1Now it came about when all the kings who were beyond the Jordan, in the hill country, the lowland, and on all the coast of the Great Sea toward Lebanon, the Hittite and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard about it,

2that they met together with one Lit mouthpurpose, to fight with Joshua and with Israel.

3The inhabitants of Gibeon also heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai,

4but they on their part acted craftily and went and took provisions for a journey, and took worn-out sacks on their donkeys, and wineskins that were worn out, split open, and patched,

5and worn-out and patched sandals on their feet, and worn-out clothes on themselves; and all the bread of their provision was dry and had become crumbled.

6And they went to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a far country; now then, make a covenant with us.”

7But the men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you are living Lit among uswithin our land; how then are we to make a covenant with you?”

8So they said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” Then Joshua said to them, “Who are you and where do you come from?”

9They said to him, “Your servants have come from a very distant country because of the Or namefame of the Lord your God; for we have heard the report about Him and all that He did in Egypt,

10and all that He did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon and to Og king of Bashan who was in Ashtaroth.

11So our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, ‘Take provisions in your hand for the journey, and go to meet them, and say to them, “We are your servants; now then, make a covenant with us.” ’

12This bread of ours was hot when we took it for our provisions from our houses on the day that we left to come to you; but now behold, it is dry and has become crumbled.

13And these wineskins which we filled were new, and behold, they are split open; and these clothes of ours and our sandals are worn out from the very long journey.”

14So the men of Israel took some of their provisions, and did not ask for the Lit mouthcounsel of the Lord.

15And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live; and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them.

16However, it came about at the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were neighbors and that they were living Lit in the middle of itwithin their land.

17Then the sons of Israel set out and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim.

18But the sons of Israel did not Lit strikeattack them because the leaders of the congregation had sworn to them by the Lord, the God of Israel. And the whole congregation grumbled against the leaders.

19But all the leaders said to the whole congregation, “We have sworn to them by the Lord, the God of Israel, and now we cannot touch them.

20This we will do to them, even let them live, so that wrath will not be on us because of the oath which we swore to them.”

21So the leaders said to them, “Let them live.” And they became gatherers of firewood and Lit people drawinglabor to draw water for the whole congregation, just as the leaders had spoken to them.

22Then Joshua called for them and spoke to them, saying, “Why have you deceived us, saying, ‘We are very far from you,’ when you are living Lit among uswithin our land?

23Now therefore, you are cursed, and Lit a servant will not be cut off from youyou will never cease to be slaves, both gatherers of firewood and Lit people drawinglabor to draw water for the house of my God.”

24So they answered Joshua and said, “Since your servants were fully informed that the Lord your God had commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land before you, we feared greatly for our lives because of you, and did this thing.

25And now behold, we are in your hands; do to us as it seems good and right in your sight to do.”

26This he did to them, and saved them from the hands of the sons of Israel, and they did not kill them.

27But on that day Joshua made them gatherers of firewood and Lit people drawinglabor to draw water for the congregation and for the altar of the Lord, to this day, in the place which He would choose.