Joshua 9

Modern

Literal

The Deceit of the Gibeonites

¹Now when news of this reached all the kings west of the Jordan—those in the hill country, the foothills,^a and all along the coast of the Great Sea^b toward Lebanon (the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites)—

¹And it came to pass, when heard all the kings who were on this side of the Jordan, in the hills, and in the Shephelah, and in all the coasts of the Great Sea, over toward Lebanon (the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite),

²they came together to wage war against Joshua and Israel.

²that they gathered together to fight with Joshua and Israel with one mouth.

³But the people of Gibeon, having heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,

³And those dwelling in Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,

⁴acted deceptively and set out as envoys,^a carrying on their donkeys worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended.

⁴and they also worked craftily, and they went and acted as envoys, and they took old sacks on their donkeys, and wineskins that were old and torn and mended,

⁵They put worn, patched sandals on their feet and threadbare clothing on their bodies, and their whole supply of bread was dry and moldy.

⁵and sandals that were old and patched on their feet, and old garments on themselves, and all the bread of their provision was dry—it had become crumbs.

⁶They went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant land; please make a treaty^a with us.”

⁶And they went to Joshua to the camp at Gilgal and said to him and to the men of Israel, “From a distant country we have come, and now make with us a covenant.”

⁷But the men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you dwell near us. How can we make a treaty with you?”

⁷And the men of Israel said to the Hivite, “Perhaps among us you are dwelling, and how can I cut with you a covenant?”

⁸“We are your servants,” they said to Joshua.

Then Joshua asked them, “Who are you and where have you come from?”

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

⁹“Your servants have come from a very distant land,” they replied, “because of the fame of the LORD your God. For we have heard the reports about Him: all that He did in Egypt,

⁹And they said to him, “Your servants have come from a country very distant, because of the name of YHWH your God. For we have heard of His fame and all that He did in Egypt,

¹⁰and all that He did to the two kings of the Amorites beyond the Jordan—Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth.

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

¹¹So the elders and inhabitants of our land told us, ‘Take provisions for your journey; go to meet them and say to them: We are your servants. Please make a treaty with us.’

¹¹And our elders and all those dwelling in our country spoke to us, saying, ‘Take with you provisions for the journey, and go to meet them and say to them: We are your servants, and now make with us a covenant.’

¹²This bread of ours was warm when we packed it at home on the day we left to come to you. But look, it is now dry and moldy.

¹²This hot bread of ours we took as provision out from our houses on the day we departed to come to you. And, behold, it is dry and has become crumbs.

¹³These wineskins were new when we filled them, but look, they are cracked. And these clothes and sandals are worn out from our very long journey.”

¹³And these skins of wine, which we filled new, behold, they are torn. And these our garments and our sandals have become old from the exceeding greatness of the way.”

¹⁴Then the men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not seek the counsel of the LORD.

¹⁴And the men of Israel took some of their provisions, and the mouth of YHWH they did not ask.

¹⁵And Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them.

¹⁵And Joshua made peace with them, and he cut a covenant with them to let them live, and the rulers of the congregation swore to them.

¹⁶Three days after they had made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites learned that they were neighbors, living among them.

¹⁶And it came to pass at the end of three days after that they had cut a covenant with them, that they heard that they were neighbors to them, and they dwelt among them.

¹⁷So the Israelites set out and on the third day arrived at their cities—Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim.

¹⁷And the sons of Israel journeyed and came to their cities on the third day. And their cities were Gibeon and Chephirah and Beeroth and Kiriath-jearim.

¹⁸But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the congregation had sworn an oath to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. And the whole congregation grumbled against the leaders.

¹⁸The sons of Israel did not attack them, because the rulers of the congregation had sworn to them by YHWH, God of Israel. And all the congregation complained against the rulers.

¹⁹All the leaders answered, “We have sworn an oath to them by the LORD, the God of Israel, and now we cannot touch them.

¹⁹And all the rulers said to all the congregation, “We have sworn to them by YHWH, God of Israel, and now we may not touch them.

²⁰This is how we will treat them: We will let them live, so that no wrath will fall on us because of the oath we swore to them.”

²⁰This we will do to them: We will let them live, and wrath will not be upon us, because of the oath that we have sworn to them.”

²¹They continued, “Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for the whole congregation.” So the leaders kept their promise.

²¹And the rulers said to them, “Let them live; and let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water for all the congregation,” which the rulers had spoken to them.

²²Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, “Why did you deceive us by telling us you live far away from us, when in fact you live among us?

²²And Joshua called for them and he spoke to them, saying, “Why have you deceived us, saying, ‘We are very far from you’, and you dwell among us’?

²³Now therefore you are under a curse and will perpetually serve as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”

²³And now cursed are you, and none of you shall be freed from being slaves and woodcutters and drawers of water for the house of my God.”

²⁴The Gibeonites answered, “Your servants were told clearly that the LORD your God had commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land and wipe out all its inhabitants before you. So we greatly feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we have done this.

²⁴And they answered Joshua and said, “Because it was surely declared to your servants that YHWH your God commanded Moses His servant to give to you all the land and to destroy all those dwelling in the land from before you, we were afraid exceedingly for our lives because of you, and we have done this thing.

²⁵Now we are in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you.”

²⁵And here we are in your hands; as is good and right to do with us, do to us.”

²⁶So Joshua did this and delivered them from the hands of the Israelites, and they did not kill the Gibeonites.

²⁶And he did to them so, and he snatched them way out of the hand of the sons of Israel, so that they did not kill them.

²⁷On that day he made them woodcutters and water carriers, as they are to this day for the congregation of the LORD and for the altar at the place He would choose.

²⁷And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of YHWH, even to this day, in the place that He would choose.