The Gibeonite Deception

9 Now when all the kings west of the Jordan heard about these things—the kings in the hill country,^(A) in the western foothills, and along the entire coast of the Mediterranean Sea^(B) as far as Lebanon^(C) (the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites,^(D) Hivites^(E) and Jebusites)^(F)— ² they came together to wage war against Joshua and Israel.

³ However, when the people of Gibeon^(G) heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,^{(H) 4} they resorted to a ruse: They went as a delegation whose donkeys were loaded^[a] with worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended. ⁵ They put worn and patched sandals on their feet and wore old clothes. All the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy. ⁶ Then they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal^(I) and said to him and the Israelites, “We have come from a distant country;^(J) make a treaty^(K) with us.”

¹⁴ The Israelites sampled their provisions but did not inquire^(A) of the Lord. ¹⁵ Then Joshua made a treaty of peace^(B) with them to let them live,^(C) and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath.

¹⁶ Three days after they made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites heard that they were neighbors, living near^(D) them. ¹⁷ So the Israelites set out and on the third day came to their cities: Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth^(E) and Kiriath Jearim.^{(F) 18} But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath^(G) to them by the Lord, the God of Israel.

The whole assembly grumbled^(H) against the leaders,

²² Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, “Why did you deceive us by saying, ‘We live a long way^(A) from you,’ while actually you live near^(B) us? ²³ You are now under a curse:^(C) You will never be released from service as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”

²⁴ They answered Joshua, “Your servants were clearly told^(D) how the Lord your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you the whole land and to wipe out all its inhabitants from before you. So we feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we did this. ²⁵ We are now in your hands.^(E) Do to us whatever seems good and right^(F) to you.”

²⁶ So Joshua saved them from the Israelites, and they did not kill them. ²⁷ That day he made the Gibeonites^(G) woodcutters and water carriers^(H) for the assembly, to provide for the needs of the altar of the Lord at the place the Lord would choose.^(I) And that is what they are to this day.