Joshua, 9

1. And it came to pass, when all the kings which [were] on this side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard [thereof];

1. The kings who lived west of the Jordan, on the mountain, on the plain and on the seacoast heard of these events. The Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites

2. That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.

2. made a pact and came to an agreement to fight as one against Joshua and Israel.

3. And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,

3. The inhabitants of Gibeon came to know what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,

4. They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up;

4. and decided to deceive the Israelites. They prepared provisions for themselves, loaded some worn-out, torn and mended sacks and wineskins on their asses,

5. And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry [and] mouldy.

5. put on worn-out and patched sandals and clothes. For their journey, they brought some dry bread, broken into pieces.

6. And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us.

6. Then they went to Joshua, to the camp at Gilgal, and said to him: "We come from a far land to make a pact with you."

7. And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you?

7. The Israelites answered: "Do you live near us? If so, then we cannot make a pact with you."

8. And they said unto Joshua, We [are] thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who [are] ye? and from whence come ye?

8. They answered Joshua: "We are your servants." And Joshua asked them: "Who are you? Where do you come from?"

9. And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the LORD thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt,

9. They answered: "Your servants come from a very far country and through the greatness of Yahweh, your God, we came to know of his power and all that he did in Egypt

10. And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that [were] beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which [was] at Ashtaroth.

10. and with the two kings of the Amorites who reigned in the eastern part of the Jordan - Sihon, the king of Heshbon, and Og, the king of Bashan, who lived in 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: therefore now make ye a league with us.

11. The leaders and the rest of the inhabitants of our country told us: 'Take provisions for a long journey, go out to meet them and say to them: We are your servants; may you make a covenant with us.'

12. This our bread we took hot [for] our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is mouldy:

12. Look at our bread which was warm when we took it from our houses to come and meet you, but see how dry it has become and how it has broken into pieces.

13. And these bottles of wine, which we filled, [were] new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey.

13. These wineskins that we filled up with wine were new, now they are ripped and worn-out. The clothes and sandals that we use have worn out because of the very long journey."

14. And the men took of their victuals, and asked not [counsel] at the mouth of the LORD.

14. The Israelites shared their food with them without having asked Yahweh what must be done.

15. And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.

15. Joshua made a covenant with them without waiting for any answer from Yahweh. So he as well as the leaders of the community promised to let them live.

16. And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, that they heard that they [were] their neighbours, and [that] they dwelt among them.

16. Three days later, the Israelites learned that these people lived near their own territory.

17. And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities [were] Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjathjearim.

17. On hearing this, the Israelites set out and entered their cities: Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth and Kiriath-jearim.

18. And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes.

18. They spared their lives because of what the leaders of the people had sworn to them by the name of Yahweh.

19. But 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.

19. But all the people criticized their leaders. Then all the leaders said to them: "We have sworn by the name of Yahweh, therefore, we cannot kill them.

20. This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them.

20. But this we can do: we shall let them live so that the anger of Yahweh may not be upon us,

21. And the princes said unto them, Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had promised them.

21. but they shall serve by cutting firewood and fetching water for the community of Israel."

22. And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, We [are] very far from you; when ye dwell among us?

22. Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and told them about the decision of the leaders: "Why did you deceive us and say to us that you come from very far when in fact, you live right in our midst?

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.

23. Henceforth, you are cursed and shall always cut wood and fetch water for the House of my God."

24. And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the LORD thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing.

24. The Gibeonites answered: "We came to know that Yahweh had commanded Moses to destroy all the inhabitants of the land he gave you. We were afraid so we opted for this measure.

25. And now, behold, we [are] in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do.

25. And now, we are in your hands: do with us whatever seems good and just to you."

26. And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not.

26. Joshua fulfilled his promise and did not let the Israelites kill them.

27. And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose.

27. But from that day on, they cut firewood and fetched water for the whole community and for the altar of Yahweh in the place he would choose.