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¶ Y aconteció que cuando oyeron estas cosas todos los reyes que estaban a este lado del Jordán, así en las montañas como en los llanos; y en toda la costa del gran mar delante del Líbano, los heteos, amorreos, cananeos, ferezeos, heveos, y jebuseos;

se juntaron a una, de un acuerdo, para pelear contra Josué e Israel.

¶ Mas los moradores de Gabaón, cuando oyeron lo que Josué había hecho a Jericó y a Hai,

ellos obraron con prudencia; pues fueron y se fingieron embajadores, y tomaron sacos viejos sobre sus asnos, y cueros viejos de vino, rotos y remendados,

y zapatos viejos y recosidos en sus pies, con vestidos viejos sobre sí; y todo el pan que traían para el camino, seco y mohoso.

Así vinieron a Josué al campamento en Gilgal, y le dijeron a él y a los de Israel: Nosotros venimos de tierra muy lejana; haced pues ahora con nosotros pacto.

Y los de Israel respondieron a los heveos: Por ventura vosotros habitáis en medio de nosotros. ¿Cómo pues podremos nosotros hacer pacto con vosotros?

Y ellos respondieron a Josué: Nosotros somos tus esclavos. Y Josué les dijo: ¿Quién sois vosotros y de dónde venís?

Y ellos respondieron: Tus esclavos han venido de muy lejanas tierras, por la fama del SEÑOR tu Dios; porque hemos oído su fama, y todas las cosas que hizo en Egipto,

10 y 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 estaban en Astarot.

11 Por lo cual nuestros ancianos y todos los moradores de nuestra tierra nos dijeron: Tomad en vuestras manos provisión para el camino, e id al encuentro de ellos, y decidles: Nosotros somos vuestros esclavos, y haced ahora con nosotros pacto.

12 Este nuestro pan tomamos caliente de nuestras casas para el camino el día que salimos para venir a vosotros; y helo aquí ahora que está seco y mohoso.

13 Estos cueros de vino también los llenamos nuevos; helos aquí ya rotos; también estos nuestros vestidos y nuestros zapatos están ya viejos a causa de lo muy largo del camino.

14 Y los hombres de Israel tomaron de su provisión del camino, y no preguntaron a la boca del SEÑOR.

15 ¶ Y Josué hizo paz con ellos, y trató con ellos alianza que les dejaría la vida; también los príncipes de la congregación les juraron.

16 Pasados tres días después que hicieron con ellos el pacto, oyeron como eran sus vecinos, y que habitaban en medio de ellos.

17 Y salieron los hijos de Israel, y al tercer día llegaron a sus ciudades; y sus ciudades eran Gabaón, Cafira, Beerot, y Quiriat-jearim.

18 Y no los hirieron los hijos de Israel, por cuanto los príncipes de la congregación les habían jurado por el SEÑOR el Dios de Israel. Y toda la congregación murmuraba contra los príncipes.

19 Mas todos los príncipes respondieron a toda la congregación: Nosotros les hemos jurado por el SEÑOR Dios de Israel; por tanto, ahora no les podemos tocar.

20 Esto haremos con ellos: les dejaremos vivir, para que no venga ira sobre nosotros a causa del juramento que les hemos hecho.

21 Y los príncipes les dijeron: Vivan; mas sean leñadores y aguadores para toda la congregación, como los príncipes les han dicho.

22 ¶ Y llamándolos Josué, les habló diciendo: ¿Por qué nos habéis engañado, diciendo: Habitamos muy lejos de vosotros; siendo que moráis en medio de nosotros?

23 Vosotros pues ahora sois malditos, y no faltará de vosotros esclavo, y quien corte la leña y saque el agua para la casa de mi Dios.

24 Y ellos respondieron a Josué, y dijeron: Como fue dado a entender a tus esclavos, que el SEÑOR tu Dios había mandado a Moisés su esclavo que os había de dar la tierra, y que había de destruir todos los moradores de la tierra delante de vosotros, por esto temimos en gran manera de vosotros por nuestras vidas, e hicimos esto.

25 Ahora pues, henos aquí en tu mano; lo que te pareciere bueno y recto hacer de nosotros, hazlo.

26 Y él lo hizo así; que los libró de la mano de los hijos de Israel, para que no los mataran.

27 Y Josué los constituyó aquel día por leñadores y aguadores para la congregación y para el altar del SEÑOR, en el lugar que él escogiera; lo que son hasta hoy.

The Gibeonite Deception

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) they came together to wage war against Joshua and Israel.

However, when the people of Gibeon(G) heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,(H) 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. They put worn and patched sandals on their feet and wore old clothes. All the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy. 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.”

The Israelites said to the Hivites,(L) “But perhaps you live near us, so how can we make a treaty(M) with you?”

“We are your servants,(N)” they said to Joshua.

But Joshua asked, “Who are you and where do you come from?”

They answered: “Your servants have come from a very distant country(O) because of the fame of the Lord your God. For we have heard reports(P) of him: all that he did in Egypt,(Q) 10 and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan—Sihon king of Heshbon,(R) and Og king of Bashan,(S) who reigned in Ashtaroth.(T) 11 And our elders and all those living in our country said to us, ‘Take provisions for your journey; go and meet them and say to them, “We are your servants; make a treaty with us.”’ 12 This bread of ours was warm when we packed it at home on the day we left to come to you. But now see how dry and moldy it is. 13 And these wineskins that we filled were new, but see how cracked they are. And our clothes and sandals are worn out by the very long journey.”

14 The Israelites sampled their provisions but did not inquire(U) of the Lord. 15 Then Joshua made a treaty of peace(V) with them to let them live,(W) 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(X) them. 17 So the Israelites set out and on the third day came to their cities: Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth(Y) and Kiriath Jearim.(Z) 18 But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath(AA) to them by the Lord, the God of Israel.

The whole assembly grumbled(AB) against the leaders, 19 but all the leaders answered, “We have given them our oath by the Lord, the God of Israel, and we cannot touch them now. 20 This is what we will do to them: We will let them live, so that God’s wrath will not fall on us for breaking the oath(AC) we swore to them.” 21 They continued, “Let them live,(AD) but let them be woodcutters and water carriers(AE) in the service of the whole assembly.” So the leaders’ promise to them was kept.

22 Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, “Why did you deceive us by saying, ‘We live a long way(AF) from you,’ while actually you live near(AG) us? 23 You are now under a curse:(AH) 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(AI) 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.(AJ) Do to us whatever seems good and right(AK) to you.”

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

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 9:4 Most Hebrew manuscripts; some Hebrew manuscripts, Vulgate and Syriac (see also Septuagint) They prepared provisions and loaded their donkeys

The Treaty with the Gibeonites

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, that they (D)gathered together to fight with Joshua and Israel with one [a]accord.

But when the inhabitants of (E)Gibeon (F)heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, 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, old and patched sandals on their feet, and old garments on themselves; and all the bread of their provision was dry and moldy. 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.”

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?”

But they said to Joshua, (J)“We are your servants.”

And Joshua said to them, “Who are you, and where do you come from?”

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

  1. Joshua 9:2 Lit. mouth
  2. Joshua 9:4 acted as envoys
  3. Joshua 9:4 Lit. tied up
  4. Joshua 9:6 treaty
  5. Joshua 9:14 Lit. did not inquire at the mouth of
  6. Joshua 9:18 strike