And it came to pass, when all the kings{H4428} which were on this side{H5676} Jordan{H3383}, in the hills{H2022}, and in the valleys{H8219}, and in all the coasts{H2348} of the great{H1419} sea{H3220} over against{H4136} Lebanon{H3844}, the Hittite{H2850}, and the Amorite{H567}, the Canaanite{H3669}, the Perizzite{H6522}, the Hivite{H2340}, and the Jebusite{H2983}, heard{H8085}{(H8800)} thereof;

That they gathered{H6908}{(H8691)} themselves together{H3162}, to fight{H3898}{(H8736)} with Joshua{H3091} and with Israel{H3478}, with one{H259} accord{H6310}.

And when the inhabitants{H3427}{(H8802)} of Gibeon{H1391} heard{H8085}{(H8804)} what Joshua{H3091} had done{H6213}{(H8804)} unto Jericho{H3405} and to Ai{H5857},

They did work{H6213}{(H8799)} wilily{H6195}, and went{H3212}{(H8799)} and made as if they had been ambassadors{H6737}{(H8691)}, and took{H3947}{(H8799)} old{H1087} sacks{H8242} upon their asses{H2543}, and wine{H3196} bottles{H4997}, old{H1087}, and rent{H1234}{(H8794)}, and bound up{H6887}{(H8794)};

And old{H1087} shoes{H5275} and clouted{H2921}{(H8794)} upon their feet{H7272}, and old{H1087} garments{H8008} upon them; and all the bread{H3899} of their provision{H6718} was dry{H3001}{(H8804)} and mouldy{H5350}.

And they went{H3212}{(H8799)} to Joshua{H3091} unto the camp{H4264} at Gilgal{H1537}, and said{H559}{(H8799)} unto him, and to the men{H376} of Israel{H3478}, We be come{H935}{(H8804)} from a far{H7350} country{H776}: now therefore make{H3772}{(H8798)} ye a league{H1285} with us.

And the men{H376} of Israel{H3478} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto the Hivites{H2340}, Peradventure{H194} ye dwell{H3427}{(H8802)} among{H7130} us; and how shall we make{H3772}{(H8799)} a league{H1285} with you?

And they said{H559}{(H8799)} unto Joshua{H3091}, We are thy servants{H5650}. And Joshua{H3091} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto them, Who are ye? and from whence{H370} come{H935}{(H8799)} ye?

And they said{H559}{(H8799)} unto him, From a very{H3966} far{H7350} country{H776} thy servants{H5650} are come{H935}{(H8804)} because of the name{H8034} of the LORD{H3068} thy God{H430}: for we have heard{H8085}{(H8804)} the fame{H8089} of him, and all that he did{H6213}{(H8804)} in Egypt{H4714},

And all that he did{H6213}{(H8804)} to the two{H8147} kings{H4428} of the Amorites{H567}, that were beyond{H5676} Jordan{H3383}, to Sihon{H5511} king{H4428} of Heshbon{H2809}, and to Og{H5747} king{H4428} of Bashan{H1316}, which was at Ashtaroth{H6252}.

Wherefore our elders{H2205} and all the inhabitants{H3427}{(H8802)} of our country{H776} spake{H559}{(H8799)} to us, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Take{H3947}{(H8798)} victuals{H6720} with you{H3027} for the journey{H1870}, and go{H3212}{(H8798)} to meet{H7125}{(H8800)} them, and say{H559}{(H8804)} unto them, We are your servants{H5650}: therefore now make{H3772}{(H8798)} ye a league{H1285} with us.

This our bread{H3899} we took hot{H2525} for our provision{H6679}{(H8694)} out of our houses{H1004} on the day{H3117} we came forth{H3318}{(H8800)} to go{H3212}{(H8800)} unto you; but now, behold, it is dry{H3001}{(H8804)}, and it is mouldy{H5350}:

And these bottles{H4997} of wine{H3196}, which we filled{H4390}{(H8765)}, were new{H2319}; and, behold, they be rent{H1234}{(H8694)}: and these our garments{H8008} and our shoes{H5275} are become old{H1086}{(H8804)} by reason of the very{H3966} long{H7230} journey{H1870}.

And the men{H582} took{H3947}{(H8799)} of their victuals{H6718}, and asked{H7592}{(H8804)} not counsel at the mouth{H6310} of the LORD{H3068}.

And Joshua{H3091} made{H6213}{(H8799)} peace{H7965} with them, and made{H3772}{(H8799)} a league{H1285} with them, to let them live{H2421}{(H8763)}: and the princes{H5387} of the congregation{H5712} sware{H7650}{(H8735)} unto them.

And it came to pass at the end{H7097} of three{H7969} days{H3117} after{H310} they had made{H3772}{(H8804)} a league{H1285} with them, that they heard{H8085}{(H8799)} that they were their neighbours{H7138}, and that they dwelt{H3427}{(H8802)} among{H7130} them.

And the children{H1121} of Israel{H3478} journeyed{H5265}{(H8799)}, and came{H935}{(H8799)} unto their cities{H5892} on the third{H7992} day{H3117}. Now their cities{H5892} were Gibeon{H1391}, and Chephirah{H3716}, and Beeroth{H881}, and Kirjathjearim{H7157}.

And the children{H1121} of Israel{H3478} smote{H5221}{(H8689)} them not, because the princes{H5387} of the congregation{H5712} had sworn{H7650}{(H8738)} unto them by the LORD{H3068} God{H430} of Israel{H3478}. And all the congregation{H5712} murmured{H3885}{(H8735)} against the princes{H5387}.

But all the princes{H5387} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto all the congregation{H5712}, We have sworn{H7650}{(H8738)} unto them by the LORD{H3068} God{H430} of Israel{H3478}: now therefore we may{H3201}{(H8799)} not touch{H5060}{(H8800)} them.

This we will do{H6213}{(H8799)} to them; we will even let them live{H2421}{(H8687)}, lest wrath{H7110} be upon us, because of the oath{H7621} which we sware{H7650}{(H8738)} unto them.

And the princes{H5387} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto them, Let them live{H2421}{(H8799)}; but let them be hewers{H2404}{(H8802)} of wood{H6086} and drawers{H7579}{(H8802)} of water{H4325} unto all the congregation{H5712}; as the princes{H5387} had promised{H1696}{(H8765)} them.

And Joshua{H3091} called{H7121}{(H8799)} for them, and he spake{H1696}{(H8762)} unto them, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Wherefore have ye beguiled{H7411}{(H8765)} us, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, We are very{H3966} far{H7350} from you; when ye dwell{H3427}{(H8802)} among{H7130} us?

Now therefore ye are cursed{H779}{(H8803)}, and there shall none of you be freed{H3772}{(H8735)} from being bondmen{H5650}, and hewers{H2404}{(H8802)} of wood{H6086} and drawers{H7579}{(H8802)} of water{H4325} for the house{H1004} of my God{H430}.

And they answered{H6030}{(H8799)} Joshua{H3091}, and said{H559}{(H8799)}, Because it was certainly{H5046}{(H8715)} told{H5046}{(H8717)} thy servants{H5650}, how that the LORD{H3068} thy God{H430} commanded{H6680}{(H8765)} his servant{H5650} Moses{H4872} to give{H5414}{(H8800)} you all the land{H776}, and to destroy{H8045}{(H8687)} all the inhabitants{H3427}{(H8802)} of the land{H776} from before{H6440} you, therefore we were sore{H3966} afraid{H3372}{(H8799)} of our lives{H5315} because{H6440} of you, and have done{H6213}{(H8799)} this thing{H1697}.

And now, behold, we{H2009} are in thine hand{H3027}: as it seemeth{H5869} good{H2896} and right{H3477} unto thee to do{H6213}{(H8800)} unto us, do{H6213}{(H8798)}.

And so did{H6213}{(H8799)} he unto them, and delivered{H5337}{(H8686)} them out of the hand{H3027} of the children{H1121} of Israel{H3478}, that they slew{H2026}{(H8804)} them not.

And Joshua{H3091} made{H5414}{(H8799)} them that day{H3117} hewers{H2404}{(H8802)} of wood{H6086} and drawers{H7579}{(H8802)} of water{H4325} for the congregation{H5712}, and for the altar{H4196} of the LORD{H3068}, even unto this day{H3117}, in the place{H4725} which he should choose{H977}{(H8799)}.