Joshua 9
1 And when these things were heard, all the kings across the Jordan, who lived among the mountains and plains, along the coastline and shores of the great sea, also those who were living near Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite,
Todos los reyes al oeste del Jordán se enteraron de lo sucedido. Entre ellos estaban los reyes de los hititas, amorreos, cananeos, ferezeos, heveos y jebuseos que vivían en la región de las colinas, en las tierras bajas y a lo largo de la costa hasta el Líbano.
2 gathered themselves together, so that they might fight against Joshua and Israel, with one mind and with the same resolve.
Así que se reunieron para luchar juntos como un ejército unido contra Josué y los israelitas.
3 But those who were living in Gibeon, hearing all that Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,
Pero cuando el pueblo de Gabaón se enteró de lo que Josué le había hecho a Jericó y a Hai,
4 planning cleverly, took for themselves provisions, placing old sacks upon their donkeys, and wineskins that had torn and been sewed up,
decidieron un plan astuto. Enviaron mensajeros a Josué, con sus burros que llevaban monturas desgastadas y cargaban odres viejos que estaban rotos y remendados.
5 and having very old shoes, which had been sewn with patches indicating their age, and being clothed in old garments, having also loaves, which they carried as food for the journey, which were hard and broken into pieces.
Se pusieron sandalias gastadas que habían sido remendadas y llevaban ropas viejas. Todo su pan estaba seco y enmohecido.
6 And they traveled to Joshua, who at that time was staying in the camp at Gilgal. And they said to him, and to all of Israel with him, “We have come from a far away land, desiring to make peace with you.” And the sons of Israel responded to them, and said,
Se dirigieron a Josué en el campamento de Gilgal y le dijeron a él y a los hombres de Israel: “Hemos venido de una tierra lejana, así que por favor hagan un tratado con nosotros”.
7 “Perhaps instead, you live in the land which ought to be ours by lot, and we would be unable to form a pact with you.”
Pero los israelitas dijeron a los heveos: “Tal vez ustedes vivan cerca. Si es así, no podemos hacer un tratado con ustedes”.
8 But they said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” And Joshua said to them: “But who are you? And where are you from?”
“Somos sus siervos”, respondieron. “Pero ¿quiénes son ustedes? ¿De dónde vienen?” preguntó Josué.
9 They responded: “Your servants have arrived, from a very far away land, in the name of the Lord, your God. For we have heard about the fame of his power, all the things that he has done in Egypt,
“Nosotros tus siervos hemos venido de una tierra lejana”, respondieron. “Porque hemos oído hablar de la reputación del Señor, su Dios, y de todo lo que hizo en Egipto,
10 and to the two kings of the Amorites, who were beyond the Jordan: Sihon, the king of Heshbon, and Og, the king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth.
y de lo que hizo a los dos reyes amorreos al este del Jordán: a Sejón, rey de Hesbón, y a Og, rey de Basán, que gobernaba en Astarot.
11 And our elders, and all the inhabitants of our land, have said to us: ‘Take in hand provisions for the very long journey, and meet with them, and say: We are your servants; form a pact with us.’
Así que nuestros jefes nos djieron a nosotros y a todos los habitantes de nuestra tierra: Llévense lo que necesiten para el viaje. Únanse a ellos y díganles: ‘Somos tus siervos. Por favor, hagan un tratado con nosotros’.
12 Lo, the loaves were taken up warm when we departed from our houses, so that we might come to you. Now they have become dry and broken, due to age.
‘Miren este pan. Estaba caliente cuando lo sacamos de nuestras casas el día que salimos para venir aquí. Pero ahora está seco y mohoso, como pueden ver.
13 These wineskins were new when we filled them, now they are torn and broken. The garments we are wearing, and the shoes we have on our feet, due to the great length of the distance, have become worn and are nearly consumed.”
Estos odres eran nuevos cuando los llenamos, pero mírenlos ahora: están rotos y dañados. Estas ropas nuestras y nuestras sandalias están desgastadas porque el viaje ha sido muy largo’”.
14 And so they accepted this, because of their provisions, and they did not consult the mouth of the Lord.
Los israelitas probaron algunos de los alimentos. Sin embargo, no consultaron al Señor.
15 And Joshua made peace with them, and entering into a pact, he promised that they would not be put to death. The leaders of the multitude also swore to them.
Entonces Josué hizo un tratado con ellos, prometiendo perdonarles la vida, y los líderes de la asamblea hicieron un juramento para garantizarlo.
16 Then, three days after the pact was formed, they heard that they lived in the vicinity, and that they would soon be among them.
Tres días después de haber hecho el tratado, los israelitas se enteraron de que los gabaonitas vivían cerca, ¡justo en medio de ellos!
17 And so the sons of Israel moved the camp, and they arrived at their cities on the third day, those which are called: Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim.
Entonces los israelitas partieron para ir a las ciudades gabaonitas, y llegaron allí al tercer día. Las ciudades eran Gabaón, Cafira, Berot y Quiriat Yearín.
18 And they did not strike them, because the leaders of the multitude had sworn to them in the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. And so all of the common people murmured against the leaders.
Pero los israelitas no los atacaron debido al tratado que habían jurado los líderes de la asamblea en nombre del Señor, el Dios de Israel. Ante esto, todos los israelitas protestaron contra los líderes.
19 And they responded to them: “We have sworn to them in the name of the Lord, the God of Israel, and for that reason, we are not able to touch them.
Pero los líderes respondieron al pueblo: “Les hemos jurado por el Señor, el Dios de Israel, así que ahora no podemos ponerles la mano encima.
20 But we shall do this to them: Certainly, let them be preserved so that they may live, lest the wrath of the Lord be stirred up against us, since we would have sworn falsely.
Así que esto es lo que vamos a hacer con ellos. Los dejaremos vivir, para que no seamos castigados por romper el juramento que les hicimos”.
21 But though they live, let them serve the entire multitude by cutting wood and carrying water.” And while they were discussing these things,
Los líderes concluyeron: “Déjenlos vivir”. Así que los gabaonitas se convirtieron en leñadores y aguadores al servicio de toda la asamblea, como habían ordenado los líderes israelitas.
22 Joshua called the Gibeonites, and he said to them: “Why would you be willing to deceive us by fraud, saying, ‘We live very far away from you,’ when you are in our midst?
Entonces Josué convocó a los gabaonitas y les preguntó: “¿Por qué nos han engañado? ¡Nos dijeron que vivíamos lejos de ustedes, pero resulta que ustedes viven al lado de nosotros!
23 Therefore, you shall be under a curse, and your stock shall not cease to be cutters of wood and carriers of water, into the house of my God.”
Ahora, como consecuencia, ustedes estarán bajo una maldición. Desde ahora serán para siempre siervos, leñadores y aguadores de la casa de mi Dios”.
24 And they responded: “It was reported to us, your servants, that the Lord your God had promised his servant Moses that he would give you the entire land, and that he would destroy all its inhabitants. Therefore, we were very afraid, and we made a provision for our lives, compelled by the dread of you, and we undertook this counsel.
Entonces ellos le respondieron a Josué: “A nosotros, tus siervos, se nos dijo muy claramente que el Señor, tu Dios, le había ordenado a Moisés que te diera toda esta tierra, y que todos sus habitantes debían ser exterminados ante ustedes. Así que temimos mucho por nuestras vidas a causa de ustedes. Por eso hicimos lo que hicimos.
25 And now we are in your hand. Act toward us as it seems good and right to you.”
Ahora estamos en tus manos. Haz con nosotros lo que consideres justo y correcto”.
26 Therefore, Joshua did just as he had said, and he freed them from the hand of the sons of Israel, so that they would not be killed.
Josué hizo lo que había dicho. Los salvó de los israelitas, para que no los mataran.
27 And he decreed on that day, that they would be in the ministry of all the people and of the altar of the Lord, cutting wood and carrying water, even until this present time, in the place which the Lord had chosen.
Aquel día Josué los nombró leñadores y aguadores al servicio de toda la asamblea y para el altar del Señor dondequieraque el Señor quisiera. Eso es lo que hacen hasta el día de hoy.
