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Gilingla sa mga Taga-Gibeon ang mga Israelinhon

Nadunggan sa tanang mga hari sa kasadpan sa Jordan ang mga kadaogan sa mga Israelinhon. (Kini sila mao ang mga hari sa mga Hitihanon, Amorihanon, Canaanhon, Perisihanon, Hebhanon, ug mga Jebusihanon.) Nagapuyo sila sa mga bukid, kabungtoran sa kasadpan,[a] ug sa kabaybayonan sa Dagat sa Mediteraneo hangtod sa Lebanon. Nagtigom silang tanan sa pagpakiggira kang Josue ug sa Israel.

Apan sa pagkadungog sa mga taga-Gibeon sa gihimo ni Josue sa Jerico ug sa Ai, nagkasabot sila sa paglingla kang Josue. Nagpadala sila ngadto kang Josue ug mga tawo nga may mga asno nga may karga nga mga daan nga sako ug daan usab nga mga panit nga sudlanan sa bino nga gision ug tinapakan pa. Nagsul-ob usab silag daan ug tinapakang mga sandalyas ug daan nga mga bisti. Nagbalon silag pan nga nanggahi na ug nangadugmok. Miadto sila kang Josue didto sa kampo sa Israel sa Gilgal ug miingon kaniya ug ngadto sa mga Israelinhon, “Mianhi kami dinhi gikan sa layong dapit aron lang sa paghangyo kaninyo nga maghimo kamo ug kasabotan kanamo nga dili ninyo unsaon ang among katawhan.” Apan mitubag ang mga Israelinhon, “Tingalig taga-dinhi ra kamo duol kanamo. Busa dili kami mahimong mohimo ug kasabotan kaninyo.” Nagpakilooy sila kang Josue, “Andam kami sa pag-alagad kaninyo.” Nangutana si Josue kanila, “Kinsa kamo ug diin kamo gikan?” Mitubag sila, “Gikan kami sa layo kaayong dapit. Mianhi kami dinhi kay nakadungog kami bahin sa Ginoo nga inyong Dios. Nadungog namo ang tanang gihimo niya sa Ehipto, 10 ug ang tanang gihimo niya sa duha ka mga hari nga Amorihanon sa sidlakan sa Jordan nga sila si Sihon nga hari sa Heshbon, ug si Og nga hari sa Basan nga nagapuyo sa Ashtarot. 11 Busa gisugo kami sa among mga pangulo ug mga katagilungsod nga mangandam sa among balonon nga pagkaon ug moanhi dinhi sa pagpakigkita kaninyo aron ingnon kamo nga andam kami sa pag-alagad kaninyo, basta maghimo lang kamo ug kasabotan kanamo nga dili ninyo kami unsaon. 12 Tan-awa ra gud ang among dala nga pan. Init pa kini paggikan namo, apan karon nanggahi ug nagakadugmok na. 13 Kining mga panit nga sudlanan sa bino bag-o pa kini sa dihang gipuno namo, apan tan-awa, gision na. Ang among mga bisti ug mga sandalyas nadaan na tungod sa kadugay sa among paglakaw.”

14 Mituo ang mga Israelinhon ug gidawat nila ang ilang balong pagkaon, apan wala sila magpakitambag sa Ginoo kon unsay ilang buhaton. 15 Naghimo si Josue ug kasabotan kanila nga dili niya sila unsaon ug pamatyon. Ug gipanumpaan kini sa mga pangulo sa Israel.

16 Paglabay sa tulo ka adlaw human mahimo ang kasabotan, nadunggan sa mga Israelinhon nga duol lang diay kanila ang gipuy-an niadtong mga tawhana. 17 Busa nanglakaw ang mga Israelinhon, ug sa ikatulo ka adlaw miabot sila sa mga lungsod nga gipuy-an niadtong mga tawhana. Kini nga mga lungsod mao ang Gibeon, Kefira, Beerot, ug Kiriat-Jearim. 18 Apan wala sila sulonga sa mga Israelinhon tungod kay ang mga pangulo sa katilingban may gipanumpaan na nga kasabotan ngadto kanila sa ngalan sa Ginoo, ang Dios sa Israel.

Nagreklamo ang tibuok katilingban ngadto sa ilang mga pangulo, 19 apan mitubag ang tanang mga pangulo, “May gipanumpaan na kita kanila sa ngalan sa Ginoo, ang Dios sa Israel, busa karon dili kita makahilabot kanila. 20 Mao na lang kini ang atong himuon: Dili nato sila patyon kay basin ug silotan kita sa Dios tungod sa atong gipanumpaan kanila. 21 Pasagdi ninyo sila nga mabuhi. Apan himuon nato silang tigpangahoy ug tigsag-ob alang sa tibuok katilingban.” Ug mao kadto ang nahitabo sa mga taga-Gibeon sumala sa gisulti sa mga pangulo kabahin kanila.

22 Gipatawag ni Josue ang mga taga-Gibeon ug giingnan, “Nganong gilingla ninyo kami? Nganong miingon kamo nga gikan pa kamo sa layo kaayong dapit, nga taga-dinhi man lang diay kamo duol kanamo? 23 Tungod sa inyong gibuhat panghimaraoton kamo sa Dios: Gikan karon, mag-alagad na kamo isip mga tigpangahoy ug tigsag-ob alang sa templo sa akong Dios.” 24 Mitubag sila kang Josue, “Gihimo namo kini tungod kay nahadlok kami basin patyon ninyo kami. Kay nasayran gayod namo nga gisugo sa Ginoo nga imong Dios si Moises nga iyang alagad nga ihatag kaninyo kining mga yutaa ug pamatyon ang tanan nga nagapuyo dinhi. 25 Karon ania kami ilalom sa imong gahom, ikaw na ang mahibalo kon unsay angay mong buhaton kanamo.” 26 Wala tugoti ni Josue nga pamatyon sila sa mga Israelinhon. 27 Apan gihimo niya silang mga tigpangahoy ug tigsag-ob alang sa mga Israelinhon ug sa halaran sa Ginoo. Hangtod karon ginahimo nila kini nga mga buluhaton sa dapit nga gipili sa Ginoo diin siya pagasimbahon.

Footnotes

  1. 9:1 kabungtoran sa kasadpan: sa Hebreo, Shefela.

1-2 When the kings of the surrounding area heard what had happened to Jericho, they quickly combined their armies to fight for their lives against Joshua and the Israelis. These were the kings of the nations west of the Jordan River, along the shores of the Mediterranean as far north as the Lebanon mountains—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.

3-5 But when the people of Gibeon heard what had happened to Jericho and Ai, they resorted to trickery to save themselves. They sent ambassadors to Joshua wearing worn-out clothing, as though from a long journey, with patched shoes, weatherworn saddlebags on their donkeys, old, patched wineskins and dry, moldy bread. When they arrived at the camp of Israel at Gilgal, they told Joshua and the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant land to ask for a peace treaty with you.”

The Israelis replied to these Hivites, “How do we know you don’t live nearby? For if you do, we cannot make a treaty with you.”

They replied, “We will be your slaves.”

“But who are you?” Joshua demanded. “Where do you come from?”

And they told him, “We are from a very distant country; we have heard of the might of the Lord your God and of all that he did in Egypt, 10 and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites—Sihon, king of Heshbon, and Og, king of Bashan. 11 So our elders and our people instructed us, ‘Prepare for a long journey; go to the people of Israel and declare our nation to be their servants, and ask for peace.’ 12 This bread was hot from the ovens when we left, but now as you see, it is dry and moldy; 13 these wineskins were new, but now they are old and cracked; our clothing and shoes have become worn out from our long, hard trip.”

14-15 Joshua and the other leaders finally believed them. They did not bother to ask the Lord but went ahead and signed a peace treaty. And the leaders of Israel ratified the agreement with a binding oath.

16 Three days later the facts came out—these men were close neighbors. 17 The Israeli army set out at once to investigate and reached their cities in three days. (The names of the cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim.) 18 But the cities were not harmed because of the vow which the leaders of Israel had made before the Lord God. The people of Israel were angry with their leaders because of the peace treaty.

19 But the leaders replied, “We have sworn before the Lord God of Israel that we will not touch them, and we won’t. 20 We must let them live, for if we break our oath, the wrath of Jehovah will be upon us.”

21 So they became servants of the Israelis, chopping their wood and carrying their water.

22 Joshua summoned their leaders and demanded, “Why have you lied to us by saying that you lived in a distant land, when you were actually living right here among us? 23 Now a curse shall be upon you! From this moment you must always furnish us with servants to chop wood and carry water for the service of our God.”

24 They replied, “We did it because we were told that Jehovah instructed his disciple Moses to conquer this entire land and destroy all the people living in it. So we feared for our lives because of you; that is why we have done it. 25 But now we are in your hands; you may do with us as you wish.”

26 So Joshua would not allow the people of Israel to kill them, 27 but they became woodchoppers and water-carriers for the people of Israel and for the altar of the Lord—wherever it would be built (for the Lord hadn’t yet told them where to build it). This arrangement is still in force at the time of this writing.

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