1 GLT And it happened that as soon as all the kings heard it who were on the other side of the Jordan, in the hill country, and in the lowlands and in all the coast of the great sea toward the front of the Lebanon(the Hittite and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite), BSB BSB: Now when news of this reached all the kings west of the Jordan—those in the hill country, the foothills, and all along the coast of the Great Sea toward Lebanon (the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites)—
2 GLT then they gathered themselves together as one mouth to fight against Joshua and against Israel. BSB BSB: they came together to wage war against Joshua and Israel.
3 GLT And those who dwelled in Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to the Ai. BSB BSB: But the people of Gibeon, having heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,
4 GLT And they, even they, acted with cunning. And they went and acted as envoys and took worn- out sacks for their donkeys and worn- out and torn and mended skins of wine. BSB BSB: acted deceptively and set out as envoys, carrying on their donkeys worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended.
5 GLT And worn- out and patched sandals were on their feet, and worn- out garments were on them, and all the bread of their provisions was dry and had become crumbs. BSB BSB: They put worn, patched sandals on their feet and threadbare clothing on their bodies, and their whole supply of bread was dry and moldy.
6 GLT And they went to Joshua in the camp at the Gilgal. And they said to him and to a man of Israel,“We have come from a distant land, and now cut a covenant for us.” BSB BSB: They went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant land; please make a treaty with us.”
7 GLT And they said, a man of Israel, to the Hivite,“Perhaps you are dwelling among us. And how can I cut a covenant for you?” BSB BSB: But the men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you dwell near us. How can we make a treaty with you?”
8 GLT And they said to Joshua,“We are your servants.” And Joshua said to them,“Who are you? And where did you come from?” BSB BSB: “We are your servants,” they said to Joshua. Then Joshua asked them, “Who are you and where have you come from?”
9 GLT And they said to him,“Your servants have come from a very distant land for the name of Yahweh your God. For we have heard a report of him and all that he did in Egypt, BSB BSB: “Your servants have come from a very distant land,” they replied, “because of the fame of the LORD your God. For we have heard the reports about Him: all that He did in Egypt,
10 GLT and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorite who were on the other side of the Jordan, to Sihon the king of Heshbon, and to Og the king of the Bashan who was in Ashtaroth. BSB BSB: and all that He did to the two kings of the Amorites beyond the Jordan—Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth.
11 GLT And our elders and all those who dwell in our land spoke to us, saying,‘Take provisions in your hand for the road and go to meet them. And you shall say to them,“We are your servants. And now cut a covenant for us.”’ BSB BSB: So the elders and inhabitants of our land told us, ‘Take provisions for your journey; go to meet them and say to them: We are your servants. Please make a treaty with us.’
12 GLT This bread of ours was hot, we took it as our provision from our houses on the day of our going out to come to you. And now, behold, it is dry and has become crumbs. BSB BSB: This bread of ours was warm when we packed it at home on the day we left to come to you. But look, it is now dry and moldy.
13 GLT And these skins of wine that we filled were new, and behold, they are torn. And these, our garments and our sandals, are worn- out from the very great length of the road.” BSB BSB: These wineskins were new when we filled them, but look, they are cracked. And these clothes and sandals are worn out from our very long journey.”
14 GLT And the men took from their provisions. But they did not ask the mouth of Yahweh. BSB BSB: Then the men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not seek the counsel of the LORD.
15 GLT And Joshua made peace for them, and cut a covenant for them to let them live. And the leaders of the congregation swore to them. BSB BSB: And Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them.
16 GLT And it happened from the end of three days after when they had cut a covenant for them, that they heard that they were near to them and they were dwelling among them. BSB BSB: Three days after they had made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites learned that they were neighbors, living among them.
17 GLT And the sons of Israel set out and came to their cities on the third day. And their cities were Gibeon and Kephirah and Beeroth and Kiriath Jearim. BSB BSB: So the Israelites set out and on the third day arrived at their cities—Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim.
18 GLT And the sons of Israel did not strike them down because the leaders of the congregation had sworn to them by Yahweh the God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the leaders. BSB BSB: But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the congregation had sworn an oath to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. And the whole congregation grumbled against the leaders.
19 GLT And all the leaders said to all the congregation,“We ourselves have sworn to them by Yahweh the God of Israel. And now we are not able to touch them. BSB BSB: All the leaders answered, “We have sworn an oath to them by the LORD, the God of Israel, and now we cannot touch them.
20 GLT We will do this to them and let them live. And wrath will not be on us on account of the oath which we swore to them.” BSB BSB: This is how we will treat them: We will let them live, so that no wrath will fall on us because of the oath we swore to them.”
21 GLT And the leaders said to them,“Let them live.” And they became cutters of trees and drawers of water for all the congregation, just as the leaders had spoken to them. BSB BSB: They continued, “Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for the whole congregation.” So the leaders kept their promise.
22 GLT And Joshua called to them and spoke to them, saying,“Why did you deceive us, saying,‘We are very far from you,’ but you are dwelling among us? BSB BSB: Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, “Why did you deceive us by telling us you live far away from us, when in fact you live among us?
23 GLT And now you are cursed. And a slave will not be cut off from you, and cutters of trees and drawers of water for the house of my God.” BSB BSB: Now therefore you are under a curse and will perpetually serve as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”
24 GLT And they answered Joshua and said,“Because it was clearly told to your servants that Yahweh your God commanded his servant Moses to give to you all the land and to destroy all those who dwell in the land from before your face. And we were very afraid for our lives because of your face, so we did this thing. BSB BSB: The Gibeonites answered, “Your servants were told clearly that the LORD your God had commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land and wipe out all its inhabitants before you. So we greatly feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we have done this.
25 GLT And now, behold, we are in your hand. Do to us as is good and as is right in your eyes to do.” BSB BSB: Now we are in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you.”
26 GLT And he did thus to them. And he rescued them from the hand of the sons of Israel and they did not slay them. BSB BSB: So Joshua did this and delivered them from the hands of the Israelites, and they did not kill the Gibeonites.
27 GLT And on that day Joshua made them cutters of trees and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of Yahweh, until this day, in the place that he would choose. BSB BSB: On that day he made them woodcutters and water carriers, as they are to this day for the congregation of the LORD and for the altar at the place He would choose.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.