The Gibeonite Deception

9 Now when all the kings west of the Jordan heard about these things—the kings in the hill country,f in the western foothills, and along the entire coast of the Mediterranean Seag as far as Lebanonh (the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites,i Hivitesj and Jebusites)k—2 they came together to wage war against Joshua and Israel.

3 However, when the people of Gibeonl heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,m 4 they resorted to a ruse: They went as a delegation whose donkeys were loadeda with worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended. 5 They put worn and patched sandals on their feet and wore old clothes. All the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy. 6 Then they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgaln and said to him and the Israelites, “We have come from a distant country;o make a treatyp with us.”

7 The Israelites said to the Hivites,q “But perhaps you live near us, so how can we make a treatyr with you?”

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

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

9 They answered: “Your servants have come from a very distant countryt because of the fame of the Lord your God. For we have heard reportsu of him: all that he did in Egypt,v 10 and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan—Sihon king of Heshbon,w and Og king of Bashan,x who reigned in Ashtaroth.y 11 And our elders and all those living in our country said to us, ‘Take provisions for your journey; go and meet them and say to them, “We are your servants; make a treaty with us.” ’ 12 This bread of ours was warm when we packed it at home on the day we left to come to you. But now see how dry and moldy it is. 13 And these wineskins that we filled were new, but see how cracked they are. And our clothes and sandals are worn out by the very long journey.”

14 The Israelites sampled their provisions but did not inquirez of the Lord. 15 Then Joshua made a treaty of peacea with them to let them live,b and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath.

16 Three days after they made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites heard that they were neighbors, living nearc them. 17 So the Israelites set out and on the third day came to their cities: Gibeon, Kephirah, Beerothd and Kiriath Jearim.e 18 But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oathf to them by the Lord, the God of Israel.

The whole assembly grumbledg against the leaders, 19 but all the leaders answered, “We have given them our oath by the Lord, the God of Israel, and we cannot touch them now. 20 This is what we will do to them: We will let them live, so that God’s wrath will not fall on us for breaking the oathh we swore to them.” 21 They continued, “Let them live,i but let them be woodcutters and water carriersj in the service of the whole assembly.” So the leaders’ promise to them was kept.

22 Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, “Why did you deceive us by saying, ‘We live a long wayk from you,’ while actually you live nearl us? 23 You are now under a curse:m You will never be released from service as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”

24 They answered Joshua, “Your servants were clearly toldn how the Lord your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you the whole land and to wipe out all its inhabitants from before you. So we feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we did this. 25 We are now in your hands.o Do to us whatever seems good and rightp to you.”

26 So Joshua saved them from the Israelites, and they did not kill them. 27 That day he made the Gibeonitesq woodcutters and water carriersr for the assembly, to provide for the needs of the altar of the Lord at the place the Lord would choose.s And that is what they are to this day.