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ULT JOS Chapter 9

9 And it happened that as soon as all the kings heard it who were on the other side of the Jordan, in the hill country, and in the lowlands and in all the coast of the great sea toward the front of the Lebanon (the Hittite and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite), 2 then they gathered themselves together as one mouth to fight against Joshua and against Israel.

3 And those who dwelled in Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to the Ai. 4 And they, even they, acted with cunning. And they went and acted as envoys and took worn-out sacks for their donkeys and worn-out and torn and mended skins of wine.[fn] 5 And worn-out and patched sandals were on their feet, and worn-out garments were on them, and all the bread of their provisions was dry and had become crumbs. 6 And they went to Joshua in the camp at the Gilgal. And they said to him and to a man of Israel, “We have come from a distant land, and now cut a covenant for us.” 7 And they said, a man of Israel, to the Hivite, “Perhaps you are dwelling among us. And how can I cut a covenant for you?” 8 And they said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” And Joshua said to them, “Who are you? And where did you come from?” 9 And they said to him, “Your servants have come from a very distant land for the name of Yahweh your God. For we have heard a report of him and all that he did in Egypt, 10 and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorite who were on the other side of the Jordan, to Sihon the king of Heshbon, and to Og the king of the Bashan who was in Ashtaroth. 11 And our elders and all those who dwell in our land spoke to us, saying, ‘Take provisions in your hand for the road and go to meet them. And you shall say to them, “We are your servants. And now cut a covenant for us.” ’ 12 This bread of ours was hot, we took it as our provision from our houses on the day of our going out to come to you. And now, behold, it is dry and has become crumbs. 13 And these skins of wine that we filled were new, and behold, they are torn. And these, our garments and our sandals, are worn-out from the very great length of the road.” 14 And the men took from their provisions. But they did not ask the mouth of Yahweh. 15 And Joshua made peace for them, and cut a covenant for them to let them live. And the leaders of the congregation swore to them.

16 And it happened from the end of three days after when they had cut a covenant for them, that they heard that they were near to them and they were dwelling among them. 17 And the sons of Israel set out and came to their cities on the third day. And their cities were Gibeon and Kephirah and Beeroth and Kiriath Jearim. 18 And the sons of Israel did not strike them down because the leaders of the congregation had sworn to them by Yahweh the God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the leaders. 19 And all the leaders said to all the congregation, “We ourselves have sworn to them by Yahweh the God of Israel. And now we are not able to touch them. 20 We will do this to them and let them live. And wrath will not be on us on account of the oath which we swore to them.” 21 And the leaders said to them, “Let them live.” And they became cutters of trees and drawers of water for all the congregation, just as the leaders had spoken to them.

22 And Joshua called to them and spoke to them, saying, “Why did you deceive us, saying, ‘We are very far from you,’ but you are dwelling among us? 23 And now you are cursed. And a slave will not be cut off from you, and cutters of trees and drawers of water for the house of my God.” 24 And they answered Joshua and said, “Because it was clearly told to your servants that Yahweh your God commanded his servant Moses to give to you all the land and to destroy all those who dwell in the land from before your face. And we were very afraid for our lives because of your face, so we did this thing. 25 And now, behold, we are in your hand. Do to us as is good and as is right in your eyes to do.” 26 And he did thus to them. And he rescued them from the hand of the sons of Israel and they did not slay them. 27 And on that day Joshua made them cutters of trees and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of Yahweh, until this day, in the place that he would choose.

Instead of acted as envoys, some versions have, took provisions.

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