Joshua 9:6-27 ▼

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.

18 The sons of Israel did not attack them, because the rulers of the congregation had sworn to them by YHWH, God of Israel. And all the congregation complained against the rulers.

19 And all the rulers said to all the congregation, “We have sworn to them by YHWH, God of Israel, and now we may not touch them.

20 This we will do to them: We will let them live, and wrath will not be upon us, because of the oath that we have sworn to them.”

21 And the rulers said to them, “Let them live; and let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water for all the congregation,” which the rulers had spoken to them.

22 And Joshua called for them and he spoke to them, saying, “Why have you? deceived us, saying, ‘We are very far from you?’, and you? dwell among us’?

23 And now cursed are you?, and none of you? shall be freed from being slaves and woodcutters and drawers of water for the house of my God.”

24 And they answered Joshua and said, “Because it was surely declared to your servants that YHWH your God commanded Moses His servant to give to you? all the land and to destroy all those dwelling in the land from before you?, we were afraid exceedingly for our lives because of you?, and we have done this thing.

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

26 And he did to them so, and he snatched them way out of the hand of the sons of Israel, so that they did not kill them.

27 And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of YHWH, even to this day, in the place that He would choose.