 1 When all the kings on this side Jordan heard, those in the hills and valleys and in all the coast of the great sea by Lebanon, the Hittite, Amorite, Canaanite, Perizzite, Hivite, and Jebusite, 2 they all, with one mind, gathered to fight with Joshua and with Israel. 3 Those who lived in Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai. 4 So they worked craftily. They acted as if they were ambassadors and they took old sacks on their donkeys and old, torn, and bound up wineskins. 5 They used old and patched sandals on their feet, old clothes, and all the bread they took was dry and moldy. 6 They then went to Joshua, to the camp at Gilgal, and said to him and to the men of Israel, We have come from a far country. Now therefore, make a treaty with us. 7 The men of Israel said to the Hivites, Perhaps you are living among us, and how shall we make a treaty with you? 8 They said to Joshua, We are your servants. And Joshua said to them, Who are you, and from where do you come? 9 They said to him, Your servants have come from a very far country, because of the name of the Lord your God. For we have heard of His fame and all that He did in Egypt, 10 All that He did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond Jordan, to King Sihon of Heshbon and to King Og of Bashan who was at Ashtaroth. 11 Our elders and all those who live in our country spoke to us saying, Take provisions with you for the journey, and go to meet them. Say to them, We are your servants. Now make a treaty with us. 12 We took this bread hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came out to go to you. But now, see, it is dry, and it is moldy. 13 These wineskins that we filled were new. And, see, they are torn. And these clothes and shoes of ours have become old because of the very long journey. 14 They received the men because of their provisions, and did not ask at the mouth of the Lord. 15 Joshua made peace with them, and made a treaty with them, to let them live. And the rulers of the congregation swore to them. 16 At the end of three days after they had made a treaty with them, they heard that they were their neighbors and that they lived among them. 17 The children of Israel traveled and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjathjearim. 18 The children of Israel did not strike them because the rulers of the congregation had sworn to them by the Lord God of Israel. Then all the congregation grumbled+ against the rulers. 19 But all the rulers said to the congregation, We have sworn to them by the Lord God of Israel. Now, therefore, we may not touch them. 20 This we will do to them. We will let them live lest wrath be upon us because of the oath that we swore to them. 21 The rulers said to them, Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and drawers of water to all the congregation as the rulers had promised them. 22 Joshua called for them and said, Why have you fooled us saying, We are very far from you when you live among us? 23 Now you are cursed and none of you will be freed from being slaves and woodcutters and drawers of water for the house of my God. 24 They answered Joshua and said, It was certainly told to your servants how the Lord your God commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land and to destroy all those who lived in the land from before you. Therefore, we were very afraid for our lives because of you, and therefore we have done this. 25 Now, behold, we are in your hand. Do as it seems good and right to you to do to us. 26 So he did to them and delivered them from the children of Israel so they did not kill them. 27 That day, Joshua made them woodcutters and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of the Lord, even to this day in the place that He chose.
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