Joshua Chapter 9

Joshua Chapter 9
1 And when all the kings that were
beyond Jordan, in the mountains and in
the valleys, and by all the coasts of the
great sea over against Lebanon ( as the
Hittites, and the Amorites, the
Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites,
and the Jebusites) heard thereof,
2 They gathered themselves together, to
fight against Joshua, and against Israel
with one accord.
3 But the inhabitants of Gibeon heard
what Joshua had done unto Jericho, and
to Ai.
4 And therefore they wrought craftily:
for they went, and feigned themselves
ambassadors, and took old sacks upon
their asses, and old bottles for wine,
both rent and bound up,
5 And old shoes and clout upon their
feet: also the raiment upon them was old,
and all their provision of bread was
dried, and moldy. 6 So they came unto
Joshua into the host to Gilgal, and said
unto him, and unto the men of Israel, We
be come from a far country: now
therefore make a league with us.
7 Then the men of Israel said unto the
Hivites, It may be that thou dwellest
among us, how then can I make a league
with thee?
8 And they said unto Joshua, We are thy
servants. Then Joshua said unto them,
Who are ye? And whence come ye?
9 And they answered him, From a very
far country thy servants are come for the
name of the Lord thy God: for we have
heard his fame and all that he hath done
in Egypt,
10 And all that he hath done to the two
kings of the Amorites that were beyond
Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to
Og king of Bashan, which were at
Ashtaroth.
11 Wherefore our elders, and all the
inhabitants of our country spake to us,
saying, Take victuals with you for the
journey, and go to meet them, and say
unto them, We are your servants: now
therefore make ye a league with us. 12
This our bread we took it hot with us for
victuals out of our houses, the day we
departed to come unto you: but now
behold, it is dried, and it is moldy. 13
Also these bottles of wine which we
filled, were new, and lo, they be rent,
and these our garments and our shoes are
old, by reason of the exceeding great
journey.
14 And the men accepted their tale
concerning their victuals, and counseled
not with the mouth of the Lord.
15 So Joshua made peace with them, and
made a league with them, that he would
suffer them to live: also the princes of
the congregation swear unto them.
16 But at the end of three days, after they
had made a league with them, they heard
that they were their neighbors, and that
they dwelt among them. 17 And the
children of Israel took their journey, and
came unto their cities the third day, and
their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah,
and Beeroth and Kirjath-jearim.
18 And the children of Israel slew them
not, because the princes of the
congregation had sworn unto them by the
Lord God of Israel: wherefore all the
congregation murmured against the
princes.
19 Then all the princes said unto all the
congregation, We have sworn unto them
by the Lord God of Israel: now therefore
we may not touch them. 20 But this we
will do to them, and let them live, lest
the wrath be upon us because of the oath
which we swear unto them.
21 And the princes said unto them again,
Let them live, but they shall hew wood,
and draw water unto all the
congregation, as the princes appoint
them. 22 Joshua then called them, and
talked with them, and said, Wherefore
have ye beguiled us, saying, We are very
far from you, when ye dwell among us?
23 Now therefore ye are cursed, and
there shall none of you be freed from
being bondmen, and hewers of wood,
and drawers of water for the house of
my God.
24 And they answered Joshua, and said,
Because it was told thy servants, that the
Lord thy God had commanded his
servant Moses to give you all the land,
and to destroy all the inhabitants of the
land out of your sight, therefore we were
exceeding sore afraid for our lives at the
presence of you, and have done this
thing:
25 And behold now, we are in thine
hand: do, as it seemeth good and right in
thine eyes to do unto us.
26 Even so did he unto them, and
delivered them out of the hand of the
children of Israel, that they slew them
not.
27 And Joshua appointed them that same
day to be hewers of wood, and drawers
of water for the congregation, and for the
altar of the Lord unto this day, in the
place which he should choose.