Iosue 9
1 Quibus auditis, cuncti reges trans Iordanem, qui versabantur in montanis et campestribus, in maritimis ac littore magni maris, hi quoque qui habitabant iuxta Libanum, Hethaeus et Amorrhaeus, Chananaeus, Pherezaeus, et Hevaeus, et Iebusaeus
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)—
2 congregati sunt pariter, ut pugnarent contra Iosue et Israel uno animo, eademque sententia.
they came together to wage war against Joshua and Israel.
3 At hi, qui habitabant in Gabaon, audientes cuncta quae fecerat Iosue, Iericho et Hai:
But the people of Gibeon, having heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,
4 callide cogitantes tulerunt sibi cibaria, saccos veteres asinis imponentes, et utres vinarios scissos atque consutos,
acted deceptively and set out as envoys, carrying on their donkeys worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended.
5 calceamentaque perantiqua quae ad indicium vetustatis pittaciis consuta erant, induti veteribus vestimentis: panes quoque, quos portabant ob viaticum, duri erant, et in frustra comminuti:
They put worn, patched sandals on their feet and threadbare clothing on their bodies, and their whole supply of bread was dry and moldy.
6 perrexeruntque ad Iosue, qui tunc morabatur in castris Galgalae, et dixerunt ei, atque simul omni Israeli: De terra longinqua venimus, pacem vobiscum facere cupientes. Responderuntque viri Israel ad eos, atque dixerunt:
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.”
7 Ne forte in terra, quae nobis sorte debetur, habitetis, et non possimus foedus inire vobiscum.
But the men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you dwell near us. How can we make a treaty with you?”
8 At illi ad Iosue, Servi, inquiunt, tui sumus. Quibus Iosue ait: Qui nam estis vos? aut unde venistis?
“We are your servants,” they said to Joshua. Then Joshua asked them, “Who are you and where have you come from?”
9 Responderunt: De terra longinqua valde venerunt servi tui in nomine Domini Dei tui. Audivimus enim famam potentiae eius, cuncta quae fecit in Aegypto,
“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 about Him: all that He did in Egypt,
10 et duobus regibus Amorrhaeorum qui fuerunt trans Iordanem, Sehon regi Hesebon, et Og regi Basan, qui erant in Astaroth:
and 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.
11 dixeruntque nobis seniores, et omnes habitatores Terrae nostrae: Tollite in manibus cibaria ob longissimam viam, et occurrite eis, et dicite: Servi vestri sumus, foedus inite nobiscum.
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.’
12 En, panes quando egressi sumus de domibus nostris, ut veniremus ad vos, calidos sumpsimus, nunc sicci facti sunt, et vetustate nimia comminuti.
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.
13 utres vini novos implevimus, nunc rupti sunt et soluti. vestes et calceamenta quibus induimur, et quae habemus in pedibus, ob longitudinem longioris viae trita sunt, et pene consumpta.
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.”
14 Susceperunt igitur de cibariis eorum, et os Domini non interrogaverunt.
Then the men of Israel sampled their provisions, but did not seek the counsel of the LORD.
15 Fecitque Iosue cum eis pacem, et inito foedere pollicitus est quod non occiderentur: principes quoque multitudinis iuraverunt eis.
And Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them.
16 Post dies autem tres initi foederis, audierunt quod in vicino habitarent, et inter eos futuri essent.
Three days after they had made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites learned that they were neighbors, living among them.
17 Moveruntque castra filii Israel, et venerunt in civitates eorum die tertio, quarum haec vocabula sunt, Gabaon, et Caphira, et Beroth, et Cariathiarim.
So the Israelites set out and on the third day arrived at their cities—Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim.
18 Et non percusserunt eos, eo quod iurassent eis principes multitudinis in nomine Domini Dei Israel. Murmuravit itaque omne vulgus contra principes.
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.
19 Qui responderunt eis: Iuravimus illis in nomine Domini Dei Israel, et idcirco non possumus eos contingere.
All the leaders answered, “We have sworn an oath to them by the LORD, the God of Israel, and now we cannot touch them.
20 Sed hoc faciemus eis: Reserventur quidem ut vivant, ne contra nos ira Domini concitetur, si peieraverimus:
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.”
21 sed sic vivant, ut in usus universae multitudinis ligna caedant, aquasque comportent. Quibus haec loquentibus:
They continued, “Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for the whole congregation.” So the leaders kept their promise.
22 vocavit Gabaonitas Iosue, et dixit eis: Cur nos decipere fraude voluistis, ut diceretis: Procul valde habitamus a vobis, cum in medio nostri sitis?
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?
23 Itaque sub maledictione eritis, et non deficiet de stirpe vestra ligna caedens, aquasque comportans in domum Dei mei.
Now therefore you are under a curse and will perpetually serve as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”
24 Qui responderunt: Nunciatum est nobis servis tuis, quod promisisset Dominus Deus tuus Moysi servo suo ut traderet vobis omnem Terram, et disperderet cunctos habitatores eius. Timuimus igitur valde, et providimus animabus nostris, vestro terrore compulsi, et hoc consilium inivimus.
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.
25 Nunc autem in manu tua sumus: quod tibi bonum et rectum videtur, fac nobis.
Now we are in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you.”
26 Fecit ergo Iosue ut dixerat, et liberavit eos de manu filiorum Israel, ut non occiderentur.
So Joshua did this and delivered them from the hands of the Israelites, and they did not kill the Gibeonites.
27 Decrevitque in illo die eos esse in ministerio cuncti populi, et altaris Domini, caedentes ligna, et aquas comportantes, usque in praesens tempus, in loco, quem Dominus elegisset.
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.
