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

Deception by the Gibeonites

Now it came about when (A)all the kings who were beyond the Jordan, in the hill country, the lowland, and on all the (B)coast of the Great Sea toward Lebanon, (C)the Hittite and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard about it, that they met together with (D)one [a]purpose, to fight with Joshua and with Israel.

The inhabitants of (E)Gibeon also heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai, but they on their part acted craftily and went and took provisions for a journey, and took worn-out sacks on their donkeys, and wineskins that were worn out, split open, and patched, and worn-out and patched sandals on their feet, and worn-out clothes on themselves; and all the bread of their provision was dry and had become crumbled. And they went to Joshua at the (F)camp at Gilgal and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a far country; now then, make a covenant with us.” But the men of Israel said to the (G)Hivites, “Perhaps you are living [b]within our land; (H)how then are we to make a covenant with you?” So they said to Joshua, “(I)We are your servants.” Then Joshua said to them, “Who are you and where do you come from?” They said to him, “Your servants have come from (J)a very distant country because of the [c]fame of the Lord your God; for (K)we have heard the report about Him and all that He did in Egypt, 10 and all that He did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon and to Og king of Bashan who was in Ashtaroth. 11 So our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, ‘Take provisions in your hand for the journey, and go to meet them, and say to them, “(L)We are your servants; now then, make a covenant with us.”’ 12 This bread of ours was hot when we took it for our provisions from our houses on the day that we left to come to you; but now behold, it is dry and has become crumbled. 13 And these wineskins which we filled were new, and behold, they are split open; and these clothes of ours and our sandals are worn out from the very long journey.” 14 So the men of Israel took some of their provisions, and (M)did not ask for the [d]counsel of the Lord. 15 And (N)Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live; and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them.

16 However, it came about at the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were neighbors and that they were living [e]within their land. 17 Then the sons of Israel set out and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were (O)Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim. 18 But the sons of Israel did not [f]attack them because the leaders of the congregation had sworn to them by the Lord, the God of Israel. And the whole congregation grumbled against the leaders. 19 But all the leaders said to the whole congregation, “We have sworn to them by the Lord, the God of Israel, and now we cannot touch them. 20 This we will do to them, even let them live, so that wrath will not be on us because of the oath which we swore to them.” 21 So the leaders said to them, “Let them live.” And they became (P)gatherers of firewood and [g]labor to draw water for the whole congregation, just as the leaders had spoken to them.

22 Then Joshua called for them and spoke to them, saying, “Why have you deceived us, saying, ‘We are very far from you,’ (Q)when you are living [h]within our land? 23 Now therefore, you are (R)cursed, and [i]you will never cease to be slaves, both gatherers of firewood and [j]labor to draw water for the house of my God.” 24 So they answered Joshua and said, “(S)Since your servants were fully informed that the Lord your God had commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land before you, we feared greatly for our lives because of you, and did this thing. 25 And now behold, (T)we are in your hands; do to us as it seems good and right in your sight to do.” 26 This he did to them, and saved them from the hands of the sons of Israel, and they did not kill them. 27 But on that day Joshua made them gatherers of firewood and [k]labor to draw water for the congregation and for the altar of the Lord, to this day, (U)in the place which He would choose.

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 9:2 Lit mouth
  2. Joshua 9:7 Lit among us
  3. Joshua 9:9 Or name
  4. Joshua 9:14 Lit mouth
  5. Joshua 9:16 Lit in the middle of it
  6. Joshua 9:18 Lit strike
  7. Joshua 9:21 Lit people drawing
  8. Joshua 9:22 Lit among us
  9. Joshua 9:23 Lit a servant will not be cut off from you
  10. Joshua 9:23 Lit people drawing
  11. Joshua 9:27 Lit people drawing

Înşelătoria ghivoniţilor

Auzind despre aceste evenimente, toţi regii din regiunea de apus a Iordanului, atât cei din regiunea muntoasă[a] şi din zona deluroasă[b], cât şi cei situaţi pe întreaga coastă a Mării celei Mari[c] până în dreptul Libanului, şi anume regii hitiţi, amoriţi, canaaniţi, pereziţi, hiviţi şi iebusiţi, s-au aliat ca să lupte împotriva lui Iosua şi a lui Israel.

Locuitorii din Ghivon însă, când au auzit ce făcuse Iosua cetăţilor Ierihon şi Ai, s-au folosit de vicleşug şi au plecat spre israeliţi, dându-se drept mesageri. Ei purtau[d] pe măgarii lor saci învechiţi şi burdufuri vechi de vin, crăpate şi peticite. Erau încălţaţi cu sandale vechi şi peticite şi purtau pe ei haine învechite, iar toată pâinea pe care o aveau ca provizie era uscată şi fărâmiţată.

Au venit la Iosua în tabăra de la Ghilgal şi i-au vorbit astfel lui şi bărbaţilor lui Israel:

– Noi am venit dintr-o ţară îndepărtată. Încheiaţi acum un legământ cu noi!

Bărbaţii lui Israel le-au răspuns însă hiviţilor:

– Poate că voi locuiţi în mijlocul nostru. Cum să încheiem un legământ cu voi?

– Noi suntem slujitorii tăi! i-au zis ei lui Iosua.

– Cine sunteţi şi de unde veniţi? i-a întrebat Iosua.

– Slujitorii tăi au venit dintr-o ţară foarte îndepărtată, i-au răspuns ei, din cauza Numelui Domnului, Dumnezeul tău, fiindcă am auzit de faima Lui: tot ceea ce a făcut în Egipt, 10 precum şi ce a făcut celor doi regi amoriţi de la răsărit de Iordan, lui Sihon, regele Heşbonului şi lui Og, regele Başanului, care domnea la Aştarot. 11 Bătrânii noştri împreună cu toţi locuitorii ţării noastre ne-au zis să ne luăm provizii pentru călătorie, să plecăm, iar când vă vom întâlni, să vă spunem: „Noi suntem slujitorii voştri. Prin urmare, încheiaţi legământ cu noi!“. 12 Pâinea aceasta era caldă când am luat-o de acasă, în ziua în care am pornit în călătorie către voi, dar acum iată că este uscată şi fărâmiţată. 13 Aceste burdufuri de vin au fost odată pline şi noi, dar acum iată că sunt crăpate, iar îmbrăcămintea şi sandalele ni s-au învechit mult din cauza călătoriei lungi.

14 Israeliţii le-au verificat proviziile şi nu L-au mai întrebat pe Domnul. 15 Iosua a făcut pace cu ei, încheind un legământ că le va cruţa vieţile, iar conducătorii adunării i-au asigurat de aceasta printr-un jurământ.

16 La trei zile după încheierea legământului, israeliţii au aflat că ghivoniţii sunt vecini cu ei şi că locuiesc în mijlocul lor. 17 După trei zile de călătorie israeliţii au ajuns la cetăţile acestora: Ghivon, Chefira, Beerot şi Chiriat-Iearim. 18 Israeliţii nu i-au putut ataca deoarece conducătorii adunării le juraseră pe Domnul, Dumnezeul lui Israel. Întreaga adunare a cârtit împotriva conducătorilor. 19 Toţi conducătorii au zis înaintea întregii adunări: „Pentru că le-am jurat pe Domnul, Dumnezeul lui Israel, nu ne mai putem atinge de ei! 20 Totuşi iată ce le putem face: le vom cruţa vieţile ca să nu se reverse mânia asupra noastră, din cauza a ceea ce le-am promis prin jurământ.“ 21 Conducătorii au mai zis: „Să trăiască!“ Au fost însă întrebuinţaţi la tăiat lemne şi la scos apă pentru întreaga adunare, cum le spuseseră conducătorii[e].

22 Iosua i-a chemat pe ghivoniţi şi le-a zis:

– De ce ne-aţi înşelat spunându-ne că veniţi dintr-o ţară foarte îndepărtată, când de fapt voi locuiţi în mijlocul nostru? 23 Acum sunteţi blestemaţi şi nici unul din voi nu va înceta să taie lemne şi să scoată apă pentru Casa Dumnezeului meu! 24 Ei i-au răspuns lui Iosua:

– Slujitorilor tăi li s-a spus despre ceea ce Domnul, Dumnezeul tău, i-a poruncit robului Său Moise, şi anume să vă dea toată ţara şi să-i nimicească pe toţi locuitorii ţării dinaintea voastră. Atunci am fost cuprinşi de frică pentru vieţile noastre din cauza voastră şi de aceea am făcut lucrul acesta. 25 Acum, noi suntem în mâinile tale. Prin urmare, fă-ne cum crezi că este bine şi drept!

26 Iosua le-a făcut aşa cum hotărâse; el i-a salvat din mâna israeliţilor şi astfel ei nu i-au ucis. 27 Dar începând cu acea zi, Iosua i-a pus să taie lemne şi să scoată apă pentru adunare şi pentru altarul Domnului, în locul pe care El îl va alege, ceea ce, de altfel, fac şi în ziua de azi.

Footnotes

  1. Iosua 9:1 Zona muntoasă din centrul Canaanului, situată între Valea Iordanului şi zona deluroasă
  2. Iosua 9:1 Ebr.: Şefela, zona cu dealuri joase, piemontană, situată între centrul muntos al Canaanului şi ţărmul Mediteranei
  3. Iosua 9:1 Marea Mediterană
  4. Iosua 9:4 Cele mai multe mss ale TM; câteva mss ale TM, VUL, Siriacă şi LXX: au plecat spre israeliţi. Ei au pregătit provizii şi au încărcat
  5. Iosua 9:21 Sau: adunare. Astfel le-au vorbit conducătorii; sau: adunare. Astfel, conducătorii şi-au ţinut jurământul