Dual Panel1When the news <08085> reached <01961> all <03605> the kings <04428> on the west side <05676> of the Jordan <03383>– in the hill country <02022>, the lowlands <08219>, and all <03605> along the Mediterranean <01419> coast <03220> <02348> as far as <04136> Lebanon <03844> (including the Hittites <02850>, Amorites <0567>, Canaanites <03669>, Perizzites <06522>, Hivites <02340>, and Jebusites <02983>)–
2they formed <06908> an alliance <03162> to fight <03898> against <05973> Joshua <03091> and <05973> Israel <03478>.
3When the residents <03427> of Gibeon <01391> heard <08085> what <0834> Joshua <03091> did <06213> to Jericho <03405> and Ai <05857>,
4they <01992> did <06213> something clever <06195>. They collected <01980> some provisions <06737> and put <03947> worn-out <01087> sacks <08242> on their donkeys <02543>, along with worn-out <01087> wineskins <03196> <04997> that were ripped <01234> and patched <06887>.
5They had worn-out <01087>, patched <02921> sandals <05275> on their feet <07272> and dressed in <05921> worn-out <01087> clothes <08008>. All <03605> their bread <03899> was <01961> dry <03001> and hard <05350>.
6They came <01980> to <0413> Joshua <03091> at <0413> the camp <04264> in Gilgal <01537> and said <0559> to <0413> him and the men <0376> of Israel <03478>, “We have come <0935> from a distant <07350> land <0776>. Make <03772> a treaty <01285> with us.”
7The men <0376> of Israel <03478> said <0559> to <0413> the Hivites <02340>, “Perhaps <0194> you <0859> live <03427> near <07130> us. So how <0349> can we make <03772> <03772> a treaty <01285> with you?”
8But they said <0559> to <0413> Joshua <03091>, “We <0587> are willing to be your subjects <05650>.” So Joshua <03091> said <0559> to <0413> them, “Who <04310> are you <0859> and where <0370> do you come <0935> from?”
9They told <0559> him, “Your subjects <05650> have come <0935> from a very <03966> distant <07350> land <0776> because of the reputation <08034> of the Lord <03068> your God <0430>, for <03588> we have heard <08085> the news <08089> about all <03605> he did <06213> in Egypt <04714>
10and all <03605> he did <06213> to the two <08147> Amorite <0567> kings <04428> on the other side <05676> of the Jordan <03383>– King <04428> Sihon <05511> of Heshbon <02809> and King <04428> Og <05747> of Bashan <01316> in Ashtaroth <06252>.
11Our leaders <02205> and all <03605> who live <03427> in our land <0776> told <0559> us, ‘Take <03947> provisions <06720> for your journey <01870> and go <01980> meet <07125> them. Tell <0559> them, “We <0587> are willing to <0413> be your subjects <05650>. Make <03772> a treaty <01285> with us.”’
12This <02088> bread <03899> of ours was warm <02525> when we packed <06679> it in <0854> our homes <01004> the day <03117> we started out <03318> to <0413> meet <01980> you, but <02009> now <06258> it is <01961> dry <03001> and hard <05350>.
13These <0428> wineskins <03196> <04997> we filled <04390> were brand new <02319>, but look <02009> how they have ripped <01234>. Our clothes <08008> and sandals <05275> have worn out <01086> because it has been a very <03966> long <07230> journey <01870>.”
14The men <0582> examined <03947> some of their provisions <06718>, but they failed <03808> to ask <07592> the Lord’s <03068> advice <06310>.
15Joshua <03091> made <06213> a peace <07965> treaty with them and agreed <01285> to let them live <02421>. The leaders <05387> of the community <05712> sealed it with an oath <07650>.
16Three <07969> days <03117> after <0310> they made <03772> the treaty <01285> with them <01992>, the Israelites found out <08085> they <01992> were from the local area <07138> and lived <03427> nearby <07130>.
17So the Israelites <03478> <01121> set out <05265> and on the third <07992> day <03117> arrived <0935> at <0413> their cities <05892>– Gibeon <01391>, Kephirah <03716>, Beeroth <0881>, and Kiriath Jearim <07157>.
18The Israelites <03478> <01121> did not <03808> attack <05221> them because <03588> the leaders <05387> of the community <05712> had sworn an oath <07650> to them in the name of the Lord <03068> God <0430> of Israel <03478>. The whole <03605> community <05712> criticized <03885> the leaders <05387>,
19but all <03605> the leaders <05387> told <0559> the whole <03605> community <05712>, “We <0587> swore an oath <07650> to them in the name of the Lord <03068> God <0430> of Israel <03478>. So now <06258> we can’t <03201> <03808> hurt <05060> them!
20We must <06213> let them live <02421> so we can escape <01961> <03808> the curse <07110> attached to <05921> the oath <07621> we swore <07650> to them.”
21The leaders <05387> then added <0559>, “Let them live <02421>.” So they became <01961> woodcutters <06086> <02404> and water <04325> carriers <07579> for the whole <03605> community <05712>, as <0834> the leaders <05387> had decided <01696>.
22Joshua <03091> summoned <07121> the Gibeonites and said <01696> to <0413> them, “Why <04100> did you trick <07411> us by saying <0559>, ‘We <0587> live far away <07350> from <04480> you,’ when you <0859> really live <03427> nearby <07130>?
23Now <06258> you <0859> are condemned <0779> to perpetual <04480> <03772> <03808> servitude <05650> as woodcutters <06086> <02404> and water <04325> carriers <07579> for the house <01004> of my God <0430>.”
24They said <06030> to Joshua <03091>, “It was carefully reported <05046> <05046> to your subjects <05650> how <0834> the Lord <03068> your God <0430> commanded <06680> Moses <04872> his servant <05650> to assign <05414> you the <0853> whole <03605> land <0776> and to destroy <08045> all <03605> who live <03427> in the land <0776> from before <06440> you. Because of you we were terrified <03966> <03372> we would lose our lives <05315>, so we did <06213> this <02088> thing <01697>.
25So now <06258> we are in your power <03027>. Do <06213> to us what you think is good <02896> and appropriate <03477>.
26Joshua did <06213> as <03651> they said; he kept <05337> the Israelites <03478> <01121> from killing <02026> them
27and that day <03117> made <05414> them <01931> woodcutters <06086> <02404> and water <04325> carriers <07579> for the community <05712> and for the altar <04196> of the Lord <03068> at the divinely chosen <0977> site <04725>. (They continue in that capacity to this <02088> very <05704> day <03117>.)