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,

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 together to fight with Joshua and Israel with one accord.

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

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

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,

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

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

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.”

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 hen the men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you dwell among us; so how can 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.” And 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 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, “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 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 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 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 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.

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 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 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 T hen the men of Israel took some of their provisions; but they did not ask 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 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 and made an agreement with them, to let them live. And the leaders of the people made a promise 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.

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

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: We will let them live, lest wrath be upon us because of 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 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 cut wood and brought water for all the people, as the leaders had told 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 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 none of you shall be freed from being slaves—woodcutters and water carriers 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 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 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 A nd now, here we are, in your hands; do with us as it seems good and right 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 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 this to them. He saved them from the hands of the people of Israel. 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 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.