Joshua 9

The Treaty with the Gibeonites

9And it came to pass when all the kings who were on this side of the Jordan, in the hills and in the lowland and in all the coasts of the Great Sea toward Lebanon—the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite—heard about it,H4428H5676H3383H2022H8219H2348H1419H3220H4136H3844H2850H567H3669H6522H2340H2983H80852that they gathered together to fight with Joshua and Israel with one accord.H6908H3162H3898H3091H3478H259H63103But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,H3427H1391H8085H3091H6213H3405H58574they worked craftily, and went and pretended to be ambassadors. And they took old sacks on their donkeys, old wineskins torn and mended,H6213H6195H3212H6737H3947H1087H8242H2543H3196H4997H1087H1234H68875old and patched sandals on their feet, and old garments on themselves; and all the bread of their provision was dry and moldy.H1087H5275H2921H7272H1087H8008H3899H6718H3001H53506And they went to Joshua, to 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."H3212H3091H4264H1537H559H376H3478H935H7350H776H3772H12857Then the men of Israel said to the Hivites, "Perhaps you dwell among us; so how can we make a covenant with you?"H376H3478H559H2340H194H3427H7130H3772H12858But they said to Joshua, "We are your servants." And Joshua said to them, "Who are you, and where do you come from?"H559H3091H5650H3091H559H370H9359So they said to him: "From a very far country your servants have come, because of the name of the LORD your God; for we have heard of His fame, and all that He did in Egypt,H559H3966H7350H776H5650H935H8034H3068H430H8085H8089H6213H471410"and all that He did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan—to Sihon king of Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth.H6213H8147H4428H567H5676H3383H5511H4428H2809H5747H4428H1316H625211"Therefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, 'Take provisions with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say to them, "We are your servants; now therefore, make a covenant with us."'H2205H3427H776H559H559H3947H6720H3027H1870H3212H7125H559H5650H3772H128512"This bread of ours we took hot for our provision from our houses on the day we departed to come to you. But now look, it is dry and moldy.H3899H2525H6679H1004H3117H3318H3212H3001H535013"And these wineskins which we filled were new, and see, they are torn; and these our garments and our sandals have become old because of the very long journey."H4997H3196H4390H2319H1234H8008H5275H1086H3966H7230H187014Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions; but they did not ask counsel of the LORD.H582H3947H6718H7592H6310H306815So Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them to let them live; and the rulers of the congregation swore to them.H3091H6213H7965H3772H1285H2421H5387H5712H765016And it happened at the end of three days, after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors who dwelt near them.H7097H7969H3117H310H3772H1285H8085H7138H3427H713017Then the children of Israel journeyed and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kirjath Jearim.H1121H3478H5265H935H5892H7992H3117H5892H1391H3716H881H715718But the children of Israel did not attack them, because the rulers of the congregation had sworn to them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation complained against the rulers.H1121H3478H5221H5387H5712H7650H3068H430H3478H5712H3885H538719Then all the rulers said to all the congregation, "We have sworn to them by the LORD God of Israel; now therefore, we may not touch them.H5387H559H5712H7650H3068H430H3478H3201H506020"This we will do to them: We will let them live, lest wrath be upon us because of the oath which we swore to them."H6213H2421H7110H7621H765021And the rulers said to them, "Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for all the congregation, as the rulers had promised them."H5387H559H2421H2404H6086H7579H4325H5712H5387H169622Then Joshua called for them, and he spoke to them, saying, "Why have you deceived us, saying, 'We are very far from you,' when you dwell near us?H3091H7121H1696H559H7411H559H3966H7350H3427H713023"Now therefore, you are cursed, and none of you shall be freed from being slaves—woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God."H779H3772H5650H2404H6086H7579H4325H1004H43024So they answered Joshua and said, "Because your servants were clearly told that 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 much afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this thing.H6030H3091H559H5046H5046H5650H3068H430H6680H5650H4872H5414H776H8045H3427H776H6440H3966H3372H5315H6440H6213H169725"And now, here we are, in your hands; do with us as it seems good and right to do to us."H2009H3027H5869H2896H3477H6213H621326So he did to them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, so that they did not kill them.H6213H5337H3027H1121H3478H202627And that day Joshua made them woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD, in the place which He would choose, even to this day.H3091H5414H3117H2404H6086H7579H4325H5712H4196H3068H3117H4725H977