(KJV) Joshua 9¹

⥃The Deceit of the Gibeonites

[1] And it came to pass, when all the kings² which [were] on this³ side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great⁴ sea over against Lebanon⁵, the Hittite⁶, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard [thereof]; [2] That they gathered⁷ themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord⁸.

[3] And when the inhabitants of Gibeon⁹ heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho¹⁰ and to Ai, [4] They did work wilily¹¹, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors¹², and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles¹³, old, and rent, and bound up; [5] And old shoes¹⁴ and clouted¹⁵ upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry [and] mouldy. [6] And they went to Joshua unto the camp¹⁶ at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be¹⁷ come from a far country: now therefore make ye¹⁸ a league with us. [7] And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites¹⁹, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall²⁰ we make a league with you? [8] And they said unto Joshua, We [are] thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who [are] ye? and from whence come ye?²¹ [9] And they said unto him, From a²² very far country thy servants are come because²³ of the name of the Lord thy God: for we have²⁴ heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt, [10] And all that he did to the two kings²⁵ of the Amorites, that [were] beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which [was] at Ashtaroth²⁶. [11] Wherefore our elders²⁷ and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take²⁸ victuals with you²⁹ for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We [are] your³⁰ servants: therefore now make ye a league with us. [12] This our bread³¹ we took hot [for] our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is mouldy: [13] And these bottles of wine, which we filled, [were] new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey. [14] And the men took of their victuals³², and asked not³³ [counsel] at the mouth of the Lord. [15] And Joshua made peace³⁴ with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the³⁵ princes of the congregation sware unto them.

[16] [¶]And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, that they heard³⁶ that they [were] their neighbours, and [that] they dwelt among them. [17] And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities [were] Gibeon³⁷, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjath–jearim³⁸. [18] And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn³⁹ unto them by the Lord God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes. [19] But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have⁴⁰ sworn unto them by the Lord God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them. [20] This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath⁴¹ be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them. [21] And the princes said unto them, Let them⁴² live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes⁴³ had promised them.

[22] And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, Wherefore⁴⁴ have ye beguiled us, saying, We [are⁴⁵] very far from you; when ye dwell⁴⁶ among us? [23] Now therefore ye [are] cursed⁴⁷, and there shall none of you be freed⁴⁸ from being bondmen, and hewers⁴⁹ of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.⁵⁰ [24] And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the Lord⁵¹ thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore⁵² afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing. [25] And now, behold, we [are⁵³] in thine hand: as it seemeth⁵⁴ good and right unto thee to do unto us, do. [26] And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not. [27] And Joshua made them⁵⁵ that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the Lord, even unto this day, in the place⁵⁶ which he should choose.