Joshua 9:1-9 ▼

1 Eventually all the kings who reigned in the hill country across the Jordan River and in the low-lying coastlands of the Mediterranean Sea facing Lebanon heard about this. So the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites

2 united together as one to fight against both Joshua and Israel.

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

4 they took the initiative by preparing their provisions shrewdly: they took tattered sacks for their donkeys, worn-out, torn, and mended wineskins,

5 worn-out, patched sandals for their feet, and worn-out clothes. All of their food was dried out and covered in mold.

6 Then they approached Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and addressed him and the Israelis, |We've arrived from a distant country, so please make a treaty with us right now.|

7 But the Israelis responded to the Hivites, |Perhaps you live in our midst. If this is so, how can we make a treaty with you?|

8 So they responded to Joshua, |We are your servants.| Joshua asked them, |Who are you? And where did you come from?|

9 They answered, |Your servants have arrived from a very distant land, because of the reputation of the LORD your God, because we've heard a report about all that he did in Egypt,