Joshua 9:3-20

3When the inhabitants of 1Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai, 4they also acted craftily and 2set out as envoys, and took worn-out sacks on their donkeys, and wineskins worn-out and torn and 3mended, 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 4camp 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 5Hivites, “Perhaps you are living 6within our land; 7how then shall we make a covenant with you?” 8But they said to Joshua, “8We 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 9a very far country because of the 10fame of the Lord your God; for 11we 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, “12We 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 13did not ask for the 14counsel of the Lord. 1515Joshua 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.

16It came about at the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were neighbors and that they were living 16within their land. 17Then the sons of Israel set out and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were 17Gibeon and Chephirah and Beeroth and Kiriath-jearim. 18The sons of Israel did not strike them because the leaders of the congregation had sworn to them by the Lord the God of Israel. And the whole congregation grumbled against the leaders. 19But all the leaders said to the whole congregation, “We have sworn to them by the Lord, the God of Israel, and now we cannot touch them. 20This we will do to them, even let them live, so that wrath will not be upon us for the oath which we swore to them.”