Joshua 9

1 Now when news of this reached all the kings west of the Jordan—those in the hill country, the foothills, and all along the coast of the Great Sea toward Lebanon (the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites)—

2 they came together to wage war against Joshua and Israel.

3 But the people of Gibeon, having heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,

4 acted deceptively and set out as envoys, carrying on their donkeys worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended.

5 They put worn, patched sandals on their feet and threadbare clothing on their bodies, and their whole supply of bread was dry and moldy.

6 They went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant land; please make a treaty with us.”

7 But the men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you dwell near us. How can we make a treaty with you?”

8 “We are your servants,” they said to Joshua. Then Joshua asked them, “Who are you and where have you come from?”

9 “Your servants have come from a very distant land,” they replied, “because of the fame of the LORD your God. For we have heard the reports about Him: all that He did in Egypt,

10 and all that He did to the two kings of the Amorites beyond the Jordan—Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth.

11 So the elders and inhabitants of our land told us, ‘Take provisions for your journey; go to meet them and say to them: We are your servants. Please make a treaty with us.’

12 This bread of ours was warm when we packed it at home on the day we left to come to you. But look, it is now dry and moldy.

13 These wineskins were new when we filled them, but look, they are cracked. And these clothes and sandals are worn out from our very long journey.”

14 Then the men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not seek the counsel of the LORD.

15 And Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them.

16 Three days after they had made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites learned that they were neighbors, living among them.

17 So the Israelites set out and on the third day arrived at their cities—Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim.

18 But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the congregation had sworn an oath to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. And the whole congregation grumbled against the leaders.

19 All the leaders answered, “We have sworn an oath to them by the LORD, the God of Israel, and now we cannot touch them.

20 This is how we will treat them: We will let them live, so that no wrath will fall on us because of the oath we swore to them.”

21 They continued, “Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for the whole congregation.” So the leaders kept their promise.

22 Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, “Why did you deceive us by telling us you live far away from us, when in fact you live among us?

23 Now therefore you are under a curse and will perpetually serve as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”

24 The Gibeonites answered, “Your servants were told clearly that the LORD your God had commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land and wipe out all its inhabitants before you. So we greatly feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we have done this.

25 Now we are in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you.”

26 So Joshua did this and delivered them from the hands of the Israelites, and they did not kill the Gibeonites.

27 On that day he made them woodcutters and water carriers, as they are to this day for the congregation of the LORD and for the altar at the place He would choose.

1 ¶ And it came to pass, when all the kings which [were] on this side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard [thereof];

2 That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.

3 ¶ And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,

4 They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up;

5 And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry [and] mouldy.

6 And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us.

7 And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you?

8 And they said unto Joshua, We [are] thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who [are] ye? and from whence come ye?

9 And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the LORD thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt,

10 And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that [were] beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which [was] at Ashtaroth.

11 Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We [are] your servants: therefore now make ye a league with us.

12 This our bread we took hot [for] our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is mouldy:

13 And these bottles of wine, which we filled, [were] new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey.

14 And the men took of their victuals, and asked not [counsel] at the mouth of the LORD.

15 ¶ And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.

16 And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, that they heard that they [were] their neighbours, and [that] they dwelt among them.

17 And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities [were] Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjathjearim.

18 And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes.

19 But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them.

20 This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them.

21 And the princes said unto them, Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had promised them.

22 ¶ And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, We [are] very far from you; when ye dwell among us?

23 Now therefore ye [are] cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.

24 And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the LORD thy 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 sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing.

25 And now, behold, we [are] in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do.

26 And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not.

27 And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose.

1 And it came to pass, when all the kings that were on the other side Jordan, in the mountains, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea, and that were by the side of mount Lebanon, the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, heard these things,

2 And they gathered themselves together with one accord, and fought against Joshua, and against Israel.

3 But the men of Gibeon, when they heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, devised a stratagem;

4 And they went and sent a message, and took old sacks upon their asses.

5 And old torn and mended wineskins, and old mended shoes, put on their feet, and put on old garments: and all the bread that they took with them was hard and mouldy.

6 And they went to Joshua into the camp to Gilgal, and said unto him, and to all Israel, We are come from a far country: now therefore make a covenant with us.

7 And all Israel said unto the Hivite, Peradventure thou wilt dwell among us: how then can I make a covenant with thee?

8 And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them: Who are ye, and whence come ye?

9 And they said: Thy servants are come from very far countries for the name of the LORD thy God: for we have heard his tidings, and all that he did in Egypt,

10 And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which dwelt in Ashtaroth.

11 Therefore said our elders, and all the inhabitants of our land: Take food with you on your journey, and go out to meet them, and speak to them; we are your servants. Now therefore make a covenant with us.

12 This our bread, which we took out of our houses for our meat, was yet fresh when we went forth unto you: but now, behold, it is hard and mouldy;

13 And these wineskins we filled anew, and, behold, they are rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey.

14 Then the captains received their meat, and asked not the mouth of the LORD.

15 And Joshua made peace with them, and established a covenant with them, that they should live. And the rulers of the congregation sware unto them.

16 But about three days after they had made a covenant with them, it came to pass, that they were nigh unto them, and dwelt among them.

17 For when the children of Israel departed, they came the third day unto their cities, which were called Gibeon, and Caphirah, and Beeroth, and Kiriathjearim.

18 And they smote them not, because the rulers of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel. And when all the congregation murmured against the princes,

19 And all the rulers of the whole congregation said: We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel; therefore we cannot touch them.

20 But this we will do: let them live, lest wrath come upon us for the oath which we have taken unto them.

21 And the princes said unto them: Let them live, that they may be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation, as the princes said unto them.

22 And Joshua called unto them, and spake unto them, saying, Why have ye deceived us, saying, Ye are very far from us, when ye dwell among us?

23 Therefore ye shall be accursed, that there shall not cease from among you servants that hew wood and carry water unto the house of my God.

24 And they answered Joshua, and said: It is told thy servants, that the LORD thy God commanded Moses his servant to give you all the land, and to destroy before you all the inhabitants of the land. So we feared for our lives because of you, and we have done this.

25 But now, behold, we are in thy hands: what it seemeth thee good and right to do unto us, do that.

26 And he did so unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not.

27 So Joshua made them that day hewers of wood, and drinkers of water for the congregation, and altars of the LORD unto that day in the place which he would choose.