1When all the kings west of the Jordan River—those in the hill country, in the western foothills, and all along the coast of the Great Sea toward Lebanon—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—heard about this,
2they all gathered together to fight against Joshua and Israel with one unified purpose.
3But when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,
4they also used a trick. They acted as if they were ambassadors from a distant land. They loaded old sacks on their donkeys and took old, torn, and mended wineskins.
5They put on old, patched sandals and worn-out clothes. All the bread they took for their journey was dry and moldy.
6They went to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant country. Please make a treaty with us.”
7The men of Israel said to these Hivites, “Perhaps you live among us. How then can we make a treaty with you?”
8They said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” Joshua asked them, “Who are you, and where do you come from?”
9They answered him, “Your servants have come from a very distant country because of the fame of Yahweh your God. We have heard about his great reputation and everything he did in Egypt,
10and all that he did to the two Amorite kings beyond the Jordan—Sihon king of Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth.”
11Our elders and all the people of our country told us, ‘Take provisions for your journey and go meet them. Tell them, “We are your servants; please make a treaty with us.”’
12This bread was hot when we took it from our houses as provisions on the day we set out to come to you. But now look, it is dry and moldy.”
13These wineskins, which we filled, were new, but look, they are now torn. Our clothes and shoes are worn out from our very long journey.”
14The men tasted their food supplies, but they did not ask Yahweh for guidance.
15Joshua made a peace treaty with them, agreeing to let them live. The leaders of the community swore an oath to them.
16Three days after making the agreement with them, the Israelites heard that these people were actually their neighbors, living very close to them.
17The Israelites traveled and reached the cities of these people on the third day. Their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim.
18The Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the community had sworn an oath to them in the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel. But all the people complained about the leaders.
19However, all the leaders told the whole community, “We have sworn an oath to them in the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel. So now we cannot harm them.
20We will do this for them: we will let them live, so that we don’t face God’s wrath because of the oath we swore to them.”
21The leaders also told them, “Let them live, but they will become woodcutters and water carriers for the entire community,” as the leaders had said.
22Joshua called for them and said, “Why did you trick us by saying, ‘We live very far from you,’ when you actually live right among us?
23Because of this, you are now cursed. Some of you will always be slaves, both woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”
24They answered Joshua, “It’s because your servants were clearly told how Yahweh your God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land and to destroy all its inhabitants from before you. So we were very afraid for our lives because of you, and that’s why we did this.
25Now, look, we are in your power. Do to us whatever you think is good and right.”
26Joshua did as they asked and protected them from the Israelites so they would not be killed.
27That day, Joshua made them woodcutters and water carriers for the community and for Yahweh’s altar, which they remain to this day, in the place he would choose.