Joshua 9

1 Now on hearing the news of these things, all the kings on the west side of Jordan, in the hill-country and the lowlands and by the Great Sea in front of Lebanon, the Hittites and the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites,

Then all the kings who lived beyond the Jordan in the hill country, and in the lowlands along the shore of the Great Sea toward Lebanon—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and the Jebusites—

2 Came together with one purpose, to make war against Joshua and Israel.

these joined together under one command, to wage war against Joshua and Israel.

3 And the men of Gibeon, hearing what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,

When the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai,

4 Acting with deceit, got food together as if for a long journey; and took old food-bags for their asses, and old and cracked wine-skins kept together with cord;

they acted with a cunning plan. They went as messengers. They took worn-out sacks and put them on their donkeys. They also took old wineskins that were worn, torn, and had been repaired.

5 And put old stitched-up shoes on their feet, and old clothing on their backs; and all the food they had with them was dry and broken up.

They put old and patched sandals on their feet, and dressed in old, worn-out clothing. All the bread in their food supply was dry and moldy.

6 And they came to Joshua to the tent-circle at Gilgal, and said to him and to the men of Israel, We have come from a far country: so now make an agreement with us.

Then they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have traveled from a very far country, so now make a covenant with us.”

7 And the men of Israel said to the Hivites, It may be that you are living among us; how then may we make an agreement with you?

The men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you live near us. How can we make a covenant with you?”

8 And they said to Joshua, We are your servants. Then Joshua said to them, Who are you and where do you come from?

They said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” Joshua said to them, “Who are you? Where did you come from?”

9 And they said to him, Your servants have come from a very far country, because of the name of the Lord your God: for the story of his great name, and of all he did in Egypt has come to our ears,

They said to him, “Your servants have come here from a land very far away, because of the name of Yahweh your God. We have heard a report about him and about everything that he did in Egypt—

10 And what he did to the two kings of the Amorites east of Jordan, to Sihon, king of Heshbon, and to Og, king of Bashan, at Ashtaroth.

and everything that he did to the two kings of the Amorites on the other side of the Jordan—to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan who was at Ashtaroth.

11 So the responsible men and all the people of our country said to us, Take food with you for the journey and go to them, and say to them, We are your servants: so now make an agreement with us.

Our elders and all the inhabitants of our country said to us, 'Take provisions in your hand for the journey. Go to meet them and say to them, “We are your servants. Make a treaty with us.”

12 This bread which we have with us for our food, we took warm and new from our houses when starting on our journey to you; but now see, it has become dry and broken up.

This is our bread, it was still warm when we took it from our houses on the day we set out to come to you. But now, see, it is dry and moldy.

13 And these wine-skins were new when we put the wine in them, and now they are cracked as you see; and our clothing and our shoes have become old because of our very long journey here.

These wineskins were new when we filled them, and look, now they are leaking. Our garments and our sandals are worn-out from a very long journey.'”

14 And the men took some of their food, without requesting directions from the Lord.

So the Israelites took some of their provisions, but they did not consult with Yahweh for guidance.

15 So Joshua made peace with them, and made an agreement with them that they were not to be put to death: and the chiefs of the people took an oath to them.

Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live. The leaders of the people also made a vow to them.

16 Now three days after, when they had made this agreement with them, they had word that these men were their neighbours, living near them.

Three days after the Israelites made this covenant with them, they learned that they were their neighbors and that they lived nearby.

17 And the children of Israel went forward on their journey, and on the third day came to their towns. Now their towns were Gibeon and Chephirah and Beeroth and Kiriath-jearim.

Then the people of Israel set out and came to their cities on the third day. Their cities were Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim.

18 And the children of Israel did not put them to death, because the chiefs of the people had taken an oath to them by the Lord, the God of Israel. And all the people made an outcry against the chiefs.

The people of Israel did not attack them because their leaders had taken an oath about them before Yahweh, the God of Israel. All the Israelites were grumbling against their leaders.

19 But all the chiefs said to the people, We have taken an oath to them by the Lord, the God of Israel, and so we may not put our hands on them.

But all the leaders said to all the people, “We have taken an oath concerning them by Yahweh, the God of Israel, and now we cannot harm them.

20 This is what we will do to them: we will not put them to death, for fear that wrath may come on us because of our oath to them.

This is what we will do to them: To avoid any wrath that may come on us because of the oath we swore to them, we will let them live.”

21 Keep them living, and let them be servants, cutting wood and getting water for all the people. And all the people did as the chiefs had said to them.

The leaders said to their people, “Let them live.” So, the Gibeonites became cutters of wood and drawers of water for all the Israelites, just as the leaders said about them.

22 Then Joshua sent for them, and said to them, Why have you been false to us, saying, We are very far from you, when you are living among us?

Joshua called for them and said, “Why did you deceive us when you said, 'We are very far from you', when you live right here among us?

23 Now because of this you are cursed, and you will for ever be our servants, cutting wood and getting water for the house of my God.

Now, because of this, you are cursed and some of you will always be slaves, those who cut wood and draw water for the house of my God.”

24 And, answering Joshua, they said, Because it came to the ears of your servants that the Lord your God had given orders to his servant Moses to give you all this land, and to send destruction on all the people living in it, because of you; so, fearing greatly for our lives because of you, we have done this.

They answered Joshua and said, “Because it was told to your servants that Yahweh your God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land before you—so we were very afraid for our lives because of you. That is why we did this thing.

25 And now we are in your hands: do to us whatever seems good and right to you.

Now, look, you hold us in your power. Whatever seems good and right for you to do to us, do it.”

26 So he kept them safe from the children of Israel, and did not let them be put to death.

So Joshua did this for them: He delivered them out of the control of the people of Israel, so that the Israelites did not kill them.

27 And that day Joshua made them servants, cutting wood and getting water for the people and for the altar of the Lord, in the place marked out by him, to this day.

That day Joshua made the Gibeonites cutters of wood and drawers of water for the community, and for the altar of Yahweh, to this day, in the place that Yahweh chooses.