The Deceit of the Gibeonites

1And it came to pass, when heard all the kings who were on this side of the Jordan, in the hills, and in the Shephelah,† and in all the coasts of the Great Sea,† over toward Lebanon (the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite), 2that they gathered together to fight with Joshua and Israel with one mouth.

3And those dwelling in Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, 4and they also worked craftily, and they went and acted as envoys,† and they took old sacks on their donkeys, and wineskins that were old and torn and mended, 5and sandals that were old and patched on their feet, and old garments on themselves, and all the bread of their provision was dry—it had become crumbs. 6And they went to Joshua to the camp at Gilgal and said to him and to the men of Israel, “From a distant country we have come, and now make with us a covenant.†”

7And the men of Israel said to the Hivite, “Perhaps among us you are dwelling, and how can we make with you a covenant?”

8And they said to Joshua, “We are your servants.”

And Joshua said to them, “Who are you⁺, and from where have you⁺ come?”

9And they said to him, “Your servants have come from a country very distant, because of the name of YHWH your God. For we have heard of His fame and all that He did in Egypt, 10and all that He did to the two kings of the Amorite who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan who was at Ashtaroth. 11And our elders and all those dwelling in our country spoke to us, saying, ‘Take with you⁺ provisions for the journey, and go to meet them and say to them: We are your⁺ servants, and now make with us a covenant.’

12This hot bread of ours we took as provision out from our houses on the day we departed to come to you⁺. And, behold, it is dry and has become crumbs. 13And these skins of wine, which we filled new, behold, they are torn. And these our garments and our sandals have become old from the exceeding greatness of the way.”

14And the men of Israel took some of their provisions, and the mouth of YHWH they did not ask. 15And Joshua made peace with them, and he cut a covenant with them to let them live, and the rulers of the congregation swore to them.

16And it came to pass at the end of three days after that they had cut a covenant with them, that they heard that they were neighbors to them, and they dwelt in their midst. 17And the sons of Israel journeyed and came to their cities on the third day. And their cities were Gibeon and Chephirah and Beeroth and Kiriath-jearim. 18The sons of Israel did not attack them, because the rulers of the congregation had sworn to them by YHWH, God of Israel. And all the congregation complained against the rulers.

19And all the rulers said to all the congregation, “We have sworn to them by YHWH, God of Israel, and now we may not touch them. 20This we will do to them: We will let them live, and wrath will not be upon us, because of the oath that we have sworn to them.” 21And the rulers said to them, “Let them live; and let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water for all the congregation,” which the rulers had spoken to them.

22And Joshua called for them and he spoke to them, saying, “Why have you⁺ deceived us, saying, ‘We are very far from you⁺’, and you⁺ near us dwell’? 23And now cursed are you⁺, and none of you⁺ shall be freed from being slaves and woodcutters and drawers of water for the house of my God.”

24And they answered Joshua and said, “Because it was surely declared to your servants that YHWH your God commanded Moses His servant to give to you⁺ all the land and to destroy all those dwelling in the land from before you⁺, we were afraid exceedingly for our lives because of you⁺, and we have done this thing. 25And here we are in your hands; as is good and right to do with us, do to us.”

26And he did to them so, and he snatched them way out of the hand of the sons of Israel, so that they did not kill them. 27And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of YHWH, even to this day, in the place that He would choose.