And it came to pass, when all the kings{H4428} that were beyond{H5676} the Jordan,{H3383} in the hill-country,{H2022} and in the lowland,{H8219} and on all the shore{H2348} of the great{H1419} sea{H3220} in front{H4136} of Lebanon,{H3844} the Hittite,{H2850} and the Amorite,{H567} the Canaanite,{H3669} the Perizzite,{H6522} the Hivite,{H2340} and the Jebusite,{H2983} heard{H8085} thereof;

that they gathered{H6908} themselves together,{H3162} to fight{H3898} with Joshua{H3091} and with Israel,{H3478} with one{H259} accord.{H6310}

But when the inhabitants{H3427} of Gibeon{H1391} heard{H8085} what Joshua{H3091} had done{H6213} unto Jericho{H3405} and to Ai,{H5857}

they also did work{H6213} wilily,{H6195} and went{H3212} and made as if they had been ambassadors,{H6737} and took{H3947} old{H1087} sacks{H8242} upon their asses,{H2543} and wine -{H3196} skins,{H4997} old{H1087} and rent{H1234} and bound up,{H6887}

and old{H1087} and patched{H2921} shoes{H5275} upon their feet,{H7272} and old{H1087} garments{H8008} upon them; and all the bread{H3899} of their provision{H6718} was dry{H3001} and was become mouldy.{H5350}

And they went{H3212} to Joshua{H3091} unto the camp{H4264} at Gilgal,{H1537} and said{H559} unto him, and to the men{H376} of Israel,{H3478} We are come{H935} from a far{H7350} country:{H776} now therefore make{H3772} ye a covenant{H1285} with us.

And the men{H376} of Israel{H3478} said{H559} unto the Hivites,{H2340} Peradventure{H194} ye dwell{H3427} among{H7130} us; and how shall we make{H3772} a covenant{H1285} with you?

And they said{H559} unto Joshua,{H3091} We are thy servants.{H5650} And Joshua{H3091} said{H559} unto them, Who are ye? and from whence{H370} come{H935} ye?

And they said{H559} unto him, From a very{H3966} far{H7350} country{H776} thy servants{H5650} are come{H935} because of the name{H8034} of Jehovah{H3068} thy God:{H430} for we have heard{H8085} the fame{H8089} of him, and all that he did{H6213} in Egypt,{H4714}

and all that he did{H6213} to the two{H8147} kings{H4428} of the Amorites,{H567} that were beyond{H5676} the Jordan,{H3383} to Sihon{H5511} king{H4428} of Heshbon,{H2809} and to Og{H5747} king{H4428} of Bashan,{H1316} who was at Ashtaroth.{H6252}

And our elders{H2205} and all the inhabitants{H3427} of our country{H776} spake{H559} to us, saying,{H559} Take{H3947} provision{H6720} in your{H3027} hand for the journey,{H1870} and go{H3212} to meet{H7125} them, and say{H559} unto them, We are your servants:{H5650} and now make{H3772} ye a covenant{H1285} with us.

This our bread{H3899} we took hot{H2525} for our provision{H6679} out of our houses{H1004} on the day{H3117} we came forth{H3318} to go{H3212} unto you; but now, behold, it is dry,{H3001} and is become mouldy:{H5350}

and these wine -{H3196} skins,{H4997} which we filled,{H4390} were new;{H2319} and, behold, they are rent:{H1234} and these our garments{H8008} and our shoes{H5275} are become old{H1086} by reason of the very{H3966} long{H7230} journey.{H1870}

And the men{H582} took{H3947} of their provision,{H6718} and asked{H7592} not counsel at the mouth{H6310} of Jehovah.{H3068}

And Joshua{H3091} made{H6213} peace{H7965} with them, and made{H3772} a covenant{H1285} with them, to let them live:{H2421} and the princes{H5387} of the congregation{H5712} sware{H7650} unto them.

And it came to pass at the end{H7097} of three{H7969} days{H3117} after{H310} they had made{H3772} a covenant{H1285} with them, that they heard{H8085} that they were their neighbors,{H7138} and that they dwelt{H3427} among{H7130} them.

And the children{H1121} of Israel{H3478} journeyed,{H5265} and came{H935} unto their cities{H5892} on the third{H7992} day.{H3117} Now their cities{H5892} were Gibeon,{H1391} and Chephirah,{H3716} and Beeroth,{H881} and Kiriath-jearim.{H7157}

And the children{H1121} of Israel{H3478} smote{H5221} them not, because the princes{H5387} of the congregation{H5712} had sworn{H7650} unto them by Jehovah,{H3068} the God{H430} of Israel.{H3478} And all the congregation{H5712} murmured{H3885} against the princes.{H5387}

But all the princes{H5387} said{H559} unto all the congregation,{H5712} We have sworn{H7650} unto them by Jehovah,{H3068} the God{H430} of Israel:{H3478} now therefore we may{H3201} not touch{H5060} them.

This we will do{H6213} to them, and let them live;{H2421} lest wrath{H7110} be upon us, because of the oath{H7621} which we sware{H7650} unto them.

And the princes{H5387} said{H559} unto them, Let them live:{H2421} so they became hewers{H2404} of wood{H6086} and drawers{H7579} of water{H4325} unto all the congregation,{H5712} as the princes{H5387} had spoken{H1696} unto them.

And Joshua{H3091} called{H7121} for them, and he spake{H1696} unto them, saying,{H559} Wherefore have ye beguiled{H7411} us, saying,{H559} We are very{H3966} far{H7350} from you; when ye dwell{H3427} among{H7130} us?

Now therefore ye are cursed,{H779} and there shall never fail{H3772} to be of you bondmen,{H5650} both hewers{H2404} of wood{H6086} and drawers{H7579} of water{H4325} for the house{H1004} of my God.{H430}

And they answered{H6030} Joshua,{H3091} and said,{H559} Because it was certainly{H5046} told{H5046} thy servants,{H5650} how that Jehovah{H3068} thy God{H430} commanded{H6680} his servant{H5650} Moses{H4872} to give{H5414} you all the land,{H776} and to destroy{H8045} all the inhabitants{H3427} of the land{H776} from before{H6440} you; therefore we were sore{H3966} afraid{H3372} for our lives{H5315} because{H6440} of you, and have done{H6213} this thing.{H1697}

And now, behold, we{H2009} are in thy hand:{H3027} as it seemeth{H5869} good{H2896} and right{H3477} unto thee to do{H6213} unto us, do.{H6213}

And so did{H6213} he unto them, and delivered{H5337} them out of the hand{H3027} of the children{H1121} of Israel,{H3478} that they slew{H2026} them not.

And Joshua{H3091} made{H5414} them that day{H3117} hewers{H2404} of wood{H6086} and drawers{H7579} of water{H4325} for the congregation,{H5712} and for the altar{H4196} of Jehovah,{H3068} unto this day,{H3117} in the place{H4725} which he should choose.{H977}