Joshua 9
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1Now when all the kings west of the Jordan heard about these things--the kings in the hill country, in the western foothills, and along the entire coast of the Mediterranean Sea as far as Lebanon (the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites)--1When all the kings heard about Jericho and Ai, those who were west of the Jordan in the hill country, in the Judean foothills, and all along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea toward Lebanon--the Hethites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites--
2they came together to wage war against Joshua and Israel.2they formed a unified alliance to fight against Joshua and Israel.
3However, when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,3When the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,
4they resorted to a ruse: They went as a delegation whose donkeys were loaded with worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended.4they acted deceptively. They gathered provisions and took worn-out sacks on their donkeys and old wineskins, cracked and mended.
5They put worn and patched sandals on their feet and wore old clothes. All the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy.5They wore old, patched sandals on their feet and threadbare clothing on their bodies. Their entire provision of bread was dry and crumbly.
6Then they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the Israelites, "We have come from a distant country; make a treaty with us."6They 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."
7The Israelites said to the Hivites, "But perhaps you live near us, so how can we make a treaty with you?"7The men of Israel replied to the Hivites, "Perhaps you live among us. How can we make a treaty with you?"
8"We are your servants," they said to Joshua. But Joshua asked, "Who are you and where do you come from?"8They said to Joshua, "We are your servants." Then Joshua asked them, "Who are you and where do you come from?"
9They answered: "Your servants have come from a very distant country because of the fame of the LORD your God. For we have heard reports of him: all that he did in Egypt,9They replied to him, "Your servants have come from a faraway land because of the reputation of the LORD 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 Amorites east of the Jordan--Sihon king of Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth.10and all that he did to the two Amorite kings beyond the Jordan--King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan, who was in Ashtaroth.
11And our elders and all those living in our country said to us, 'Take provisions for your journey; go and meet them and say to them, "We are your servants; make a treaty with us."'11So our elders and all the inhabitants of our land told us, 'Take provisions with you for the journey; go and meet them and say, "We are your servants. Please make a treaty with us."'
12This bread of ours was warm when we packed it at home on the day we left to come to you. But now see how dry and moldy it is.12This bread of ours was warm when we took it from our houses as food on the day we left to come to you; but see, it is now dry and crumbly.
13And these wineskins that we filled were new, but see how cracked they are. And our clothes and sandals are worn out by the very long journey."13These wineskins were new when we filled them; but see, they are cracked. And these clothes and sandals of ours are worn out from the extremely long journey."
14The Israelites sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the LORD.14Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions, but did not seek the LORD's decision.
15Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath.15So Joshua established peace with them and made a treaty to let them live, and the leaders of the community swore an oath to them.
16Three days after they made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites heard that they were neighbors, living near them.16Three days after making the treaty with them, they heard that the Gibeonites were their neighbors, living among them.
17So the Israelites set out and on the third day came to their cities: Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth and Kiriath Jearim.17So the Israelites set out and reached the Gibeonite cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim.
18But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. The whole assembly grumbled against the leaders,18But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the community had sworn an oath to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. Then the whole community grumbled against the leaders.
19but all the leaders answered, "We have given them our oath by the LORD, the God of Israel, and we cannot touch them now.19All the leaders answered them, "We have sworn an oath to them by the LORD, the God of Israel, and now we cannot touch them.
20This is what we will do to them: We will let them live, so that God's wrath will not fall on us for breaking the oath we swore to them."20This 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."
21They continued, "Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers in the service of the whole assembly." So the leaders' promise to them was kept.21They also said, "Let them live." So the Gibeonites became woodcutters and water carriers for the whole community, as the leaders had promised them.
22Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, "Why did you deceive us by saying, 'We live a long way from you,' while actually you live near us?22Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said to them, "Why did you deceive us by telling us you live far away from us, when in fact you live among us?
23You are now under a curse: You will never be released from service as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God."23Therefore you are cursed and will always be slaves--woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God."
24They answered Joshua, "Your servants were clearly told how the LORD your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you the whole land and to wipe out all its inhabitants from before you. So we feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we did this.24The Gibeonites answered him, "It was clearly communicated to your servants that the LORD your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land before you. We greatly feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we did this.
25We are now in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you."25Now we are in your hands. Do to us whatever you think is right."
26So Joshua saved them from the Israelites, and they did not kill them.26This is what Joshua did to them: he rescued them from the Israelites, and they did not kill them.
27That day he made the Gibeonites woodcutters and water carriers for the assembly, to provide for the needs of the altar of the LORD at the place the LORD would choose. And that is what they are to this day.27On that day he made them woodcutters and water carriers--as they are today--for the community and for the LORD's altar at the place he would choose.
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Joshua 8
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