The Treaty with the Gibeonites
1 And it came to pass whenall the kings whowereon this side of the Jordan, in the hills and in the lowland and in all the coasts ofthe Great Sea toward Lebanon—the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite—heardaboutit,
2 that theygathered together to fight with Joshua and Israel with one accord.
3 But when the inhabitants ofGibeonheard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,
4 they worked craftily, and went and pretended to be ambassadors. And they took old sacks on their donkeys, old wineskins torn and mended,
5 old and patched sandals on their feet, and old garments on themselves; and all the bread of their provision was dryandmoldy.
6 And they 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 covenant with us.”
7 Then the men of Israel said to theHivites, “Perhaps you dwell among us; sohow can we make a covenant with you?”
8 But they said to Joshua,“Weareyour servants.”
And Joshua said to them, “Whoareyou, and where do you come from?”
9 So they said to him:“From a very far country your servants have come, because of the name of theLordyour God; for we haveheard of His fame, and all that He did in Egypt,
10 andall that He did to the two kings of the Amorites whowerebeyond the Jordan—to Sihon king of Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth.
11 Therefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, ‘Take provisions with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say to them, “Weareyour servants; now therefore, make a covenant with us.” ’
12 This bread of ours we took hotforour provision from our houses on the day we departed to come to you. But now look, it is dry and moldy.
13 And these wineskins which we filledwerenew, and see, they are torn; and these our garments and our sandals have become old because of the very long journey.”
14 Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions;but they did not ask counsel of theLord.
15 So Joshuamade peace with them, and made a covenant with them to let them live; and the rulers of the congregation swore to them.
16 And it happened at the end of three days, after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that theyweretheir neighbors who dwelt near them.
17 Then the children of Israel journeyed and came to their cities on the third day. Now their citieswereGibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kirjath Jearim.
18 But the children of Israel did not attack them,because the rulers of the congregation had sworn to them by theLordGod of Israel. And all the congregation complained against the rulers.
19 Then all the rulers said to all the congregation, “We have sworn to them by theLordGod of Israel; now therefore, we may not touch them.
20 This we will do to them: We will let them live, lestwrath be upon us because of the oath which we swore to them.”
21 And the rulers said to them, “Let them live, but let them bewoodcutters and water carriers for all the congregation, as the rulers hadpromised them.”
22 Then Joshua called for them, and he spoke to them, saying, “Why have you deceived us, saying,‘Wearevery far from you,’ whenyou dwell near us?
23 Now therefore, youarecursed, and none of you shall be freed from being slaves—woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”
24 So they answered Joshua and said, “Because your servants were clearly told that theLordyour Godcommanded His servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you; thereforewe were very much afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this thing.
25 And now, here we are,in your hands; do with us as it seems good and right to do to us.”
26 So he did to them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, so that they did not kill them.
27 And that day Joshua made themwoodcutters and water carriers for the congregation and for the altar of theLord,in the place which He would choose, even to this day.