Joshua 9

The Deceit of the Gibeonites

1Now whenH1961 news of this reachedH8085 allH3605 the kingsH4428 westH5676 of the JordanH3383—thoseH834 in the hill countryH2022, the foothillsH8219,1 and allH3605 along the coastH2348 of the GreatH1419 SeaH32202 towardH413H4136 LebanonH3844 (the HittitesH2850, AmoritesH567, CanaanitesH3669, PerizzitesH6522, HivitesH2340, and JebusitesH2983)— 2they cameH6908 togetherH3162H6310H259 to wage warH3898 againstH5973 JoshuaH3091H5973 and IsraelH3478.

3But the peopleH3427 of GibeonH1391, having heardH8085 whatH834 JoshuaH3091 had doneH6213 to JerichoH3405 and AiH5857, 4acted deceptivelyH6213H1571H1992H6195 and set outH1980 as envoysH6737,3 carryingH3947 on their donkeysH2543 worn-outH1087 sacksH8242 and oldH1087 wineskinsH4997H3196, crackedH1234 and mendedH6887. 5They put wornH1087, patchedH2921 sandalsH5275 on their feetH7272 and threadbareH1087 clothingH8008 onH5921 their bodies, and their wholeH3605 supplyH6718 of breadH3899 was dryH3001H1961 and moldyH5350. 6They wentH1980 toH413 JoshuaH3091 inH413 the campH4264 at GilgalH1537 and saidH559 to himH413 andH413 the menH376 of IsraelH3478, “We have comeH935H6258 from a distantH7350 landH776; please makeH3772 a treatyH12854 with us.”

7But the menH376 of IsraelH3478 saidH559 toH413 the HivitesH2340, “PerhapsH194 youH859 dwellH3427 near usH7130. HowH349 can we makeH3772 a treaty with youH1285?”

8“WeH587 are your servantsH5650,” they saidH559 toH413 JoshuaH3091.

Then JoshuaH3091 asked themH559H413, “WhoH4310 are youH859 and whereH370 have you come fromH935?”

9“Your servantsH5650 have comeH935 from a veryH3966 distantH7350 landH776,” they repliedH559H413, “because of the fameH8034 of the LORDH3068 your GodH430. ForH3588 we have heardH8085 the reports about HimH8089: allH3605 thatH834 He didH6213 in EgyptH4714, 10andH853 allH3605 thatH834 He didH6213 to the twoH8147 kingsH4428 of the AmoritesH567 beyondH5676 the JordanH3383—SihonH5511 kingH4428 of HeshbonH2809 and OgH5747 kingH4428 of BashanH1316, whoH834 reigned in AshtarothH6252. 11So the eldersH2205 andH3605 inhabitantsH3427 of our landH776 toldH559 usH413, ‘TakeH3947 provisionsH6720 for your journeyH1870; goH1980 to meet themH7122 and sayH559 to themH413: WeH587H6258 are your servantsH5650. Please makeH3772 a treatyH1285 with us.’

12ThisH2088 breadH3899 of ours was warmH2525 when we packedH6679 itH853 at homeH1004 on the dayH3117 we leftH3318 to comeH1980 to youH413. But lookH2009, it is nowH6258 dryH3001 andH1961 moldyH5350. 13TheseH428 wineskinsH4997H3196 were newH2319 when we filledH4390 themH834, but lookH2009, they are crackedH1234. And theseH428 clothesH8008 and sandalsH5275 are worn outH1086 from our veryH3966 longH7230 journeyH1870.”

14Then the men of IsraelH582 sampledH3947 their provisionsH6718 but did notH3808 seekH7592 the counselH6310 of the LORDH3068. 15And JoshuaH3091 madeH6213 a treatyH1285 of peaceH7965 with them to let them liveH2421, and the leadersH5387 of the congregationH5712 swore an oathH7650 to them.

16

ThreeH7969 daysH3117 afterH310 they had madeH3772 the treatyH1285 with the Gibeonites, the Israelites learnedH8085 thatH3588 theyH1992 were neighborsH7138, livingH3427 among themH7130H1992. 17So the IsraelitesH1121H3478 set outH5265 and on the thirdH7992 dayH3117 arrivedH935H413 at their citiesH5892—GibeonH1391, ChephirahH3716, BeerothH881, and Kiriath-jearimH7157. 18But the IsraelitesH1121H3478 did notH3808 attack themH5221, becauseH3588 the leadersH5387 of the congregationH5712 had sworn an oathH7650 to them by the LORDH3068, the GodH430 of IsraelH3478. And the wholeH3605 congregationH5712 grumbledH3885 againstH5921 the leadersH5387.

19AllH3605 the leadersH5387H413 answeredH559, “WeH587 have sworn an oathH7650 to them by the LORDH3068, the GodH430 of IsraelH3478, and nowH6258 we cannotH3808H3201 touchH5060 them. 20ThisH2063 is how we will treatH6213 them: We will let them liveH2421, so that noH3808 wrathH7110 will fallH1961 on usH5921 because ofH5921 the oathH7621 we sworeH7650 to them.” 21TheyH5387 continuedH559H413, “Let them liveH2421, but let them beH1961 woodcuttersH2404H6086 and waterH4325 carriersH7579 for the wholeH3605 congregationH5712.” SoH834 the leadersH5387 kept their promiseH1696.

22Then JoshuaH3091 summonedH7121 the Gibeonites and saidH1696, “WhyH4100 did you deceiveH7411 usH853H559 by telling usH559 you live far awayH7350H3966 from usH587, when in fact youH859 liveH3427 among usH7130? 23Now thereforeH6258 youH859 are under a curseH779 and will perpetuallyH3808H3772 serveH5650 as woodcuttersH2404H6086 and waterH4325 carriersH7579 for the houseH1004 of my GodH430.”

24The Gibeonites answeredH6030, “Your servantsH5650 were told clearlyH5046 thatH834 the LORDH3068 your GodH430 had commandedH6680 His servantH5650 MosesH4872 to giveH5414 you allH3605 the landH776 and wipe outH8045 allH3605 its inhabitantsH3427H776 before youH6440. So we greatlyH3966 fearedH3372 for our livesH5315 because of youH6440, and that is why we have doneH6213 thisH2088. 25NowH6258H2005 we are in your handsH3027. DoH6213 to us whatever seemsH5869 goodH2896 and rightH3477 to you.”

26SoH3651 Joshua did thisH6213 and deliveredH5337 themH853 from the handsH3027 of the IsraelitesH1121H3478, and they did notH3808 killH2026 the Gibeonites. 27On thatH1931 dayH3117 heH3091 made themH5414 woodcuttersH2404H6086 and waterH4325 carriersH7579, as they are to this dayH5704H3117H2088 for the congregationH5712 of the LORDH3068 and for the altarH4196 atH413 the placeH4725 He would chooseH977.