Joshua, Chapter 9:
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Joshua Verses, Chapter 9 of the Book of Joshua of the Bible.
The ruse of the people of Gibeon
- 1. And all the kings who dwelt west of the Jordan, in the mountains, in the coastal plain, and along the great sea, from Lebanon to Gaza, heard of it. They were the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.
- 2. They united and prepared to fight against Joshua and Israel.
- 3. However, when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,
- 4. they used a ruse. They sent a delegation with donkeys loaded with old sacks and patched and cracked leather containers.
- 5. The men wore worn, patched sandals and old clothes. The bread they were carrying was dry and crumbly.
- 6. They came to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant land and would like to make a treaty with you.”
- 7. The Israelites asked the Hivites, “How do we know you are not our neighbors? How can we make a deal with you?”
- 8. They replied, “We are your servants.” And Joshua asked, “Who are you and where did you come from?”
- 9. They said, “We have come from a distant land because of the fame of the Lord your God. We heard about everything He did in Egypt
- 10. and how He defeated the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan: Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashteroth.
- 11. Our leaders and all the inhabitants of our land told us, 'Prepare provisions for the journey and go and meet the Israelites. Tell them that we are your servants and ask for an agreement with them.'
- 12. Our buns were still warm when we wrapped them at home for the trip here. But now, look, they are dry and crumbly.
- 13. These leather vessels that we filled with wine were new, but now they are cracked. Our clothes and sandals are worn out from the long journey.”
- 14. The Israelites examined the provisions of the Hivites, but they did not seek guidance from the Lord.
- 15. Then Joshua made a peace agreement with them, guaranteeing that they would not be killed. And the leaders of the congregation confirmed the agreement with an oath.
- 16. Three days after making the agreement, the Israelites discovered that the Hivites were their neighbors and lived near them.
- 17. Then the Israelites left and came to the cities of the Hivites: Gibeon, Chephira, Beeroth and Kiriath-jearim.
- 18. However, they did not attack them, because the leaders of the congregation had sworn an oath to the Lord, the God of Israel.
- 19. All the people murmured against the leaders, but they said, “We swore an oath to the Lord, the God of Israel. Now, we can't touch them.
- 20. This is how we will treat them: we will let them live, so that the wrath of the Lord will not fall on us for breaking the oath we swore.”
- 21. They said, “They will live, but they will be servants, hewers of wood, and carriers of water for the congregation.” And so it was done, as they promised.
- 22. Joshua called the Hivites and said to them, “Why did they deceive us, saying they were from a distant land, when in fact they lived near us?
- 23. Now you are cursed! They will never be freed from the condition of servants, chopping wood and carrying water for the House of my God.”
- 24. They answered Joshua, “We have heard how the Lord your God commanded Moses to give you all this land and to destroy all its inhabitants before you. We fear for our lives and we act like it.
- 25. We are now in your hands. Do with us what seems fair and good.”
- 26. Joshua protected them and did not allow them to be killed.
- 27. But that day he made them servants, hewers of wood and carriers of water for the congregation and for the altar of the Lord, in the place that the Lord would choose. This is its condition to this day.
