Joshua 9

The Gibeonites Deceive Israel

9Now all the kings west of the Jordan River heard about what had happened. These were the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, who lived in the hill country, in the western foothills

, and along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea as far north as the Lebanon mountains.H4428H5676H3383H2022H8219H2348H1419H3220H4136H3844H2850H567H3669H6522H2340H2983H80852These kings combined their armies to fight as one against Joshua and the Israelites.H6908H3162H3898H3091H3478H259H63103But when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,H3427H1391H8085H3091H6213H3405H58574they resorted to deception to save themselves. They sent ambassadors to Joshua, loading their donkeys with weathered saddlebags and old, patched wineskins.H6213H6195H3212H6737H3947H1087H8242H2543H3196H4997H1087H1234H68875They put on worn-out, patched sandals and ragged clothes. And the bread they took with them was dry and moldy.H1087H5275H2921H7272H1087H8008H3899H6718H3001H53506When they arrived at the camp of Israel at Gilgal, they told Joshua and the men of Israel, "We have come from a distant land to ask you to make a peace treaty with us."H3212H3091H4264H1537H559H376H3478H935H7350H776H3772H12857The Israelites replied to these Hivites, "How do we know you don't live nearby? For if you do, we cannot make a treaty with you."H376H3478H559H2340H194H3427H7130H3772H12858They replied, "We are your servants." "But who are you?" Joshua demanded. "Where do you come from?"H559H3091H5650H3091H559H370H9359They answered, "Your servants have come from a very distant country. We have heard of the might of the LORD your God and of all he did in Egypt.H559H3966H7350H776H5650H935H8034H3068H430H8085H8089H6213H471410We have also heard what he did to the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan River—King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan (who lived in Ashtaroth).H6213H8147H4428H567H5676H3383H5511H4428H2809H5747H4428H1316H625211So our elders and all our people instructed us, 'Take supplies for a long journey. Go meet with the people of Israel and tell them, "We are your servants; please make a treaty with us."'H2205H3427H776H559H559H3947H6720H3027H1870H3212H7125H559H5650H3772H128512"This bread was hot from the ovens when we left our homes. But now, as you can see, it is dry and moldy.H3899H2525H6679H1004H3117H3318H3212H3001H535013These wineskins were new when we filled them, but now they are old and split open. And our clothing and sandals are worn out from our very long journey."H4997H3196H4390H2319H1234H8008H5275H1086H3966H7230H187014So the Israelites examined their food, but they did not consult the LORD.H582H3947H6718H7592H6310H306815Then Joshua made a peace treaty with them and guaranteed their safety, and the leaders of the community ratified their agreement with a binding oath.H3091H6213H7965H3772H1285H2421H5387H5712H765016Three days after making the treaty, they learned that these people actually lived nearby!H7097H7969H3117H310H3772H1285H8085H7138H3427H713017The Israelites set out at once to investigate and reached their towns in three days. The names of these towns were Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim.H1121H3478H5265H935H5892H7992H3117H5892H1391H3716H881H715718But the Israelites did not attack the towns, for the Israelite leaders had made a vow to them in the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. The people of Israel grumbled against their leaders because of the treaty.H1121H3478H5221H5387H5712H7650H3068H430H3478H5712H3885H538719But the leaders replied, "Since we have sworn an oath in the presence of the LORD, the God of Israel, we cannot touch them.H5387H559H5712H7650H3068H430H3478H3201H506020This is what we must do. We must let them live, for divine anger would come upon us if we broke our oath.H6213H2421H7110H7621H765021Let them live." So they made them woodcutters and water carriers for the entire community, as the Israelite leaders directed.H5387H559H2421H2404H6086H7579H4325H5712H5387H169622Joshua called together the Gibeonites and said, "Why did you lie to us? Why did you say that you live in a distant land when you live right here among us?H3091H7121H1696H559H7411H559H3966H7350H3427H713023May you be cursed! From now on you will always be servants who cut wood and carry water for the house of my God."H779H3772H5650H2404H6086H7579H4325H1004H43024They replied, "We did it because we—your servants—were clearly told that the LORD your God commanded his servant Moses to give you this entire land and to destroy all the people living in it. So we feared greatly for our lives because of you. That is why we have done this.H6030H3091H559H5046H5046H5650H3068H430H6680H5650H4872H5414H776H8045H3427H776H6440H3966H3372H5315H6440H6213H169725Now we are at your mercy—do to us whatever you think is right."H2009H3027H5869H2896H3477H6213H621326So Joshua did not allow the people of Israel to kill them.H6213H5337H3027H1121H3478H202627But that day he made the Gibeonites the woodcutters and water carriers for the community of Israel and for the altar of the LORD—wherever the LORD would choose to build it. And that is what they do to this day.H3091H5414H3117H2404H6086H7579H4325H5712H4196H3068H3117H4725H977