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1Eventually all the kings who reigned in the hill country across the Jordan River and in the low-lying coastlands of the Mediterranean Sea facing Lebanon heard about this. So the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites | 1Now when all the kings west of the Jordan heard about these things--the kings in the hill country, in the western foothills, and along the entire coast of the Mediterranean Sea as far as Lebanon (the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites)-- |
2united together as one to fight against both Joshua and Israel. | 2they came together to wage war against Joshua and Israel. |
3But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, | 3However, when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, |
4they took the initiative by preparing their provisions shrewdly: they took tattered sacks for their donkeys, worn-out, torn, and mended wineskins, | 4they resorted to a ruse: They went as a delegation whose donkeys were loaded with worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended. |
5worn-out, patched sandals for their feet, and worn-out clothes. All of their food was dried out and covered in mold. | 5They put worn and patched sandals on their feet and wore old clothes. All the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy. |
6Then they approached Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and addressed him and the Israelis, "We've arrived from a distant country, so please make a treaty with us right now." | 6Then they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the Israelites, "We have come from a distant country; make a treaty with us." |
7But the Israelis responded to the Hivites, "Perhaps you live in our midst. If this is so, how can we make a treaty with you?" | 7The Israelites said to the Hivites, "But perhaps you live near us, so how can we make a treaty with you?" |
8So they responded to Joshua, "We are your servants." Joshua asked them, "Who are you? And where did you come from?" | 8"We are your servants," they said to Joshua. But Joshua asked, "Who are you and where do you come from?" |
9They answered, "Your servants have arrived from a very distant land, because of the reputation of the LORD your God, because we've heard a report about all that he did in Egypt, | 9They answered: "Your servants have come from a very distant country because of the fame of the LORD your God. For we have heard reports of him: all that he did in Egypt, |
10along with all of what he did to the two Amorite kings who were beyond the Jordan River—that is, to King Sihon of Heshbon and to King Og of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth. | 10and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan--Sihon king of Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth. |
11So our leaders and all of the inhabitants of our country told us, 'Take provisions along with you for your journey, go to meet them, and tell them, "We are your servants. Come now and make a treaty with us."' | 11And 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."' |
12Look at our bread: it was still warm when we took it from our houses as our food for our journey on the very day we set out to come to you. But now, look how it's dry and moldy. | 12This 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. |
13And these wineskins were new when we filled them, but look—now they're cracked. And our clothes and sandals are worn out from our very long journey." | 13And 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." |
14So the leaders of Israel sampled their provisions, but did not ask the LORD about it. | 14The Israelites sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the LORD. |
15They made a treaty with them, guaranteeing their lives with a covenant, and the leaders of the congregation confirmed it with an oath to them. | 15Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath. |
16But three days after they had made the treaty with them, they learned that they were their neighbors and were living in their midst. | 16Three days after they made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites heard that they were neighbors, living near them. |
17So the Israelis set out for their cities and three days later they reached their cities of Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim. | 17So the Israelites set out and on the third day came to their cities: Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth and Kiriath Jearim. |
18The Israelis did not attack them, because the leaders of the congregation had made an oath with them in the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. Nevertheless, the entire congregation grumbled against their leaders. | 18But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. The whole assembly grumbled against the leaders, |
19Then all of the leaders spoke to the entire congregation, "We have sworn to them in the name of the LORD, the God of Israel, and we cannot touch them. | 19but all the leaders answered, "We have given them our oath by the LORD, the God of Israel, and we cannot touch them now. |
20So this is what we'll do to them: we'll let them live, so that wrath won't come upon us because of the oath that we swore to them." | 20This 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 we swore to them." |
21The leaders told them, "Let them live." So they became wood cutters and water carriers for the entire congregation, which is what the leaders had decided concerning them. | 21They continued, "Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers in the service of the whole assembly." So the leaders' promise to them was kept. |
22Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and asked them, "Why did you deceive us by saying 'We live far away from you,' even though you were, in fact, living in our midst? | 22Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, "Why did you deceive us by saying, 'We live a long way from you,' while actually you live near us? |
23Now therefore you are under a curse. Some of you will always be slaves, wood cutters, and water carriers for the house of my God." | 23You are now under a curse: You will never be released from service as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God." |
24They replied to Joshua, "Because your servants had been informed that the LORD your God had certainly commanded his servant Moses to give you the entire land and to destroy all of the inhabitants of the land before you. So we were terrified for our lives because of you. That's why we did this. | 24They answered Joshua, "Your servants were clearly told 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. |
25Now we're under your control: do to us as it seems good and right in your opinion." | 25We are now in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you." |
26So this is what Joshua did for them: he saved them from the Israelis, and they did not kill them. | 26So Joshua saved them from the Israelites, and they did not kill them. |
27However, on that very day Joshua made them become wood cutters and water carriers for the congregation and for the LORD's altar in the place that he should choose, and this tradition continues to this day. | 27That day he made the Gibeonites woodcutters and water carriers for the assembly, to provide for the needs of the altar of the LORD at the place the LORD would choose. And that is what they are to this day. |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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