1 A nd it came to pass when all the kings who were on this side of the Jordan, in the hills and in the lowland and in all the coasts of the Great Sea toward Lebanon—the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite—heard about it,

When all the kings beyond the Jordan in the hill country and in the lowland and all along the coast of the Great Sea toward Lebanon, the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites heard this,

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

They gathered together with one accord to fight Joshua and Israel.

3 B ut when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,

But when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,

4 t hey worked craftily, and went and pretended to be ambassadors. And they took old sacks on their donkeys, old wineskins torn and mended,

They worked cunningly, and went pretending to be ambassadors and took old sacks on their donkeys and wineskins, old, torn, and mended,

5 o ld and patched sandals on their feet, and old garments on themselves; and all the bread of their provision was dry and moldy.

And old and patched shoes on their feet and wearing old garments; and all their supply of food was dry and moldy.

6 A nd they 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.”

And they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, We have come from a far country; so now, make a covenant with us.

7 T hen the men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you dwell among us; so how can we make a covenant with you?”

But the men of Israel said to the Hivites, Perhaps you live among us; how then can we make a covenant with you?

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

They said to Joshua, We are your servants. And Joshua said to them, Who are you? From where have you come?

9 S o they said to him: “From a very far country your servants have come, because of the name of the Lord your God; for we have heard of His fame, and all that He did in Egypt,

They said to him, From a very far country your servants have come because of the name of the Lord your God. For we have heard the fame of Him, and all that 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 Og king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth.

And 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 lived in Ashtaroth.

11 T herefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, ‘Take provisions with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say to them, “We are your servants; now therefore, make a covenant with us.”’

So our elders and all the residents of our country said to us, Take provisions for the journey and go to meet and say to them, We are your servants; and now make a covenant with us.

12 T his bread of ours we took hot for our provision from our houses on the day we departed to come to you. But now look, it is dry and moldy.

This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we set out to go to you; but now behold, it is dry and has become moldy.

13 A nd these wineskins which we filled were new, and see, they are torn; and these our garments and our sandals have become old because of the very long journey.”

These wineskins (bottles) which we filled were new, and behold, they are torn; and our garments and our shoes have become old because of the very long journey.

14 T hen the men of Israel took some of their provisions; but they did not ask counsel of the Lord.

So the men partook of their food and did not consult the Lord.

15 S o Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them to let them live; and the rulers of the congregation swore to them.

Joshua made peace with them, covenanting with them to let them live, and the assembly’s leaders swore to them.

16 A nd it happened at the end of three days, after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors who dwelt near them.

Then three days after they had made a covenant with heard that they were their neighbors and that they dwelt among them.

17 T hen the children of Israel journeyed and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kirjath Jearim.

And the Israelites set out and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim.

18 B ut the children of Israel did not attack them, because the rulers of the congregation had sworn to them by the Lord God of Israel. And all the congregation complained against the rulers.

But the Israelites did not slay them, because the leaders of the assembly had sworn to them by the Lord, the God of Israel,. And all the assembly murmured against the leaders.

19 T hen all the rulers said to all the congregation, “We have sworn to them by the Lord God of Israel; now therefore, we may not touch them.

But all the leaders said to all the assembly, We have sworn to them by the Lord, the God of Israel, so now we may not touch them.

20 T his we will do to them: We will let them live, lest wrath be upon us because of the oath which we swore to them.”

This 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 A nd the rulers said to them, “Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for all the congregation, as the rulers had promised them.”

And the leaders said to them, Let them live. So they became hewers of wood and drawers of water for all the assembly, just as the leaders had said of them.

22 T hen Joshua called for them, and he spoke to them, saying, “Why have you deceived us, saying, ‘We are very far from you,’ when you dwell near us?

Joshua called the men and said, Why did you deceive us, saying, We live very far from you, when you dwell among us?

23 N ow therefore, you are cursed, and none of you shall be freed from being slaves—woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”

Now therefore you are cursed, and of you there shall always be slaves, hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.

24 S o they answered Joshua and said, “Because your servants were clearly told that the Lord your 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 very much afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this thing.

They answered Joshua, Because it was surely told your servants that the Lord your God commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land and to destroy all the land’s inhabitants from before you. So we feared greatly for our lives because of you, and have done this thing.

25 A nd now, here we are, in your hands; do with us as it seems good and right to do to us.”

And now, behold, we are in your hand; do as it seems good and right in your sight to do to us.

26 S o he did to them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, so that they did not kill them.

So he did to them, and delivered them out of the hand of the Israelites, so that they did not kill them.

27 A nd that day Joshua made them woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation and for the altar of the Lord, in the place which He would choose, even to this day.

But Joshua then made them 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 should choose.