Psalm 91

The Covenant Renewed at Mount Ebal

³⁰ Then Joshua built on Mount Ebal^(A) an altar^(B) to the Lord, the God of Israel, ³¹ as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the Israelites. He built it according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses—an altar of uncut stones, on which no iron tool^(C) had been used. On it they offered to the Lord burnt offerings and sacrificed fellowship offerings.^{(D) 32} There, in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua wrote on stones a copy of the law of Moses.^{(E) 33} All the Israelites, with their elders, officials and judges, were standing on both sides of the ark of the covenant of the Lord, facing the Levitical^(F) priests who carried it. Both the foreigners living among them and the native-born^(G) were there. Half of the people stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal,^(H) as Moses the servant of the Lord had formerly commanded when he gave instructions to bless the people of Israel.

³⁴ Afterward, Joshua read all the words of the law—the blessings and the curses—just as it is written in the Book of the Law.^{(I) 35} There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read to the whole assembly of Israel, including the women and children, and the foreigners who lived among them.^(J)

The Gibeonite Deception

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

³ However, when the people of Gibeon^(Q) heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,^{(R) 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^(S) and said to him and the Israelites, “We have come from a distant country;^(T) make a treaty^(U) with us.”

⁷ The Israelites said to the Hivites,^(V) “But perhaps you live near us, so how can we make a treaty^(W) with you?”

⁸ “We are your servants,^(X)” they said to Joshua.

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

⁹ They answered: “Your servants have come from a very distant country^(Y) because of the fame of the Lord your God. For we have heard reports^(Z) of him: all that he did in Egypt,^{(AA) 10} and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan—Sihon king of Heshbon,^(AB) and Og king of Bashan,^(AC) who reigned in Ashtaroth.^{(AD) 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^(AE) of the Lord. ¹⁵ Then Joshua made a treaty of peace^(AF) with them to let them live,^(AG) 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^(AH) them. ¹⁷ So the Israelites set out and on the third day came to their cities: Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth^(AI) and Kiriath Jearim.^{(AJ) 18} But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath^(AK) to them by the Lord, the God of Israel.

The whole assembly grumbled^(AL) 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^(AM) we swore to them.” ²¹ They continued, “Let them live,^(AN) but let them be woodcutters and water carriers^(AO) 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^(AP) from you,’ while actually you live near^(AQ) us? ²³ You are now under a curse:^(AR) 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^(AS) 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.^(AT) Do to us whatever seems good and right^(AU) to you.”

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

Not Peace but Division^(A)

⁴⁹ “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! ⁵⁰ But I have a baptism^(B) to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed!^{(C) 51} Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. ⁵² From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. ⁵³ They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”^(D)

Interpreting the Times

⁵⁴ He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does.^{(E) 55} And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. ⁵⁶ Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?^(F)

⁵⁷ “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? ⁵⁸ As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled on the way, or your adversary may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.^{(G) 59} I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”^(H)