Joshua 9:3-20

3The inhabitants of 1Gibeon 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 2camp 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 3Hivites, “Perhaps you are living 4within our land; 5how then are we to make a covenant with you?” 8So they said to Joshua, “6We 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 7a very distant country because of the 8fame of the Lord your God; for 9we 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, “10We 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 11did not ask for the 12counsel of the Lord. 15And 13Joshua 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.

16However, it 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 14within their land. 17Then the sons of Israel set out and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were 15Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim. 18But the sons of Israel did not 16attack 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 on us because of the oath which we swore to them.”