1And it came to pass, when all the kings4428 which were on this side5676 Jordan3383, in the hills2022, and in the valleys8219, and in all the coasts2348 of the great1419 sea3220 over against4136 Lebanon3844, the Hittite2850, and the Amorite567, the Canaanite3669, the Perizzite6522, the Hivite2340, and the Jebusite2983, heard8085 thereof;
2That they gathered6908 themselves together3162, to fight3898 with Joshua3091 and with Israel3478, with one259 accord6310.
3And when the inhabitants3427 of Gibeon1391 heard8085 what Joshua3091 had done6213 unto Jericho3405 and to Ai5857,
4They did work6213 wilily6195, and went3212 and made as if they had been ambassadors6737, and took3947 old1087 sacks8242 upon their asses2543, and wine3196 bottles4997, old1087, and rent1234, and bound up6887;
5And old1087 shoes5275 and clouted2921 upon their feet7272, and old1087 garments8008 upon them; and all the bread3899 of their provision6718 was dry3001 and mouldy5350.
6And they went3212 to Joshua3091 unto the camp4264 at Gilgal1537, and said559 unto him, and to the men376 of Israel3478, We be come935 from a far7350 country776: now therefore make3772 ye a league1285 with us.
7And the men376 of Israel3478 said559 unto the Hivites2340, Peradventure194 ye dwell3427 among7130 us; and how shall we make3772 a league1285 with you?
8And they said559 unto Joshua3091, We are thy servants5650. And Joshua3091 said559 unto them, Who are ye? and from whence370 come935 ye?
9And they said559 unto him, From a very3966 far7350 country776 thy servants5650 are come935 because of the name8034 of the LORD3068 thy God430: for we have heard8085 the fame8089 of him, and all that he did6213 in Egypt4714,
10And all that he did6213 to the two8147 kings4428 of the Amorites567, that were beyond5676 Jordan3383, to Sihon5511 king4428 of Heshbon2809, and to Og5747 king4428 of Bashan1316, which was at Ashtaroth6252.
11Wherefore our elders2205 and all the inhabitants3427 of our country776 spake559 to us, saying559, Take3947 victuals6720 with you3027 for the journey1870, and go3212 to meet7125 them, and say559 unto them, We are your servants5650: therefore now make3772 ye a league1285 with us.
12This our bread3899 we took hot2525 for our provision6679 out of our houses1004 on the day3117 we came forth3318 to go3212 unto you; but now, behold, it is dry3001, and it is mouldy5350:
13And these bottles4997 of wine3196, which we filled4390, were new2319; and, behold, they be rent1234: and these our garments8008 and our shoes5275 are become old1086 by reason of the very3966 long7230 journey1870.
14And the men582 took3947 of their victuals6718, and asked7592 not counsel at the mouth6310 of the LORD3068.
15And Joshua3091 made6213 peace7965 with them, and made3772 a league1285 with them, to let them live2421: and the princes5387 of the congregation5712 sware7650 unto them.
16And it came to pass at the end7097 of three7969 days3117 after310 they had made3772 a league1285 with them, that they heard8085 that they were their neighbours7138, and that they dwelt3427 among7130 them.
17And the children1121 of Israel3478 journeyed5265, and came935 unto their cities5892 on the third7992 day3117. Now their cities5892 were Gibeon1391, and Chephirah3716, and Beeroth881, and Kirjathjearim7157.
18And the children1121 of Israel3478 smote5221 them not, because the princes5387 of the congregation5712 had sworn7650 unto them by the LORD3068 God430 of Israel3478. And all the congregation5712 murmured3885 against the princes5387.
19But all the princes5387 said559 unto all the congregation5712, We have sworn7650 unto them by the LORD3068 God430 of Israel3478: now therefore we may3201 not touch5060 them.
20This we will do6213 to them; we will even let them live2421, lest wrath7110 be upon us, because of the oath7621 which we sware7650 unto them.
21And the princes5387 said559 unto them, Let them live2421; but let them be hewers2404 of wood6086 and drawers7579 of water4325 unto all the congregation5712; as the princes5387 had promised1696 them.
22And Joshua3091 called7121 for them, and he spake1696 unto them, saying559, Wherefore have ye beguiled7411 us, saying559, We are very3966 far7350 from you; when ye dwell3427 among7130 us?
23Now therefore ye are cursed779, and there shall none of you be freed3772 from being bondmen5650, and hewers2404 of wood6086 and drawers7579 of water4325 for the house1004 of my God430.
24And they answered6030 Joshua3091, and said559, Because it was certainly5046 told5046 thy servants5650, how that the LORD3068 thy God430 commanded6680 his servant5650 Moses4872 to give5414 you all the land776, and to destroy8045 all the inhabitants3427 of the land776 from before6440 you, therefore we were sore3966 afraid3372 of our lives5315 because6440 of you, and have done6213 this thing1697.
25And now, behold, we2009 are in thine hand3027: as it seemeth5869 good2896 and right3477 unto thee to do6213 unto us, do6213.
26And so did6213 he unto them, and delivered5337 them out of the hand3027 of the children1121 of Israel3478, that they slew2026 them not.
27And Joshua3091 made5414 them that day3117 hewers2404 of wood6086 and drawers7579 of water4325 for the congregation5712, and for the altar4196 of the LORD3068, even unto this day3117, in the place4725 which he should choose977.