Joshua 9:1-15

1Now it came about when 1all the kings who were beyond the Jordan, in the hill country and in the lowland and on all the 2coast of the Great Sea toward Lebanon, 3the Hittite and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite, heard of it, 2that they gathered themselves together with 45one accord to fight with Joshua and with Israel.

3When the inhabitants of 6Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai, 4they also acted craftily and 7set out as envoys, and took worn-out sacks on their donkeys, and wineskins worn-out and torn and 8mended, 5and worn-out and patched sandals on their feet, and worn-out clothes on themselves; and all the bread of their provision was dry and had become crumbled. 6They went to Joshua to the 9camp 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.” 7The men of Israel said to the 10Hivites, “Perhaps you are living 11within our land; 12how then shall we make a covenant with you?” 8But they said to Joshua, “13We are your servants.” Then Joshua said to them, “Who are you and where do you come from?” 9They said to him, “Your servants have come from 14a very far country because of the 15fame of the Lord your God; for 16we have heard the report of Him and all that He did in Egypt, 10and 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. 11So our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, ‘Take provisions in your hand for the journey, and go to meet them and say to them, “17We are your servants; now then, make a covenant with us.”’ 12This our bread was warm when we took it for our provisions out of our houses on the day that we left to come to you; but now behold, it is dry and has become crumbled. 13These wineskins which we filled were new, and behold, they are torn; and these our clothes and our sandals are worn out because of the very long journey.” 14So the men of Israel took some of their provisions, and 18did not ask for the 19counsel of the Lord. 1520Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live; and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them.