| New King James Version | NET Bible |
| 1And it came to pass when all the kings who were on this side of the Jordan, in the hills and in the lowland and in all the coasts of the Great Sea toward Lebanon—the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite—heard about it, | 1When the news reached all the kings on the west side of the Jordan--in the hill country, the lowlands, and all along the Mediterranean coast as far as Lebanon (including the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites)-- |
| 2that they gathered together to fight with Joshua and Israel with one accord. | 2they formed an alliance to fight against Joshua and Israel. |
| 3But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, | 3When the residents of Gibeon heard what Joshua did to Jericho and Ai, |
| 4they worked craftily, and went and pretended to be ambassadors. And they took old sacks on their donkeys, old wineskins torn and mended, | 4they did something clever. They collected some provisions and put worn-out sacks on their donkeys, along with worn-out wineskins that were ripped and patched. |
| 5old and patched sandals on their feet, and old garments on themselves; and all the bread of their provision was dry and moldy. | 5They had worn-out, patched sandals on their feet and dressed in worn-out clothes. All their bread was dry and hard. |
| 6And they went to Joshua, to the camp at Gilgal, and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a far country; now therefore, make a covenant with us.” | 6They came to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, "We have come from a distant land. Make a treaty with us." |
| 7Then the men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you dwell among us; so how can we make a covenant with you?” | 7The men of Israel said to the Hivites, "Perhaps you live near us. So how can we make a treaty with you?" |
| 8But they said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” And Joshua said to them, “Who are you, and where do you come from?” | 8But they said to Joshua, "We are willing to be your subjects." So Joshua said to them, "Who are you and where do you come from?" |
| 9So they said to him: “From a very far country your servants have come, because of the name of the LORD your God; for we have heard of His fame, and all that He did in Egypt, | 9They told him, "Your subjects have come from a very distant land because of the reputation of the LORD your God, for we have heard the news about all he did in Egypt |
| 10and all that He did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan—to Sihon king of Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth. | 10and all he did to the two Amorite kings on the other side of the Jordan--King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan in Ashtaroth. |
| 11Therefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, ‘Take provisions with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say to them, “We are your servants; now therefore, make a covenant with us.” ’ | 11Our leaders and all who live in our land told us, 'Take provisions for your journey and go meet them. Tell them, "We are willing to be your subjects. Make a treaty with us."' |
| 12This bread of ours we took hot for our provision from our houses on the day we departed to come to you. But now look, it is dry and moldy. | 12This bread of ours was warm when we packed it in our homes the day we started out to meet you, but now it is dry and hard. |
| 13And these wineskins which we filled were new, and see, they are torn; and these our garments and our sandals have become old because of the very long journey.” | 13These wineskins we filled were brand new, but look how they have ripped. Our clothes and sandals have worn out because it has been a very long journey." |
| 14Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions; but they did not ask counsel of the LORD. | 14The men examined some of their provisions, but they failed to ask the LORD's advice. |
| 15So Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them to let them live; and the rulers of the congregation swore to them. | 15Joshua made a peace treaty with them and agreed to let them live. The leaders of the community sealed it with an oath. |
| 16And it happened at the end of three days, after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors who dwelt near them. | 16Three days after they made the treaty with them, the Israelites found out they were from the local area and lived nearby. |
| 17Then the children of Israel journeyed and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kirjath Jearim. | 17So the Israelites set out and on the third day arrived at their cities--Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim. |
| 18But the children of Israel did not attack them, because the rulers of the congregation had sworn to them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation complained against the rulers. | 18The Israelites did not attack them because the leaders of the community had sworn an oath to them in the name of the LORD God of Israel. The whole community criticized the leaders, |
| 19Then all the rulers said to all the congregation, “We have sworn to them by the LORD God of Israel; now therefore, we may not touch them. | 19but all the leaders told the whole community, "We swore an oath to them in the name of the LORD God of Israel. So now we can't hurt them! |
| 20This we will do to them: We will let them live, lest wrath be upon us because of the oath which we swore to them.” | 20We must let them live so we can escape the curse attached to the oath we swore to them." |
| 21And the rulers said to them, “Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for all the congregation, as the rulers had promised them.” | 21The leaders then added, "Let them live." So they became woodcutters and water carriers for the whole community, as the leaders had decided. |
| 22Then Joshua called for them, and he spoke to them, saying, “Why have you deceived us, saying, ‘We are very far from you,’ when you dwell near us? | 22Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said to them, "Why did you trick us by saying, 'We live far away from you,' when you really live nearby? |
| 23Now therefore, you are cursed, and none of you shall be freed from being slaves—woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.” | 23Now you are condemned to perpetual servitude as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God." |
| 24So they answered Joshua and said, “Because your servants were clearly told that the LORD your 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 very much afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this thing. | 24They said to Joshua, "It was carefully reported to your subjects how the LORD your God commanded Moses his servant to assign you the whole land and to destroy all who live in the land from before you. Because of you we were terrified we would lose our lives, so we did this thing. |
| 25And now, here we are, in your hands; do with us as it seems good and right to do to us.” | 25So now we are in your power. Do to us what you think is good and appropriate. |
| 26So he did to them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, so that they did not kill them. | 26Joshua did as they said; he kept the Israelites from killing them |
| 27And that day Joshua made them woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD, in the place which He would choose, even to this day. | 27and that day made them woodcutters and water carriers for the community and for the altar of the LORD at the divinely chosen site. (They continue in that capacity to this very day.) |
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