And it came to pass, when all the kings which were on this side Yardên, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebânôn, the Chittı̂y, and the Ĕmôrı̂y, the Kenaanı̂y, the Perizzı̂y, the Chiwwı̂y, and the Yebûsı̂y, heard thereof;
That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Yahusha and with Yâshârêl, with one accord.
And when the inhabitants of Gibôn heard what Yahusha had done unto Yerı̂ychô and to Ay,
They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up;
And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy.
And they went to Yahusha unto the camp at Gilgâl, and said unto him, and to the men of Yâshârêl, We be come from a far country: now therefore make you a league with us.
And the men of Yâshârêl said unto the Chiwwı̂y, Peradventure you dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you?
And they said unto Yahusha, We are your servants. And Yahusha said unto them, Who are you? and from whence come you?
And they said unto him, From a very far country your servants are come because of the name of YAHUAH (יהוה) your ĔLÔHÎYM (אֱלֹהִים): for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Mitsrayim,
And all that he did to the two kings of the Ĕmôrı̂y, that were beyond Yardên, to Sı̂ychôn king of Cheshbôn, and to Ôg king of Bâshân, which was at Ashtârôth (עַשְׁתָּרוֹת).
Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants: therefore now make you a league with us.
This our bread 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:
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.
And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of YAHUAH (יהוה).
And Yahusha made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation swore unto them.
And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors, and that they dwelt among them.
d the children of Yâshârêl journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibôn, and Kephı̂yrâh (כְּפִירָה), and Beêrôth, and Qiryath Yeârı̂ym (קִרְיַת יְעָרִים).
And the children of Yâshârêl smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by YAHUAH (יהוה) ĔLÔHÎYM (אֱלֹהִים) of Yâshârêl. And all the congregation murmured against the princes.
But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by YAHUAH (יהוה) ĔLÔHÎYM (אֱלֹהִים) of Yâshârêl: now therefore we may not touch them.
This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we swore unto them.
And the princes said unto them, Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had promised them.
And Yahusha called for them, and he spoke unto them, saying, Wherefore have you beguiled us, saying, We are very far from you; when you dwell among us?
Now therefore you are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my ĔLÔHÎYM (אֱלֹהִים).
And they answered Yahusha, and said, Because it was certainly told your servants, how that YAHUAH (יהוה) your ĔLÔHÎYM (אֱלֹהִים) commanded his servant Môsheh to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing.
And now, behold, we are in your hand: as it seems good and right unto you to do unto us, do.
And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Yâshârêl, that they slew them not.
And Yahusha made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of YAHUAH (יהוה), even unto this day, in the place which he should choose.
