Joshua 9:3-17 ▼

3 And those dwelling in Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,

4 and they also worked craftily, and they went and acted as envoys, and they took old sacks on their donkeys, and wineskins that were old and torn and mended,

5 and sandals that were old and patched on their feet, and old garments on themselves, and all the bread of their provision was dry—it had become crumbs.

6 And they went to Joshua to the camp at Gilgal and said to him and to the men of Israel, “From a distant country we have come, and now make with us a covenant.”

7 And the men of Israel said to the Hivite, “Perhaps among us you are dwelling, and how can I cut with you a covenant?”

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

9 And they said to him, “Your servants have come from a country very distant, because of the name of YHWH your God. For we have heard of His fame and all that He did in Egypt,

10 and all that He did to the two kings of the Amorite who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan who was at Ashtaroth.

11 And our elders and all those dwelling in our country spoke to us, saying, ‘Take with you? provisions for the journey, and go to meet them and say to them: We are your? servants, and now make with us a covenant.’

12 This hot bread of ours we took as provision out from our houses on the day we departed to come to you?. And, behold, it is dry and has become crumbs.

13 And these skins of wine, which we filled new, behold, they are torn. And these our garments and our sandals have become old from the exceeding greatness of the way.”

14 And the men of Israel took some of their provisions, and the mouth of YHWH they did not ask.

15 And Joshua made peace with them, and he cut a covenant with them to let them live, and the rulers of the congregation swore to them.

16 And it came to pass at the end of three days after that they had cut a covenant with them, that they heard that they were neighbors to them, and they dwelt among them.

17 And the sons of Israel journeyed and came to their cities on the third day. And their cities were Gibeon and Chephirah and Beeroth and Kiriath-jearim.