Joshua 9 NKJV NLT Parallel

◄ Joshua 9 ►

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New King James Version

New Living Translation

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,

1Now 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, and along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea as far north as the Lebanon mountains.

2that they gathered together to fight with Joshua and Israel with one accord.

2These kings combined their armies to fight as one against Joshua and the Israelites.

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

3But when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done 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 resorted to deception to save themselves. They sent ambassadors to Joshua, loading their donkeys with weathered saddlebags and old, patched wineskins.

5old and patched sandals on their feet, and old garments on themselves; and all the bread of their provision was dry and moldy.

5They put on worn-out, patched sandals and ragged clothes. And the bread they took with them was dry and moldy.

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.”

6When 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.”

7Then the men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you dwell among us; so how can we make a covenant with you?”

7The 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.”

8But they said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” And Joshua said to them, “Who are you, and where do you come from?”

8They replied, “We are your servants.” “But who are you?” Joshua demanded. “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 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.

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.

10We 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).

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.” ’

11So 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.”’

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.

12“This bread was hot from the ovens when we left our homes. But now, as you can see, it is dry and moldy.

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 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.”

14Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions; but they did not ask counsel of the LORD.

14So the Israelites examined their food, but they did not consult the LORD.

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.

15Then Joshua made a peace treaty with them and guaranteed their safety, and the leaders of the community ratified their agreement with a binding 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 making the treaty, they learned that these people actually 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.

17The 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.

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.

18But 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.

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 the leaders replied, “Since we have sworn an oath in the presence of the LORD, the God of Israel, we cannot touch 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.”

20This is what we must do. We must let them live, for divine anger would come upon us if we broke our oath.

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.”

21Let them live.” So they made them woodcutters and water carriers for the entire community, as the Israelite leaders directed.

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 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?

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.”

23May you be cursed! From now on you will always be servants who cut wood and carry water 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 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.

25And now, here we are, in your hands; do with us as it seems good and right to do to us.”

25Now we are at your mercy—do to us whatever you think is right.”

26So he did to them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, so that they did not kill them.

26So Joshua did not allow the people of Israel to kill 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.

27But 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.

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