Joshua 9:3-27

Joshua 9:3-27

[3] And when the inhabitants  of Gibeon  heard  what Joshua  had done  unto Jericho  and to Ai,  [4] They did work  wilily,  and made as if they had been ambassadors,  and took  old  sacks  upon their asses,  and wine  bottles,  old,  and rent,  and bound up;  [5] And old  shoes  and clouted  upon their feet,  and old  garments  upon them; and all the bread  was dry  and mouldy.  [6] to Joshua  unto the camp  at Gilgal,  and said  unto him, and to the men  of Israel,  We be come  from a far  country:  now therefore make  ye a league  with us. [7] And the men  of Israel  said  unto the Hivites,  Peradventure  ye dwell  among  us; and how shall we make  a league  with you? [8] And they said  unto Joshua,  We are thy servants.  And Joshua  said  unto them, Who are ye? and from whence  come  [9] And they said  unto him, From a very  far  country  thy servants  are come  because of the name  of the LORD  thy God:  for we have heard  the fame  of him, and all that he did  in Egypt,  [10] And all that he did  to the two  kings  of the Amorites,  that were beyond  Jordan,  to Sihon  king  of Heshbon,  and to Og  king  of Bashan,  which was at Ashtaroth.  [11] Wherefore our elders  and all the inhabitants  of our country  spake  Take  victuals  with you  for the journey,  to meet  them, and say  unto them, We are your servants:  therefore now make  ye a league  with us. [12] This our bread  we took hot  for our provision  out of our houses  on the day  we came forth  unto you; but now, behold, it is dry,  and it is mouldy:  [13] And these bottles  of wine,  which we filled,  were new;  and, behold, they be rent:  and these our garments  and our shoes  are become old  by reason of the very  long  journey.  [14] And the men  took  of their victuals,  and asked  not counsel at the mouth  of the LORD.  [15] And Joshua  made  peace  with them, and made  a league  with them, to let them live:  and the princes  of the congregation  sware  unto them. [16] And it came to pass at the end  of three  days  after  they had made  a league  with them, that they heard  that they were their neighbours,  and that they dwelt  among  them. [17] And the children  of Israel  journeyed,  and came  unto their cities  on the third  day.  Now their cities  were Gibeon,  and Chephirah,  and Beeroth,  and Kirjathjearim.  [18] And the children  of Israel  smote  them not, because the princes  of the congregation  had sworn  unto them by the LORD  God  of Israel.  And all the congregation  murmured  against the princes.  [19] But all the princes  said  unto all the congregation,  We have sworn  unto them by the LORD  God  of Israel:  now therefore we may  not touch  them. [20] This we will do  to them; we will even let them live,  lest wrath  be upon us, because of the oath  which we sware  unto them. [21] And the princes  said  unto them, Let them live;  but let them be hewers  of wood  and drawers  of water  unto all the congregation;  as the princes  had promised  them. [22] And 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? [23] Now therefore ye are cursed,  and there shall none of you be freed  from being bondmen,  and hewers  of wood  and drawers  of water  for the house  of my God.  [24] And they answered  Joshua,  and said,  Because it was certainly  thy servants,  how that the LORD  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  of our lives  because  of you, and have done  this thing.  [25] are in thine hand:  as it seemeth  good  and right  unto thee to do  [26] And so did  he unto them, and delivered  them out of the hand  of the children  of Israel,  that they slew  them not. [27] And Joshua  made  them that day  hewers  of wood  and drawers  of water  for the congregation,  and for the altar  of the LORD,  even unto this day,  in the place  which he should choose.