Joshua 9
Open in the reader1Now when news of this reached all the kings west of the Descender—those in the hill country, the foothills, and all along the coast of the Great Sea toward Sea (the White-Mountain, Mountaineers, Canaanites, Mountaineer, Humbled-One, and Jebusites)—
2they came together to wage war against He-Who-Is-Saves and Strives-with-God.
3But the people of Hill-Town, having heard what He-Who-Is-Saves had done to Moon and The-Ruin,
4acted deceptively and set out as envoys, carrying on their donkeys worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended.
5They put worn, patched sandals on their feet and threadbare clothing on their bodies, and their whole supply of bread was dry and moldy.
6They went to He-Who-Is-Saves in the camp at The-Rolling and said to him and the men of Strives-with-God, “We have come from a distant land; please make a treaty with us.”
7But the men of Strives-with-God said to the Tent-Villagers, “Perhaps you dwell near us. How can we make a treaty with you?”
8“We are your servants,” they said to He-Who-Is-Saves. Then He-Who-Is-Saves asked them, “Who are you and where have you come from?”
9“Your servants have come from a very distant land,” they replied, “because of the fame of He-Who-Is your God. For we have heard the reports about Him: all that He did in Two-Straits,
10and all that He did to the two kings of the Mountaineers beyond the Descender—Sihon king of Reckoning and Og king of Fertile-Plain, who reigned in Ashtaroth.
11So the elders and inhabitants of our land told us, ‘Take provisions for your journey; go to meet them and say to them: We are your servants. Please make a treaty with us.’
12This bread of ours was warm when we packed it at home on the day we left to come to you. But look, it is now dry and moldy.
13These wineskins were new when we filled them, but look, they are cracked. And these clothes and sandals are worn out from our very long journey.”
14Then the men of Strives-with-God sampled their provisions but did not seek the counsel of He-Who-Is.
15And He-Who-Is-Saves made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them.
16Three days after they had made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites learned that they were neighbors, living among them.
17So the children of Strives-with-God set out and on the third day arrived at their cities—Hill-Town, Lioness-Village, Hill-Town, and Wells.
18But the children of Strives-with-God did not attack them, because the leaders of the congregation had sworn an oath to them by He-Who-Is, the God of Strives-with-God. And the whole congregation grumbled against the leaders.
19All the leaders answered, “We have sworn an oath to them by He-Who-Is, the God of Strives-with-God, and now we cannot touch them.
20This is how we will treat them: We will let them live, so that no wrath will fall on us because of the oath we swore to them.”
21They continued, “Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for the whole congregation.” So the leaders kept their promise.
22Then He-Who-Is-Saves summoned the Gibeonites and said, “Why did you deceive us by telling us you live far away from us, when in fact you live among us?
23Now therefore you are under a curse and will perpetually serve as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”
24The Gibeonites answered, “Your servants were told clearly that He-Who-Is your God had commanded His servant Drawn-Out to give you all the land and wipe out all its inhabitants before you. So we greatly feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we have done this.
25Now we are in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you.”
26So He-Who-Is-Saves did this and delivered them from the hands of the Strives-with-Godites, and they did not kill the Gibeonites.
27On that day he made them woodcutters and water carriers, as they are to this day for the congregation of He-Who-Is and for the altar at the place He would choose.