1 N ow it came about when all the kings who were beyond the Jordan, in the hill country and in the lowland and on all the coast of the Great Sea toward Lebanon, the Hittite and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite, heard of it,

The kings west of the Jordan, in the hill country and the valleys and beside the Great Sea toward Lebanon all heard what had happened. These kings were of the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

2 t hat they gathered themselves together with one accord to fight with Joshua and with Israel.

They gathered together as one to fight against Joshua and Israel.

3 W hen the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai,

The people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai.

4 t hey also acted craftily and set out as envoys, and took worn-out sacks on their donkeys, and wineskins worn-out and torn and mended,

So they went out to fool him, as men from another land. They took old bags on their donkeys, and skin bags of wine that were old and torn and mended.

5 a nd worn-out and patched sandals on their feet, and worn-out clothes on themselves; and all the bread of their provision was dry and had become crumbled.

They wore old and mended shoes on their feet, and old clothes on themselves. All their bread was dry and broken.

6 T hey went to Joshua to the camp at Gilgal and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a far country; now therefore, make a covenant with us.”

They went to Joshua among the tents at Gilgal. And they said to him and the men of Israel, “We have come from a far country. Now make an agreement with us.”

7 T he men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you are living within our land; how then shall we make a covenant with you?”

The men of Israel said to the Hivites, “It may be that you are living within our land. How then can we make an agreement with you?”

8 B ut they said to Joshua, “ We are your servants.” Then Joshua said to them, “Who are you and where do you come from?”

But they said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” Then Joshua said to them, “Who are you? Where do you come from?”

9 T hey said to him, “Your servants have come from a very far country because of the fame of the Lord your God; for we have heard the report of Him and all that He did in Egypt,

They said to him, “Your servants have come from a very far country because of the name of the Lord your God. For we have heard about Him and all He did in Egypt.

10 a nd all that He did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon and to Og king of Bashan who was at Ashtaroth.

We heard what He did to the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon and to Og king of Bashan who was at Ashtaroth.

11 S o our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, ‘Take provisions in your hand for the journey, and go to meet them and say to them, “ We are your servants; now then, make a covenant with us.”’

So our leaders and all the people of our country said to us, ‘Take what you need for traveling. Go to meet them and tell them, “We are your servants. Now make an agreement with us.’”

12 T his our bread was warm when we took it for our provisions out of our houses on the day that we left to come to you; but now behold, it is dry and has become crumbled.

Our bread was warm when we took it along with what we needed from our houses on the day we left to come to you. But now look, it is dry and broken.

13 T hese wineskins which we filled were new, and behold, they are torn; and these our clothes and our sandals are worn out because of the very long journey.”

These skin bags that we filled with wine were new. Now look, they are torn. And our clothes and shoes have become old because of the very long way we had to travel.”

14 S o the men of Israel took some of their provisions, and did not ask for the counsel of the Lord.

So the men of Israel took some of their food. They did not ask the Lord what they should do.

15 J oshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live; and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them.

Joshua made peace with them and made an agreement with them, to let them live. And the leaders of the people made a promise to them.

16 I t came about at the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were neighbors and that they were living within their land.

But three days after they had made an agreement with them, they heard that they were neighbors who lived in their land.

17 T hen the sons of Israel set out and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon and Chephirah and Beeroth and Kiriath-jearim.

Then the people of Israel left that place and came to their cities on the third day. Their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth and Kiriath-jearim.

18 T he sons of Israel did not strike them because the leaders of the congregation had sworn to them by the Lord the God of Israel. And the whole congregation grumbled against the leaders.

But the people of Israel did not kill them because the leaders of the people had made a promise to them by the Lord the God of Israel. All the people complained against the leaders.

19 B ut all the leaders said to the whole congregation, “We have sworn to them by the Lord, the God of Israel, and now we cannot touch them.

Then all the leaders said to all the people, “We have made a promise to them by the Lord, the God of Israel. Now we cannot touch them.

20 T his we will do to them, even let them live, so that wrath will not be upon us for the oath which we swore to them.”

This is what we will do to them. We will let them live, or anger would be upon us for the promise we swore to them.”

21 T he leaders said to them, “Let them live.” So they became hewers of wood and drawers of water for the whole congregation, just as the leaders had spoken to them.

And the leaders said to them, “Let them live.” So they cut wood and brought water for all the people, as the leaders had told them.

22 T hen Joshua called for them and spoke to them, saying, “Why have you deceived us, saying, ‘We are very far from you,’ when you are living within our land?

Joshua called them and said, “Why have you lied to us, saying, ‘We are very far from you,’ when you are living within our land?

23 N ow therefore, you are cursed, and you shall never cease being slaves, both hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.”

Now you are cursed. You will never stop being servants, cutting wood and bringing water, for the house of my God.”

24 S o they answered Joshua and said, “ Because it was certainly told 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; therefore we feared greatly for our lives because of you, and have done this thing.

They answered Joshua, “Because it was told to your servants that the Lord your God had told His servant Moses to give you all the land and kill all the people of the land in front of you. We were very much afraid for our lives because of you. That is why we have done this thing.

25 N ow behold, we are in your hands; do as it seems good and right in your sight to do to us.”

Now see, we are in your hands. Do to us whatever you think is good and right in your eyes.”

26 T hus he did to them, and delivered them from the hands of the sons of Israel, and they did not kill them.

So he did this to them. He saved them from the hands of the people of Israel. They did not kill them.

27 B ut Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of the Lord, to this day, in the place which He would choose.

But on that day Joshua made them cut wood and bring water for the people of Israel and for the altar of the Lord, at whatever place He chooses. That was to be their work to this day.