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MOF JOS Chapter 9

9 When this was heard by all the kings west of the Jordan, in the highlands and the lowlands and all along the coast of the Mediterranean as far as Lebanon, then Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, 2 gathered like one man to attack Joshua and Israel.

3 When the citizens of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, 4 they went to work craftily. They took provisions in old sacks on their asses, and old mended wineskins, 5 with old patched shoes on their feet and old clothes on their bodies; the bread they took was all dry and crumbling. 6 They went to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal and said to him and to the Israelites, “We have come from a far country; pray make a treaty with us.” 7 ‘The Israelites said to these Hivites, “Perhaps you live in our country, and why should we make a treaty with you?” 8 “We are at your service,” they said to Joshua. “But who are you,” Joshua asked, “and where do you come from?” 9 “From a country very far away,” they said, “and we have come on account of the Eternal, your God, for we have heard of his fame, of all he did in Egypt, 10 and of all he did to the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan, Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan who reigned at Ashtaroth. 11 Our sheikhs and all our people told us to take provisions with us for the journey and to go and meet you and say, ‘We are at your service; pray make a treaty with us.’ 12 This bread we took hot out of our houses on the day we started, and there, you see, it is dry and crumbling by this time! 13 These wineskins were new when we filled them, and you see they are torn. These clothes and shoes of ours are worn out, owing to the long journey.” 14 So the Israelites partook of their provisions, never asking the Eternal for advice; 15 Joshua made peace with them and made a treaty with them to spare their lives, and the leaders of the community swore an oath to them. 16 Three days after they had made the treaty, they heard that the men were neighbours, living in the same country! 17 On the third day, as the Israelites marched forward, they came to their towns, Gibeon, Kefirah, Beéroth, and Kiriath-jearim. 18 The Israelites did not kill them, because the leaders of the community had sworn an oath to them by the Eternal, the God of Israel. The community all grumbled against the leaders, 19 but the leaders all replied, “We swore an oath to them by the Eternal the God of Israel: so now we cannot touch them. 20 We must grant them the favour of their lives, lest wrath come upon us over the oath we took to them. 21 Let them live,” said the leaders. So they became wood-cutters and water-carriers to all the community, as the leaders directed. 22 Then Joshua called for them and asked them, “Why have you deceived us by saying you came from far, far away, when you live in the same country as ourselves? 23 A curse on you! You shall ever provide us with slaves for the temple of my God, wood-cutters and water-carriers.” 24 They answered Joshua, “It was because your servants were assured that the Eternal your God had ordered his servant Moses to assign you all the land and to destroy all the natives before you. That put us in terror of our lives before you, and so we did this. 25 Well, we are in your power! Whatever you think right and fair to do to us, do it.” 26 This then, was how Joshua treated them; he saved them from the Israelites and kept them from being murdered, 27 but he made them that day woodcutters and water-carriers for the community and for the altar of the Eternal, wherever the Eternal chooses. As they still are.

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