1And it came to pass , when all the kings that were beyond the Jordan , in the hill-country, and in the lowland , and on all the shore of the great sea in front of Lebanon , the Hittite , and the Amorite, the Canaanite , the Perizzite , the Hivite , and the Jebusite , heard thereof; 2that they gathered themselves together , to fight with Joshua and with Israel , with one accord . 3But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai , 4they also did work wilily , and went and made as if they had been ambassadors , and took old sacks upon their asses , and wine-skins, old and rent and bound up , 5and old and patched shoes upon their feet , and old garments upon them ; and all the bread of their provision was dry and was become mouldy . 6And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal , and said unto him , and to the men of Israel , We are come from a far country: now therefore make ye a covenant with us . 7And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites , Peradventure ye dwell among us ; and how shall we make a covenant with you ? 8And they said unto Joshua , We are thy servants . And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye? 9And they said unto him , From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of Jehovah thy God : for we have heard the fame of him , and all that he did in Egypt , 10and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond the Jordan , to Sihon king of Heshbon , and to Og king of Bashan , who was at Ashtaroth . 11And our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us , saying, Take provision in your hand for the journey , and go to meet them , and say unto them , We are your servants : and now make ye a covenant with us . 12This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you ; but now , behold , it is dry , and is become mouldy : 13and these wine-skins, which we filled , were new ; and , behold , they are rent : and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey . 14And the men took of their provision , and asked not counsel at the mouth of Jehovah . 15And Joshua made peace with them , and made a covenant with them , to let them live : and the princes of the congregation sware unto them .
The Consequences of the Treaty
16And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them , that they heard that they were their neighbors , and that they dwelt among them . 17And the children of Israel journeyed , and came unto their cities on the third day . Now their cities were Gibeon , and Chephirah , and Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim . 18And the children of Israel smote them not , because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by Jehovah , the God of Israel . And all the congregation murmured against the princes . 19But all the princes said unto all the congregation , We have sworn unto them by Jehovah , the God of Israel : now therefore we may not touch them . 20This we will do to them , and let them live ; lest wrath be upon us , because of the oath which we sware unto them . 21And the princes said unto them , Let them live : so they became hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation , as the princes had spoken unto them . 22And Joshua called for them , and he spake unto them , saying , Wherefore have ye beguiled us , saying , We are very far from you ; when ye dwell among us ? 23Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall never fail to be of you bondmen , both hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God . 24And they answered Joshua , and said , Because it was certainly told thy servants , how that Jehovah thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land , and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you ; therefore we were sore afraid for our lives because of you , and have done this thing . 25And now , behold , we are in thy hand : as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us , do . 26And so did he unto them , and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel , that they slew them not . 27And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation , and for the altar of Jehovah , unto this day , in the place which he should choose.