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 who were beyond the Jordan, in the hill country, and in the lowland, and on all the shore of the great sea in front of Lebanon, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard of it

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

they gathered themselves together to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.

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

But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to 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 also resorted to a ruse, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks on their donkeys, and old, torn-up and bound up wine skins,

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 wore old garments. All the bread of their food supply 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.”

They went to Joshua at 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.”

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, “What if you live among us. How could 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.” 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 Yahweh your God; for we have heard of his fame, 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 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.”’

Our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, ‘Take supplies in your hand for the journey, and go to meet them. Tell them, “We are your servants. 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 supplies out of our houses on the day we went 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 wine skins, which we filled, were new; and behold, they are torn. These 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.

The men sampled their provisions, and didn’t ask counsel from Yahweh’s mouth.

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 a covenant with them, to let them live. The princes of the congregation 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.

At the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, they heard that they were their neighbors, and that they lived 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.

The children of Israel traveled 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.

The children of Israel didn’t strike them, because the princes of the congregation had sworn to them by Yahweh, the God of Israel. All the congregation murmured against the princes.

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 princes said to all the congregation, “We have sworn to them by Yahweh, the God of Israel. Now therefore 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.”

We will do this to them, and let them live; lest wrath be on 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.”

The princes said to them, “Let them live, so they became wood cutters and drawers of water for all the congregation, as the princes had spoken to 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 for them, and he spoke to them, saying, “Why have you deceived us, saying, ‘We are very far from you,’ when you live 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 some of you will never fail to be slaves, both wood cutters 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, and said, “Because your servants were certainly told how Yahweh 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 afraid 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.”

Now, behold, we are in your hand. Do to us as it seems good and right to you to do.”

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.

He did so to them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, so that they didn’t 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.

That day Joshua made them wood cutters and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of Yahweh to this day, in the place which he should choose.