Joshua 9:6-27

6And they went to Joshua at the 1camp 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 2Hivites, “Perhaps you are living 3within our land; 4how then are we to make a covenant with you?” 8So they said to Joshua, “5We 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 6a very distant country because of the 7fame of the Lord your God; for 8we 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, “9We 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 10did not ask for the 11counsel of the Lord. 15And 12Joshua 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 13within their land. 17Then the sons of Israel set out and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were 14Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim. 18But the sons of Israel did not 15attack 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.” 21So the leaders said to them, “Let them live.” And they became 16gatherers of firewood and 17labor to draw water for the whole congregation, just as the leaders had spoken to them.

22Then Joshua called for them and spoke to them, saying, “Why have you deceived us, saying, ‘We are very far from you,’ 18when you are living 19within our land? 23Now therefore, you are 20cursed, and 21you will never cease to be slaves, both gatherers of firewood and 22labor to draw water for the house of my God.” 24So they answered Joshua and said, “23Since your servants were fully informed that the Lord your God had commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land before you, we feared greatly for our lives because of you, and did this thing. 25And now behold, 24we are in your hands; do to us as it seems good and right in your sight to do.” 26This he did to them, and saved them from the hands of the sons of Israel, and they did not kill them. 27But on that day Joshua made them gatherers of firewood and 25labor to draw water for the congregation and for the altar of the Lord, to this day, 26in the place which He would choose.