Joshua 9
English Standard Version
The Gibeonite Deception
9 As soon as all the kings who were beyond the Jordan (A)in the hill country and in the lowland all along the coast (B)of the Great Sea toward Lebanon, (C)the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, heard of this, 2 they gathered together as one to fight against Joshua and Israel.
3 But when the inhabitants of (D)Gibeon heard what Joshua had done (E)to Jericho and (F)to Ai, 4 they on their part acted with cunning and went and made ready provisions and took worn-out sacks for their donkeys, and wineskins, worn-out and torn and mended, 5 with worn-out, patched sandals on their feet, and worn-out clothes. And all their provisions were dry and crumbly. 6 And they went to Joshua in (G)the camp at Gilgal and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant country, so now make a covenant with us.” 7 But the men of Israel said to (H)the Hivites, “Perhaps you live among us; then (I)how can we make a covenant with you?” 8 They said to Joshua, (J)“We are your servants.” And Joshua said to them, “Who are you? And where do you come from?” 9 They said to him, (K)“From a very distant country your servants have come, because of the name of the Lord your God. (L)For we have heard a report of him, and all that he did in Egypt, 10 (M)and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon the king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, who lived in (N)Ashtaroth. 11 So our elders and all the inhabitants of our country said to us, ‘Take provisions in your hand for the journey and go to meet them and say to them, “We are your servants. Come now, make a covenant with us.”’ 12 Here is our bread. It was still warm when we took it from our houses as our food for the journey on the day we set out to come to you, but now, behold, it is dry and crumbly. 13 These wineskins were new when we filled them, and behold, they have burst. And these garments and sandals of ours are worn out from the very long journey.” 14 So the men took some of their provisions, but (O)did not ask counsel from the Lord. 15 And Joshua (P)made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore to them.
16 At the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, they heard that they were their neighbors (Q)and that they lived among them. 17 And the people of Israel set out and reached their cities on the third day. (R)Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim. 18 But the people of Israel did not attack them, because the leaders of the congregation had sworn to them by the Lord, the God of Israel. Then all the congregation murmured against the leaders. 19 But all the leaders said to all the congregation, “We have sworn to them by the Lord, the God of Israel, and now we may not touch them. 20 This we will do to them: let them live, lest (S)wrath be upon us, (T)because of the oath that we swore to them.” 21 And the leaders said to them, “Let them live.” So they became (U)cutters of wood and drawers of water for all the congregation, just as the leaders (V)had said of them.
22 Joshua summoned them, and he said to them, “Why did you deceive us, saying, (W)‘We are very far from you,’ when (X)you dwell among us? 23 Now therefore you are cursed, and some of you shall never be anything but servants, (Y)cutters of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.” 24 They answered Joshua, “Because it was told to your servants for a certainty that the Lord your God had (Z)commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you—so (AA)we feared greatly for our lives because of you and did this thing. 25 And now, behold, we are in your hand. Whatever seems good and right in your sight to do to us, do it.” 26 So he did this to them and delivered them out of the hand of the people of Israel, and they did not kill them. 27 But Joshua made them that day (AB)cutters of wood and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of the Lord, to this day, (AC)in the place that he should choose.
Josué 9
Nueva Biblia de las Américas
Astucia de los gabaonitas
9 Y sucedió que cuando se enteraron todos los reyes que estaban al otro lado del Jordán, en los montes, en los valles y en toda la costa del mar Grande(A) hacia el Líbano, los reyes de los hititas, amorreos, cananeos, ferezeos, heveos y jebuseos(B), 2 a una se reunieron y se pusieron de acuerdo[a](C) para pelear contra Josué y contra Israel.
3 Cuando los habitantes de Gabaón también se enteraron de lo que Josué había hecho a Jericó y a Hai(D), 4 ellos usaron de astucia y fueron como embajadores[b], y llevaron alforjas viejas sobre sus asnos, y odres de vino viejos, rotos y remendados[c], 5 y sandalias gastadas y remendadas en sus pies, y vestidos viejos sobre sí. Todo el pan de su provisión estaba seco y desmenuzado.
6 Vinieron a Josué al campamento en Gilgal(E), y le dijeron a él y a los hombres de Israel: «Hemos venido de un país lejano. Hagan, pues, pacto con nosotros». 7 Y los hombres de Israel dijeron a los heveos(F): «Quizá habitan en nuestra tierra[d], ¿cómo, pues, haremos pacto con ustedes[e](G)?».
8 Respondieron ellos a Josué: «Somos tus siervos(H)». Y Josué les preguntó: «¿Quiénes son, y de dónde vienen?».
9 Ellos le dijeron: «Tus siervos han venido de un país muy lejano(I) a causa de la fama del Señor tu Dios. Porque hemos oído hablar de Él, de todo lo que hizo en Egipto(J), 10 y de todo lo que hizo a los dos reyes de los amorreos que estaban al otro lado del Jordán, a Sehón, rey de Hesbón, y a Og, rey de Basán, que estaba en Astarot. 11 Y nuestros ancianos y todos los habitantes de nuestro país nos dijeron: “Tomen provisiones en su mano para el camino, vayan a su encuentro y díganles: ‘Somos siervos de ustedes(K); hagan, pues, pacto con nosotros’”. 12 Este pan nuestro estaba caliente cuando lo sacamos de nuestras casas para provisión el día que salimos para venir a ustedes, pero ahora está seco y desmenuzado. 13 Estos odres de vino que llenamos eran nuevos, y vean que están rotos. Estos vestidos nuestros y nuestras sandalias están gastados a causa de lo muy largo del camino».
14 Y los hombres de Israel tomaron de sus provisiones, y no pidieron el consejo[f] del Señor(L). 15 Josué hizo paz con ellos y celebró pacto con ellos(M) para conservarles la vida. También los jefes de la congregación se lo juraron.
16 Pero sucedió que después de tres días de haber hecho pacto con ellos, los israelitas se enteraron de que eran vecinos y que habitaban en su tierra[g]. 17 Entonces salieron los israelitas, y al tercer día llegaron a sus ciudades. Sus ciudades eran Gabaón(N), Cafira, Beerot y Quiriat Jearim. 18 Los israelitas no los mataron[h] porque los jefes de la congregación les habían hecho un juramento por el Señor, Dios de Israel. Y toda la congregación murmuraba contra los jefes.
19 Pero todos los jefes dijeron a[i] la congregación: «Nosotros les hemos jurado por el Señor, Dios de Israel, y ahora no podemos tocarlos. 20 Esto es lo que haremos con ellos: los dejaremos vivir, para que no venga sobre nosotros la ira por el juramento que les hemos hecho». 21 Y los jefes les dijeron: «Déjenlos vivir». Y ellos fueron leñadores y aguadores(O) para toda la congregación, tal como los jefes les habían dicho.
Juicio contra los gabaonitas
22 Entonces Josué los mandó llamar y les habló: «¿Por qué nos han engañado, diciendo: “Habitamos muy lejos de ustedes”, cuando habitan en nuestra tierra[j](P)? 23 Ahora pues, malditos son y nunca dejarán de ser esclavos[k](Q), leñadores y aguadores para la casa de mi Dios».
24 Y ellos respondieron a Josué: «Porque ciertamente tus siervos fueron informados de que el Señor tu Dios había ordenado a Su siervo Moisés que les diera toda la tierra, y que destruyera a todos los habitantes de la tierra delante de ustedes. Por tanto, temimos en gran manera por nuestras vidas a causa de ustedes, y hemos hecho(R) esto. 25 Ahora pues, estamos en tus manos. Haz con nosotros lo que te parezca bueno y justo(S)».
26 Y así hizo él con ellos, y los libró de las manos de los israelitas, y estos no los mataron. 27 Y aquel día Josué los hizo leñadores y aguadores para la congregación y para el altar del Señor, en el lugar que Él escogiera(T), hasta el día de hoy.
Footnotes
- 9:2 Lit. a una boca.
- 9:4 Lit. fueron y se prepararon para un viaje.
- 9:4 Lit. atados.
- 9:7 Lit. habitas en medio mío.
- 9:7 Lit. haré pacto contigo.
- 9:14 Lit. preguntaron a la boca.
- 9:16 Lit. en medio de él.
- 9:18 Lit. hirieron.
- 9:19 Lit. a toda.
- 9:22 Lit. entre nosotros.
- 9:23 Lit. y un siervo no será cortado de entre ustedes.
Joshua 9
New King James Version
The Treaty with the Gibeonites
9 And it came to pass when (A)all the kings who were on this side of the Jordan, in the hills and in the lowland and in all the coasts of (B)the Great Sea toward Lebanon—(C)the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite—heard about it, 2 that they (D)gathered together to fight with Joshua and Israel with one [a]accord.
3 But when the inhabitants of (E)Gibeon (F)heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, 4 they worked craftily, and went and [b]pretended to be ambassadors. And they took old sacks on their donkeys, old wineskins torn and [c]mended, 5 old and patched sandals on their feet, and old garments on themselves; and all the bread of their provision was dry and moldy. 6 And they went to Joshua, (G)to the camp at Gilgal, and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a far country; now therefore, make a [d]covenant with us.”
7 Then the men of Israel said to the (H)Hivites, “Perhaps you dwell among us; so (I)how can we make a covenant with you?”
8 But they said to Joshua, (J)“We are your servants.”
And Joshua said to them, “Who are you, and where do you come from?”
9 So they said to him: (K)“From a very far country your servants have come, because of the name of the Lord your God; for we have (L)heard of His fame, and all that He did in Egypt, 10 and (M)all that He did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan—to Sihon king of Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth. 11 Therefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, ‘Take provisions with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say to them, “We are your servants; now therefore, make a covenant with us.” ’ 12 This bread of ours we took hot for our provision from our houses on the day we departed to come to you. But now look, it is dry and moldy. 13 And these wineskins which we filled were new, and see, they are torn; and these our garments and our sandals have become old because of the very long journey.”
14 Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions; (N)but they [e]did not ask counsel of the Lord. 15 So Joshua (O)made peace with them, and made a covenant with them to let them live; and the rulers of the congregation swore to them.
16 And it happened at the end of three days, after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors who dwelt near them. 17 Then the children of Israel journeyed and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were (P)Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kirjath Jearim. 18 But the children of Israel did not [f]attack them, (Q)because the rulers of the congregation had sworn to them by the Lord God of Israel. And all the congregation complained against the rulers.
19 Then all the rulers said to all the congregation, “We have sworn to them by the Lord God of Israel; now therefore, we may not touch them. 20 This we will do to them: We will let them live, lest (R)wrath be upon us because of the oath which we swore to them.” 21 And the rulers said to them, “Let them live, but let them be (S)woodcutters and water carriers for all the congregation, as the rulers had (T)promised them.”
22 Then Joshua called for them, and he spoke to them, saying, “Why have you deceived us, saying, (U)‘We are very far from you,’ when (V)you dwell near us? 23 Now therefore, you are (W)cursed, and none of you shall be freed from being slaves—woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”
24 So they answered Joshua and said, “Because your servants were clearly told that the Lord your God (X)commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you; therefore (Y)we were very much afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this thing. 25 And now, here we are, (Z)in your hands; do with us as it seems good and right to do to us.” 26 So he did to them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, so that they did not kill them. 27 And that day Joshua made them (AA)woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation and for the altar of the Lord, (AB)in the place which He would choose, even to this day.
Footnotes
- Joshua 9:2 Lit. mouth
- Joshua 9:4 acted as envoys
- Joshua 9:4 Lit. tied up
- Joshua 9:6 treaty
- Joshua 9:14 Lit. did not inquire at the mouth of
- Joshua 9:18 strike
Joshua 9
King James Version
9 And it came to pass, when all the kings which were on this side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard thereof;
2 That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.
3 And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,
4 They did work wilily, and went 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 of their provision was dry and mouldy.
6 And they went 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 ye?
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 to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go 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 to go 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 told 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 And now, behold, we are in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, 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.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
Nueva Biblia de las Américas™ NBLA™ Copyright © 2005 por The Lockman Foundation
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
