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The Gibeonite Deception
Now when all the kings west of the Jordan heard about these things — the kings in the hill country, in the western foothills, and along the entire coast of the Mediterranean Sea as far as Lebanon (the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites) —
Now when all the kings west of the Jordan heard about these things — the kings in the hill country, in the western foothills, and along the entire coast of the Mediterranean Sea as far as Lebanon (the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites) —
The Gibeonites Deceive Israel
Now all the kings west of the Jordan River heard about what had happened. These were the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, who lived in the hill country, in the western foothills,a and along the coast of the Mediterranean Seab as far north as the Lebanon mountains.
Now all the kings west of the Jordan River heard about what had happened. These were the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, who lived in the hill country, in the western foothills,a and along the coast of the Mediterranean Seab as far north as the Lebanon mountains.
they came together to wage war against Joshua and Israel.
These kings combined their armies to fight as one against Joshua and the Israelites.
However, when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,
But when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,
they resorted to deception to save themselves. They sent ambassadors to Joshua, loading their donkeys with weathered saddlebags and old, patched wineskins.
They put worn and patched sandals on their feet and wore old clothes. All the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy.
They put on worn-out, patched sandals and ragged clothes. And the bread they took with them was dry and moldy.
Then they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the Israelites, “We have come from a distant country; make a treaty with us.”
When they arrived at the camp of Israel at Gilgal, they told Joshua and the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant land to ask you to make a peace treaty with us.”
The Israelites said to the Hivites, “But perhaps you live near us, so how can we make a treaty with you?”
The Israelites replied to these Hivites, “How do we know you don’t live nearby? For if you do, we cannot make a treaty with you.”
“We are your servants,” they said to Joshua.
But Joshua asked, “Who are you and where do you come from?”
But Joshua asked, “Who are you and where do you come from?”
They replied, “We are your servants.”
“But who are you?” Joshua demanded. “Where do you come from?”
“But who are you?” Joshua demanded. “Where do you come from?”
They answered: “Your servants have come from a very distant country because of the fame of the Lord your God. For we have heard reports of him: all that he did in Egypt,
They answered, “Your servants have come from a very distant country. We have heard of the might of the LORD your God and of all he did in Egypt.
and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan — Sihon king of Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth.
We have also heard what he did to the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan River — King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan (who lived in Ashtaroth).
And our elders and all those living in our country said to us, ‘Take provisions for your journey; go and meet them and say to them, “We are your servants; make a treaty with us.” ’
So our elders and all our people instructed us, ‘Take supplies for a long journey. Go meet with the people of Israel and tell them, “We are your servants; please make a treaty with us.”’
This bread of ours was warm when we packed it at home on the day we left to come to you. But now see how dry and moldy it is.
“This bread was hot from the ovens when we left our homes. But now, as you can see, it is dry and moldy.
And these wineskins that we filled were new, but see how cracked they are. And our clothes and sandals are worn out by the very long journey.”
These wineskins were new when we filled them, but now they are old and split open. And our clothing and sandals are worn out from our very long journey.”
The Israelites sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the Lord.
So the Israelites examined their food, but they did not consult the LORD.
Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath.
Then Joshua made a peace treaty with them and guaranteed their safety, and the leaders of the community ratified their agreement with a binding oath.
Three days after they made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites heard that they were neighbors, living near them.
Three days after making the treaty, they learned that these people actually lived nearby!
So the Israelites set out and on the third day came to their cities: Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth and Kiriath Jearim.
The Israelites set out at once to investigate and reached their towns in three days. The names of these towns were Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim.
But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath to them by the Lord, the God of Israel.
The whole assembly grumbled against the leaders,
The whole assembly grumbled against the leaders,
But the Israelites did not attack the towns, for the Israelite leaders had made a vow to them in the name of the LORD, the God of Israel.
The people of Israel grumbled against their leaders because of the treaty.
The people of Israel grumbled against their leaders because of the treaty.
but all the leaders answered, “We have given them our oath by the Lord, the God of Israel, and we cannot touch them now.
But the leaders replied, “Since we have sworn an oath in the presence of the LORD, the God of Israel, we cannot touch them.
This is what we will do to them: We will let them live, so that God’s wrath will not fall on us for breaking the oath we swore to them.”
This is what we must do. We must let them live, for divine anger would come upon us if we broke our oath.
They continued, “Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers in the service of the whole assembly.” So the leaders’ promise to them was kept.
Let them live.” So they made them woodcutters and water carriers for the entire community, as the Israelite leaders directed.
Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, “Why did you deceive us by saying, ‘We live a long way from you,’ while actually you live near us?
Joshua called together the Gibeonites and said, “Why did you lie to us? Why did you say that you live in a distant land when you live right here among us?
You are now under a curse: You will never be released from service as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”
May you be cursed! From now on you will always be servants who cut wood and carry water for the house of my God.”
They answered Joshua, “Your servants were clearly told how the Lord your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you the whole land and to wipe out all its inhabitants from before you. So we feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we did this.
They replied, “We did it because we — your servants — were clearly told that the LORD your God commanded his servant Moses to give you this entire land and to destroy all the people living in it. So we feared greatly for our lives because of you. That is why we have done this.
We are now in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you.”
Now we are at your mercy — do to us whatever you think is right.”
So Joshua saved them from the Israelites, and they did not kill them.
So Joshua did not allow the people of Israel to kill them.
That day he made the Gibeonites woodcutters and water carriers for the assembly, to provide for the needs of the altar of the Lord at the place the Lord would choose. And that is what they are to this day.
But that day he made the Gibeonites the woodcutters and water carriers for the community of Israel and for the altar of the LORD — wherever the LORD would choose to build it. And that is what they do to this day.