Joshua 9
9
Gibeonites Connive a Treaty
1Now when all the kings who were west of the Jordan, in the hill country, in the lowland and along the shore of the Great Sea to the vicinity of Lebanon—the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites—heard about it,
2they gathered themselves together as a unified alliance to fight against Joshua and Israel.
3But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,
4they acted craftily. They went and traveled as ambassadors, took worn-out sacks for their donkeys and worn-out wine skins, cracked and patched up,
5along with worn-out, patched up sandals on their feet and worn-out clothes on them. All the bread of their provision was dry and had become crumbly.
6Then they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal, and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a far country. So now, make a treaty-covenant with us.”
7Then the men of Israel said to the Hivites: “Perhaps you are living among us. How then should we make a covenant with you?”
8But they said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” Then Joshua asked them, “Who are you? Where do you come from?”
9So they replied to him: “Your servants have come from a very distant country because of the Name of Adonai your God. For we have heard the report of Him and all that He did in Egypt,
10and all that He did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan—to King Sihon of Heshbon and to King Og of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth.
11 So our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us saying, ‘Take provisions in your hand for the journey, go to meet them and say to them: “We will be your subjects, so now make a treaty-covenant with us.’”
12This is our bread, which was hot when we took it for our provision from our homes on the day we left to come to you, but now behold, it is dry and crumbly.
13And these wineskins, which we were new when we filled them, but now see, they are cracked. Also these our garments and our sandals are worn-out because of the very long journey.”
14So the men of Israel took some of their provisions, and did not seek counsel from Adonai’s mouth.
15So Joshua made peace with them and cut a covenant with them, to let them live, and the leaders of the community swore to them.
16But it came about at the end of three days after they had cut a covenant with them, they heard that they were their neighbors, and were living among them.
17So Bnei-Yisrael journeyed and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim.
18But Bnei-Yisrael did not strike them, because the leaders of the community had sworn to them by Adonai, God of Israel. Then the entire community murmured against the leaders,
19but all the leaders answered the entire community, “We have sworn to them by Adonai, God of Israel, so now we cannot touch them.
20This is what we will do to them: We will let them live, lest wrath be upon us because of the oath which we swore to them.”
21“Yes, let them live,” the leaders said further, “but let them chop wood and draw water for the entire community.” So the leaders decreed concerning them.
22Then Joshua summoned them and he spoke to them saying: “Why have you deceived us saying: ‘We are very far from you,’ when you are living among us?
23Now therefore, you are cursed, and you will never cease to be servants, wood-choppers and water-carriers for the House of my God.”
24So they answered Joshua and said: “It was because your servants were clearly told that Adonai your God had commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land before you. So we were very afraid for our lives because of you, and so we did this.
25Now behold, we are in your hand. Whatever seems good and right in your eyes to do to us, do.”
26Thus he did to them, delivering them from the hand of Bnei-Yisrael, so they did not slay them.
27 On that day Joshua made them wood-choppers and water-carriers for the community, and for the altar of Adonai in the place which He would choose. So it is to this day.
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Copyright © 2014 - Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society
Joshua 9
9
1And it came to pass when all the kings who were on this side the Jordan, in the hill-country, and in the lowland, and along all the coast of the great sea as far as opposite to Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard of it, 2that they assembled together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.
3And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai, 4then they also acted with craft, and they went prepared as on a journey, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine-flasks, old and rent and tied up; 5and old and patched sandals upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy. 6And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said to him, and to the men of Israel, From a far country are we come; and now make a covenant with us. 7And the men of Israel said to the Hivite, Perhaps thou dwellest in the midst of us, and how should I make a covenant with thee? 8And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said to them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye? 9And they said to him, From a very far country are thy servants come, because of the name of Jehovah thy God#GodHebrew: Elohim for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt, 10and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon the king of Heshbon, and to Og the king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth. 11And our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, Take victuals in your hand for the way, and go to meet them, and say to them, We are your servants, and now make a covenant with us. 12This our bread we took warm for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; and now, behold, it is dry, and is become mouldy. 13And these flasks of wine which we filled new, behold, they are rent; and these our garments and our sandals are become old by reason of the very long journey. 14And the men took of their victuals, but they did not inquire at the mouth of Jehovah.
15And Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them, to let them live; and the princes of the assembly swore unto them. 16And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt in their midst. 17And the children of Israel journeyed, and came to their cities on the third day; and their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjath-jearim. 18And the children of Israel did not smite them, because the princes of the assembly had sworn unto them by Jehovah the God#GodHebrew: Elohim of Israel. Then all the assembly murmured against the princes. 19And all the princes said to all the assembly, We have sworn unto them by Jehovah the God#GodHebrew: Elohim of Israel, and now we may not touch them. 20This we will do to them, and let them live, lest wrath come upon us, because of the oath which we swore unto them. 21And the princes said to them, Let them live. And they were hewers of wood and drawers of water for all the assembly; as the princes had said to them.
22And Joshua called for them, and he spoke to them, saying, Why have ye deceived us, saying, We are very far from you; whereas ye dwell in our midst? 23And now ye are cursed, and ye shall never cease to be bondmen, and hewers of wood, and drawers of water for the house of my God#GodHebrew: Elohim 24And they answered Joshua and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants how that Jehovah thy God#GodHebrew: Elohim commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you; and we feared greatly for our lives because of you, and did this thing. 25And now behold, we are in thy hand: as it is good and right in thine eyes to do to us, do. 26And he did so to them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, and they did not slay them. 27And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the assembly, and for the altar of Jehovah, to this day, in the place which he should choose.
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First published in 1890. This edition is maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.