Joshua 9:1-15

1Now it came about when 1all the kings who were beyond the Jordan, in the hill country, 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 about it, 2that they met together with 4one 5purpose, to fight with Joshua and with Israel.

3The inhabitants of 6Gibeon also heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai, 4but they on their part acted craftily and went and took provisions for a journey, and took worn-out sacks on their donkeys, and wineskins that were worn out, split open, and patched, 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. 6And they went to Joshua at the 7camp at Gilgal and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a far country; now then, make a covenant with us.” 7But the men of Israel said to the 8Hivites, “Perhaps you are living 9within our land; 10how then are we to make a covenant with you?” 8So they said to Joshua, “11We 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 12a very distant country because of the 13fame of the Lord your God; for 14we have heard the report about 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 in 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, “15We are your servants; now then, make a covenant with us.”’ 12This bread of ours was hot when we took it for our provisions from our houses on the day that we left to come to you; but now behold, it is dry and has become crumbled. 13And these wineskins which we filled were new, and behold, they are split open; and these clothes of ours and our sandals are worn out from the very long journey.” 14So the men of Israel took some of their provisions, and 16did not ask for the 17counsel of the Lord. 15And 18Joshua 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.