7 The men of Israel replied to the Hivites, “Perhaps you live among us. How can we make a treaty with you?”p

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

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

9 They replied to him, “Your servants have come from a faraway land because of the reputation of the Lord your God. For we have heard of his fame, and all that he did in Egypt, 10 and all that he did to the two Amorite kings beyond the Jordan—King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan, who was in Ashtaroth. 11 So our elders and all the inhabitants of our land told us, ‘Take provisions with you for the journey; go and meet them and say, “We are your servants. Please make a treaty with us.” ’ 12 This bread of ours was warm when we took it from our houses as food on the day we left to come to you; but see, it is now dry and crumbly. 13 These wineskins were new when we filled them; but see, they are cracked. And these clothes and sandals of ours are worn out from the extremely long journey.” 14 Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions, but did not seek the Lord’s decision.b 15 So Joshua established peace with them and made a treaty to let them live, and the leaders of the community swore an oath to them.c

GIBEON’S DECEPTION DISCOVERED

16 Three days after making the treaty with them, they heard that the Gibeonites were their neighbors, living among them. 17 So the Israelites set out and reached the Gibeonite cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim.d 18 But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the community had sworn an oathe to them by the Lord, the God of Israel. Then the whole community grumbled against the leaders.