CHAPTER 9
Now when
news of this reached
all
the kings
west
of the Jordan—
those
in the hill country,
the foothills,
and all
along the coast
of the Great
Sea
toward
Lebanon
(the Hittites,
Amorites,
Canaanites,
Perizzites,
Hivites,
and Jebusites)—
acted deceptively
and set out
as envoys,
carrying
on their donkeys
worn-out
sacks
and old
wineskins,
cracked
and mended.
They put worn,
patched
sandals
on their feet
and threadbare
clothing
on their bodies,
and their whole
supply
of bread
was dry
and moldy.
They went
to
Joshua
in
the camp
at Gilgal
and said
to him
and
the men
of Israel,
“We have come
from a distant
land;
please make
a treaty with us.”
But the men
of Israel
said
to
the Hivites,
“Perhaps
you
dwell
near us.
How
can we make
a treaty with you?”
“We
are your servants,”
they said
to
Joshua.
Then Joshua
asked them,
“Who
are you
and from where
have you come?”
“Your servants
have come
from a very
distant
land,”
they replied,
“because of the fame
of the LORD
your God.
For
we have heard
the reports of Him
and
all
that
He did
in Egypt,
as well as
all
that
He did
to the two
kings
of the Amorites
beyond
the Jordan—
Sihon
king
of Heshbon
and Og
king
of Bashan,
who
reigned in Ashtaroth.
So the elders
and
inhabitants
of our land
told
us,
‘Take
provisions
for your journey;
go
to meet them
and say
to them:
We
are your servants.
Please make
a treaty with us.’
This
bread
of ours was warm
when we packed it
at home
on the day
we left
to come
to you.
But take a look,
it is now
dry
and
moldy.
These
wineskins
were new
when we filled
them,
but look,
they are cracked.
And these
clothes
and sandals
are worn out
from our very
long
journey.”
And Joshua
made
a treaty
of peace
with them
to let them live,
and the leaders
of the congregation
swore an oath to them.
Three
days
after
they had made
the treaty with the Gibeonites,
[the Israelites learned
that
they were
neighbors,
living
among them.
So the Israelites
set out
and on the third
day
arrived
at their cities—
Gibeon,
Chephirah,
Beeroth,
and Kiriath-jearim.
But the Israelites
did not
attack them,
because
the leaders
of the congregation
had sworn an oath
to them
by the LORD,
the God
of Israel.
And the whole
congregation
grumbled
against
the leaders.
All
the leaders
answered,
“We
have sworn an oath
to them by the LORD,
the God
of Israel,
and now
we cannot
touch
them.
This
is how we will treat them:
We will let them live,
so that no
wrath
will fall
on
us because of
the oath
we swore
to them.”
They
continued,
“Let them live,
but let them be
woodcutters
and water
carriers
for the whole
congregation.”
So
the leaders
kept their promise.
Then Joshua
summoned
the Gibeonites
and said,
“Why
did you deceive
us
by telling
us you live far away
from
us,
when in fact you
live
among us?
Now therefore
you
are under a curse
and will perpetually
serve
as woodcutters
and water
carriers
for the house
of my God.”
The Gibeonites answered,
“Your servants
were told
clearly
that
the LORD
your God
had commanded
His servant
Moses
to give
you all
the land
and wipe out
all
its inhabitants
before you.
So we greatly
feared
for our lives
because of you,
and that is why we have done
this.
So
Joshua did this
and delivered
them
from the hands
of the Israelites,
and they did not
kill the Gibeonites.
On that
day
he
made
them woodcutters
and water
carriers,
as they are to this day,
for the congregation
of the LORD
and for the altar
at
the place
He would choose.