The Deceit of the Gibeonites

1  וַיְהִ֣י (And it came to pass), כִשְׁמֹ֣עַ (when heard) כָּֽל־ (all) הַמְּלָכִ֡ים (the kings) אֲשֶׁר֩ (who were) בְּעֵ֨בֶר (on this side) הַיַּרְדֵּ֜ן (of the Jordan), בָּהָ֣ר (in the hills), וּבַשְּׁפֵלָ֗ה (and in the Shephelah), וּבְכֹל֙ (and in all) ח֚וֹף (the coasts) הַיָּ֣ם (of the Sea) הַגָּד֔וֹל (Great) אֶל־ (over) מ֖וּל (toward) הַלְּבָנ֑וֹן (Lebanon), הַֽחִתִּי֙ (the Hittite), וְהָ֣אֱמֹרִ֔י (and the Amorite), הַֽכְּנַעֲנִי֙ (the Canaanite), הַפְּרִזִּ֔י (the Perizzite), הַחִוִּ֖י (the Hivite), וְהַיְבוּסִֽי׃ (and the Jebusite), 2  וַיִּֽתְקַבְּצ֣וּ (that they gathered) יַחְדָּ֔ו (together) לְהִלָּחֵ֥ם (to fight) עִם־ (with) יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ (Joshua) וְעִם־ (and) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (Israel) פֶּ֖ה (with mouth) אֶחָֽד׃פ (one).

3  וְיֹשְׁבֵ֨י (And the dwellers) גִבְע֜וֹן (of Gibeon) שָׁמְע֗וּ (heard) אֵת֩ (-) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (what) עָשָׂ֧ה (had done) יְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַ (Joshua) לִֽירִיח֖וֹ (to Jericho) וְלָעָֽי׃ (and Ai), 4  וַיַּעֲשׂ֤וּ (and worked) גַם־ (also) הֵ֙מָּה֙ (they) בְּעָרְמָ֔ה (craftily), וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ (and they went) וַיִּצְטַיָּ֑רוּ (and acted as envoys), וַיִּקְח֞וּ (and they took) שַׂקִּ֤ים (sacks) בָּלִים֙ (old) לַחֲמ֣וֹרֵיהֶ֔ם (on their donkeys), וְנֹאד֥וֹת (and) יַ֙יִן֙ (wineskins) בָּלִ֔ים (old) וּמְבֻקָּעִ֖ים (and torn) וּמְצֹרָרִֽים׃ (and mended), 5  וּנְעָל֨וֹת (and sandals) בָּל֤וֹת (old) וּמְטֻלָּאוֹת֙ (and patched) בְּרַגְלֵיהֶ֔ם (on their feet), וּשְׂלָמ֥וֹת (and garments) בָּל֖וֹת (old) עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם (on themselves), וְכֹל֙ (and all) לֶ֣חֶם (the bread) צֵידָ֔ם (of their provision) יָבֵ֖שׁ (was dry)— הָיָ֥ה (it had become) נִקֻּדִֽים׃ (crumbs). 6  וַיֵּלְכ֧וּ (And they went) אֶל־ (to) יְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַ (Joshua) אֶל־ (to) הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֖ה (the camp) הַגִּלְגָּ֑ל (at Gilgal) וַיֹּאמְר֨וּ (and said) אֵלָ֜יו (to him) וְאֶל־ (and to) אִ֣ישׁ (the men) יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (of Israel), מֵאֶ֤רֶץ (From a country) רְחוֹקָה֙ (distant) בָּ֔אנוּ (we have come), וְעַתָּ֖ה (and now) כִּרְתוּ־ (make) לָ֥נוּ (with us) בְרִֽית׃ (a covenant).

7  וַיֹּאמְרוּ (And said) אִֽישׁ־ (the men) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) אֶל־ (to) הַחִוִּ֑י (the Hivite), אוּלַ֗י (Perhaps) בְּקִרְבִּי֙ (among us) אַתָּ֣ה (you) יוֹשֵׁ֔ב (are dwelling), וְאֵ֖יךְ (and how) אֶכְרוֹת (can I cut) לְךָ֥ (with you) בְרִֽית׃ (a covenant).

8  וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ (And they said) אֶל־ (to) יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ (Joshua), עֲבָדֶ֣יךָ (Your servants) אֲנָ֑חְנוּ (we are).

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) אֲלֵהֶ֧ם (to them) יְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַ (Joshua) מִ֥י (Who are) אַתֶּ֖ם (you⁺), וּמֵאַ֥יִן (and from where) תָּבֹֽאוּ׃ (have you⁺ come)?

9  וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ (And they said) אֵלָ֗יו (to him) מֵאֶ֨רֶץ (From a country) רְחוֹקָ֤ה (distant) מְאֹד֙ (very) בָּ֣אוּ (have come) עֲבָדֶ֔יךָ (your servants) לְשֵׁ֖ם (because of the name) יְהוָ֣ה (of YHWH) אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ (your God). כִּֽי־ (For) שָׁמַ֣עְנוּ (we have heard) שָׁמְע֔וֹ (of His fame) וְאֵ֛ת (and) כָּל־ (all) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) עָשָׂ֖ה (He did) בְּמִצְרָֽיִם׃ (in Egypt), 10  וְאֵ֣ת׀ (and) כָּל־ (all) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) עָשָׂ֗ה (He did) לִשְׁנֵי֙ (to two) מַלְכֵ֣י (the kings) הָאֱמֹרִ֔י (of the Amorite) אֲשֶׁ֖ר (who were) בְּעֵ֣בֶר (beyond) הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן (the Jordan), לְסִיחוֹן֙ (to Sihon) מֶ֣לֶךְ (king) חֶשְׁבּ֔וֹן (of Heshbon) וּלְע֥וֹג (and Og) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) הַבָּשָׁ֖ן (of Bashan) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (who was) בְּעַשְׁתָּרֽוֹת׃ (at Ashtaroth). 11  וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ (And spoke) אֵלֵ֡ינוּ (to us) זְֽקֵינֵינוּ֩ (our elders) וְכָל־ (and all) יֹשְׁבֵ֨י (the dwellers) אַרְצֵ֜נוּ (of our country), לֵאמֹ֗ר (saying), קְח֨וּ (Take) בְיֶדְכֶ֤ם (with you⁺) צֵידָה֙ (provisions) לַדֶּ֔רֶךְ (for the journey), וּלְכ֖וּ (and go) לִקְרָאתָ֑ם (to meet them) וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֤ם (and say) אֲלֵיהֶם֙ (to them): עַבְדֵיכֶ֣ם (Your⁺ servants) אֲנַ֔חְנוּ (we are), וְעַתָּ֖ה (and now) כִּרְתוּ־ (make) לָ֥נוּ (with us) בְרִֽית׃ (a covenant).

12  זֶ֣ה׀ (This) לַחְמֵ֗נוּ (bread of ours) חָ֞ם (hot) הִצְטַיַּ֤דְנוּ (we took as provision) אֹתוֹ֙ (out) מִבָּ֣תֵּ֔ינוּ (from our houses) בְּי֥וֹם (on the day) צֵאתֵ֖נוּ (we departed) לָלֶ֣כֶת (to come) אֲלֵיכֶ֑ם (to you⁺). וְעַתָּה֙ (And), הִנֵּ֣ה (behold), יָבֵ֔שׁ (it is dry) וְהָיָ֖ה (and has become) נִקֻּדִֽים׃ (crumbs). 13  וְאֵ֨לֶּה (And these) נֹאד֤וֹת (skins) הַיַּ֙יִן֙ (of wine), אֲשֶׁ֣ר (which) מִלֵּ֣אנוּ (we filled) חֲדָשִׁ֔ים (new), וְהִנֵּ֖ה (and behold), הִתְבַּקָּ֑עוּ (they are torn). וְאֵ֤לֶּה (And these) שַׂלְמוֹתֵ֙ינוּ֙ (our garments) וּנְעָלֵ֔ינוּ (and our sandals) בָּל֕וּ (have become old) מֵרֹ֥ב (from the greatness) הַדֶּ֖רֶךְ (of the way) מְאֹֽד׃ (exceeding).

14  וַיִּקְח֥וּ (And took some) הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֖ים (the men of Israel) מִצֵּידָ֑ם (of their provisions), וְאֶת־ (and) פִּ֥י (the mouth) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) לֹ֥א (not) שָׁאָֽלוּ׃ (they did ask). 15  וַיַּ֨עַשׂ (And made) לָהֶ֤ם (with them) יְהוֹשֻׁ֙עַ֙ (Joshua) שָׁל֔וֹם (peace), וַיִּכְרֹ֥ת (and he cut) לָהֶ֛ם (with them) בְּרִ֖ית (a covenant) לְחַיּוֹתָ֑ם (to let them live), וַיִּשָּׁבְע֣וּ (and swore) לָהֶ֔ם (to them) נְשִׂיאֵ֖י (the rulers) הָעֵדָֽה׃ (of the congregation).

16  וַיְהִ֗י (And it came to pass) מִקְצֵה֙ (at the end) שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת (of three) יָמִ֔ים (days) אַחֲרֵ֕י (after) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) כָּרְת֥וּ (they had cut) לָהֶ֖ם (with them) בְּרִ֑ית (a covenant), וַֽיִּשְׁמְע֗וּ (that they heard) כִּי־ (that) קְרֹבִ֥ים (neighbors) הֵם֙ (they were) אֵלָ֔יו (to them), וּבְקִרְבּ֖וֹ (and among them) הֵ֥ם (they) יֹשְׁבִֽים׃ (dwelt). 17  וַיִּסְע֣וּ (And journeyed) בְנֵֽי־ (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (of Israel) וַיָּבֹ֛אוּ (and came) אֶל־ (to) עָרֵיהֶ֖ם (their cities) בַּיּ֣וֹם (on the day) הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֑י (third). וְעָרֵיהֶם֙ (And their cities were) גִּבְע֣וֹן (Gibeon) וְהַכְּפִירָ֔ה (and Chephirah) וּבְאֵר֖וֹת (and Beeroth) וְקִרְיַ֥ת (and Kiriath-) יְעָרִֽים׃ (jearim). 18  וְלֹ֤א (Not) הִכּוּם֙ (did attack them) בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel), כִּֽי־ (because) נִשְׁבְּע֤וּ (had sworn) לָהֶם֙ (to them) נְשִׂיאֵ֣י (the rulers) הָֽעֵדָ֔ה (of the congregation) בַּֽיהוָ֖ה (by YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֣י (God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel). וַיִּלֹּ֥נוּ (And complained) כָל־ (all) הָעֵדָ֖ה (the congregation) עַל־ (against) הַנְּשִׂיאִֽים׃ (the rulers).

19  וַיֹּאמְר֤וּ (And said) כָל־ (all) הַנְּשִׂיאִים֙ (the rulers) אֶל־ (to) כָּל־ (all) הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה (the congregation), אֲנַ֙חְנוּ֙ (We) נִשְׁבַּ֣עְנוּ (have sworn) לָהֶ֔ם (to them) בַּֽיהוָ֖ה (by YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֣י (God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel), וְעַתָּ֕ה (and now) לֹ֥א (not) נוּכַ֖ל (we may) לִנְגֹּ֥עַ (touch) בָּהֶֽם׃ (them). 20  זֹ֛את (This) נַעֲשֶׂ֥ה (we will do) לָהֶ֖ם (to them): וְהַחֲיֵ֣ה (And we will let live) אוֹתָ֑ם (them) וְלֹֽא־ (and not) יִֽהְיֶ֤ה (will be) עָלֵ֙ינוּ֙ (upon us) קֶ֔צֶף (wrath), עַל־ (because) הַשְּׁבוּעָ֖ה (of the oath) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) נִשְׁבַּ֥עְנוּ (we have sworn) לָהֶֽם׃ (to them). 21  וַיֹּאמְר֧וּ (And said) אֲלֵיהֶ֛ם (to them) הַנְּשִׂיאִ֖ים (the rulers) יִֽחְי֑וּ (Let them live); וַ֠יִּֽהְיוּ (and let them be) חֹטְבֵ֨י (hewers) עֵצִ֤ים (woodcutters) וְשֹֽׁאֲבֵי־ (and drawers) מַ֙יִם֙ (of water) לְכָל־ (for all) הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה (the congregation), כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר (which) דִּבְּר֥וּ (had spoken) לָהֶ֖ם (to them) הַנְּשִׂיאִֽים׃ (the rulers).

22  וַיִּקְרָ֤א (And called) לָהֶם֙ (for them) יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ (Joshua) וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר (and he spoke) אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם (to them), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), לָמָּה֩ (Why) רִמִּיתֶ֨ם (have you⁺ deceived) אֹתָ֜נוּ (us), לֵאמֹ֗ר (saying), רְחוֹקִ֨ים (Far) אֲנַ֤חְנוּ (we are) מִכֶּם֙ (from you⁺) מְאֹ֔ד (very), וְאַתֶּ֖ם (and you⁺) בְּקִרְבֵּ֥נוּ (among us) יֹשְׁבִֽים׃ (dwell). 23  וְעַתָּ֖ה (And now) אֲרוּרִ֣ים (are cursed) אַתֶּ֑ם (you⁺), וְלֹֽא־ (and none) יִכָּרֵ֨ת (shall be freed) מִכֶּ֜ם (of you⁺) עֶ֗בֶד (from being slaves) וְחֹטְבֵ֥י (and) עֵצִ֛ים (woodcutters) וְשֹֽׁאֲבֵי־ (and drawers) מַ֖יִם (of water) לְבֵ֥ית (for the house) אֱלֹהָֽי׃ (of my God).

24  וַיַּעֲנ֨וּ (And they answered) אֶת־ (-) יְהוֹשֻׁ֜עַ (Joshua) וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ (and said), כִּי֩ (Because) הֻגֵּ֨ד (being declared) הֻגַּ֤ד (it was declared) לַעֲבָדֶ֙יךָ֙ (to your servants) אֵת֩ (-) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (that) צִוָּ֜ה (commanded) יְהוָ֤ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ (your God) אֶת־ (-) מֹשֶׁ֣ה (Moses) עַבְדּ֔וֹ (His servant) לָתֵ֤ת (to give) לָכֶם֙ (to you⁺) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) הָאָ֔רֶץ (the land), וּלְהַשְׁמִ֛יד (and to destroy) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) יֹשְׁבֵ֥י (the dwellers) הָאָ֖רֶץ (of the land) מִפְּנֵיכֶ֑ם (from before you⁺) וַנִּירָ֨א (and we were afraid) מְאֹ֤ד (exceedingly) לְנַפְשֹׁתֵ֙ינוּ֙ (for our lives) מִפְּנֵיכֶ֔ם (because of you⁺), וַֽנַּעֲשֵׂ֖ה (and we have done) אֶת־ (-) הַדָּבָ֥ר (the thing) הַזֶּֽה׃ (this). 25  וְעַתָּ֖ה (And) הִנְנ֣וּ (here we are) בְיָדֶ֑ךָ (in your hands); כַּטּ֨וֹב (as is good) וְכַיָּשָׁ֧ר (and right) בְּעֵינֶ֛יךָ (with us) לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת (to do), לָ֖נוּ (to us) עֲשֵֽׂה׃ (do).

26  וַיַּ֥עַשׂ (And he did) לָהֶ֖ם (to them) כֵּ֑ן (so), וַיַּצֵּ֥ל (and he snatched away) אוֹתָ֛ם (them) מִיַּ֥ד (out of the hand) בְּנֵֽי־ (of the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel), וְלֹ֥א (so that not) הֲרָגֽוּם׃ (they did kill them). 27  וַיִּתְּנֵ֨ם (And made them) יְהוֹשֻׁ֜עַ (Joshua) בַּיּ֣וֹם (the day) הַה֗וּא (that) חֹטְבֵ֥י (hewers) עֵצִ֛ים (of wood) וְשֹׁ֥אֲבֵי (and drawers) מַ֖יִם (of water) לָֽעֵדָ֑ה (for the congregation), וּלְמִזְבַּ֤ח (and for the altar) יְהוָה֙ (of YHWH), עַד־ (even to) הַיּ֣וֹם (the day) הַזֶּ֔ה (this), אֶל־ (in) הַמָּק֖וֹם (the place) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) יִבְחָֽר׃פ (He would choose).