And it came to pass, when all the kings which were on this side
Jordan
, in the hills
, and in the valleys
, and in all the coasts
of the great
sea
over against
Lebanon
, the Hittite
, and the Amorite
, the Canaanite
, the Perizzite
, the Hivite
, and the Jebusite
, heard
thereof ;
That they gathered themselves together
, to fight
with Joshua
and with Israel
, with one
accord
.
And when the inhabitants of Gibeon
heard
what Joshua
had done
unto Jericho
and to Ai
,
They did work wilily
, and went
and made as if they had been ambassadors
, and took
old
sacks
upon their asses
, and wine
bottles
, old
, and rent
, and bound up
;
And old shoes
and clouted
upon their feet
, and old
garments
upon them; and all the bread
of their provision
was dry
and mouldy
.
And they went to Joshua
unto the camp
at Gilgal
, and said
unto him, and to the men
of Israel
, We be come
from a far
country
: now therefore make
ye a league
with us.
And the men of Israel
said
unto the Hivites
, Peradventure
ye dwell
among
us; and how shall we make
a league
with you?
And they said unto Joshua
, We are thy servants
. And Joshua
said
unto them, Who are ye? and from whence
come
ye?
And they said unto him, From a very
far
country
thy servants
are come
because of the name
of the LORD
thy God
: for we have heard
the fame
of him, and all that he did
in Egypt
,
And all that he did to the two
kings
of the Amorites
, that were beyond
Jordan
, to Sihon
king
of Heshbon
, and to Og
king
of Bashan
, which was at Ashtaroth
.
Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants
of our country
spake
to us, saying
, Take
victuals
with you
for the journey
, and go
to meet
them, and say
unto them, We are your servants
: therefore now make
ye a league
with us.
This our bread we took hot
for our provision
out of our houses
on the day
we came forth
to go
unto you; but now, behold, it is dry
, and it is mouldy
:
And these bottles of wine
, which we filled
, were new
; and, behold, they be rent
: and these our garments
and our shoes
are become old
by reason of the very
long
journey
.
And the men took
of their victuals
, and asked
not counsel at the mouth
of the LORD
.
And Joshua made
peace
with them, and made
a league
with them, to let them live
: and the princes
of the congregation
sware
unto them.
And it came to pass at the end of three
days
after
they had made
a league
with them, that they heard
that they were their neighbours
, and that they dwelt
among
them.
And the children of Israel
journeyed
, and came
unto their cities
on the third
day
. Now their cities
were Gibeon
, and Chephirah
, and Beeroth
, and Kirjathjearim
.
And the children of Israel
smote
them not, because the princes
of the congregation
had sworn
unto them by the LORD
God
of Israel
. And all the congregation
murmured
against the princes
.
But all the princes said
unto all the congregation
, We have sworn
unto them by the LORD
God
of Israel
: now therefore we may
not touch
them.
This we will do to them; we will even let them live
, lest wrath
be upon us, because of the oath
which we sware
unto them.
And the princes said
unto them, Let them live
; but let them be hewers
of wood
and drawers
of water
unto all the congregation
; as the princes
had promised
them.
And Joshua called
for them, and he spake
unto them, saying
, Wherefore have ye beguiled
us, saying
, We are very
far
from you; when ye dwell
among
us?
Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed
from being bondmen
, and hewers
of wood
and drawers
of water
for the house
of my God
.
And they answered Joshua
, and said
, Because it was certainly
told
thy servants
, how that the LORD
thy God
commanded
his servant
Moses
to give
you all the land
, and to destroy
all the inhabitants
of the land
from before
you, therefore we were sore
afraid
of our lives
because
of you, and have done
this thing
.
And now, behold, we are in thine hand
: as it seemeth
good
and right
unto thee to do
unto us, do
.
And so did he unto them, and delivered
them out of the hand
of the children
of Israel
, that they slew
them not.
And Joshua made
them that day
hewers
of wood
and drawers
of water
for the congregation
, and for the altar
of the LORD
, even unto this day
, in the place
which he should choose
.