to come to you. But now see how dry and moldy it is.
9:13 And these wineskins that we filled were new, but see how cracked they are. And our clothes and sandals are worn out by the very long journey.”
9:14 The men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the LORD.
9:15 Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath.
9:16 Three days after they made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites heard that they were neighbors, living near them.
9:17 So the Israelites set out and on the third day came to their cities: Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth and Kiriath Jearim.
9:18 But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. The whole assembly grumbled against the leaders,
9:19 but all the leaders answered, “We have given them our oath by the LORD, the God of Israel, and we cannot touch them now.
9:20 This is what we will do to them: We will let them live, so that wrath will not fall on us for breaking the oath we swore to them.”
9:21 They continued, “Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for the entire community.” So the leaders’ promise to them was kept.
9:22 Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, “Why did you deceive us by saying, ‘We live a long way from you,’ while actually you live near us?
9:23 You are now under a curse: You will never cease to serve as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”
9:24 They answered Joshua, “Your servants were clearly told how the LORD your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you the whole land and to wipe out all its inhabitants from before you. So we feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we did this.
9:25 We are now in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you.”
9:26 So Joshua saved them from the Israelites, and they did not kill them.
9:27 That day he made the Gibeonites woodcutters and water carriers for the community and for the altar of the LORD at the place the LORD would choose. And that is what they are to this day.
9:1 And when all the kings who were across the Jordan in the hill country and in the lowland and on all the shore of the Great Sea toward Lebanon, the Hittites and the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, heard of this,
9:2 They gathered themselves together to fight with Joshua and Israel with one accord.
9:3 But the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai,
9:4 And so they too acted craftily. And they went out as though they were envoys; and they took old sacks upon their donkeys, and old torn up and bound up wineskins,
9:5 And old patched sandals on their feet, and old garments upon themselves; and all the bread of their provisions was dry and had become moldy.
9:6 And they went to Joshua at the camp of Gilgal and said to him and to the men of Israel, From a faraway land we have come; now therefore make a covenant with us.
9:7 And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Perhaps you dwell among us. How then can we make a covenant with you?
9:8 And they said to Joshua, We will be your servants. And Joshua said to them, Who are you, and where are you coming from?
9:9 And they said to him, From a very far land your servants have come because of the name of Jehovah your God, for we have heard reports of Him and all that He did in Egypt
9:10 And all that He did to the two kings of the Amorites who were across the Jordan, to Sihon the king of Heshbon and to Og the king of Bashan, who was in Ashtaroth.
9:11 So our elders and all the inhabitants of our land spoke to us, saying, Take provisions in your hand for the journey, and go to meet them; and you shall say to them, We will be your servants; make then a covenant with us.
9:12 This bread of ours was hot when we took it for our provisions from our houses on the day we went forth to come to you; and here it now is: it is dry and has become moldy.
9:13 And these wineskins, which we filled, were new; and here they are: they are torn up. And these clothes and sandals of ours have become old because of the very long journey.
9:14 And the men took some of their provisions, but they did not ask for the counsel of Jehovah.
9:15 And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly swore an oath to them.
9:16 Then at the end of three days, after they had made the covenant with them, they heard that they were their neighbors and that they dwelt among them.
9:17 And the children of Israel set out and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon and Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim.
9:18 And the children of Israel did not strike them, for the leaders of the assembly had sworn to them by Jehovah the God of Israel; and all the assembly murmured against the leaders.
9:19 Then all the leaders said to all the assembly, We have sworn to them by Jehovah the God of Israel; therefore now we cannot touch them.
9:20 This we will do with them and let them live, so that wrath does not come upon us because of the oath that we swore to them.
9:21 And the leaders said to them, Let them live. So they became woodcutters and drawers of water for all the assembly, as the leaders had said concerning them.
9:22 Then Joshua called for them and spoke to them, saying, Why have you deceived us, saying, We are very far from you; when you dwell among us?
9:23 Now therefore you shall be cursed; and there shall never fail to be slaves from among you, woodcutters and drawers of water for the house of my God.
9:24 And they answered Joshua and said, Because it had been told to your servants for certain that Jehovah your God had commanded Moses His servant 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 we did this thing.
9:25 And now here we are in your hand: Do as it seems good and upright in your sight to do to us.
9:26 And he did so to them and delivered them from the hand of the children of Israel, and they did not slay them.
9:27 And that day Joshua made them woodcutters and drawers of water for the assembly and for the altar of Jehovah, as they are to this day, in the place that He would choose.