Joshua 9

The Kings Gather Against Israel

1When all the kings who were beyond the Jordan in the hill country, in the foothills, and along all the coast of the Great Sea toward Lebanon—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—heard of it, 2they gathered together as one to fight against Joshua and Israel.

The Gibeonites Act Craftily

3But the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, 4and they acted craftily. They went and prepared provisions and took worn-out sacks on their donkeys and worn-out wineskins, torn and patched, 5worn-out and patched sandals on their feet, and worn-out clothes on themselves. All the bread of their provisions was dry and crumbled. 6They went to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant land. Now therefore make a covenant with us.” 7The men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you live among us. How then can we make a covenant with you?” 8They said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” Joshua said to them, “Who are you, and where do you come from?” 9They said to him, “Your servants have come from a very distant land because of the name of the LORD 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 Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth. 11Our elders and all the inhabitants of our land 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 make a covenant with us.”’ 12This bread of ours was warm when we took it from our houses as food on the day we went out to come to you. But now look, it is dry and crumbled. 13These wineskins were new when we filled them, and look, they are torn. And these clothes and sandals of ours are worn out because of the very long journey.” 14So the men took some of their provisions, but they did not ask the mouth of the LORD. 15Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore to them.

Israel Learns the Truth

16At the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, they heard that they were their neighbors and were living among them. 17The children of Israel journeyed and came to their cities on the third day. Their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-Jearim. 18But the children of Israel did not strike them because the leaders of the congregation had sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. Then all the congregation murmured against the leaders. 19But 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. 20This we will do to them: we will let them live, so that wrath may not come upon us because of the oath that we swore to them.” 21The leaders said concerning them, “Let them live.” So they became woodcutters and water carriers for all the congregation, as the leaders had spoken concerning them.

Joshua Confronts the Gibeonites

22Joshua called for them and spoke to them, saying, “Why did you deceive us, saying, ‘We are very far from you,’ when you live among us? 23Now therefore you are cursed. There shall never cease to be servants from among you, woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.” 24They answered Joshua and said, “Because it was certainly told to your servants that the LORD your God had commanded Moses his servant to give you all the land and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land before you. So we feared greatly for our lives because of you, and we did this thing. 25Now look, we are in your hand. Do to us as is good and right in your eyes.” 26So he did to them and delivered them from the hand of the children of Israel, and they did not kill them. 27On that day Joshua made them woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD, to this day, at the place that he would choose.