1 And when all the kings that dwell on this side Jordan, in the hills and valleys, and along by all the coasts of the great sea even unto Lebanon - the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perezites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites - heard,
2 they gathered themselves together to fight against Joshua and Israel with one accord.
3 But when the Inhabiters of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho, and Ai,
4 they played wilily, and went and sent ambassadors: and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles old and rent and knit together again,
5 and old clouted shoes upon their feet, and old raiment upon them and all their provision of bread was dried up and hoared.
6 And they came unto Joshua, unto the host to Gilgal, and said unto him and unto the men of Israel, "We be come from a far country, now therefore make agreement with us."
7 And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, "Peradventure you dwell among us, and then how should we make peace with you?"
8 And they said unto Joshua, "We are thy servants." And Joshua said unto them, "What are ye, and whence come ye?"
9 And they answered him, "From a very far country thy servants are come, in the name of the LORD thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt,
10 and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites beyond Jordan, Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan which dwelt at Ashtaroth.
11 Wherefore our elders and all the inhabiters of our country spake to us saying, 'Take victuals with you to serve by the way, and go against them, and say unto them: We are your servants.' Now therefore make a covenant of peace with us.
12 This, our provision of bread, we took with us out of our houses, hot, the day we departed to come unto you. And now behold it is dried up and hoared.
13 And these bottles of wine which we filled were new: and see, they be rent. And these our garments and shoes are waxen old by reason of the exceeding long journey."
14 And the men took of their victuals, and counseled not with the mouth of the LORD.
15 And Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them, to save their lives: and the lords of the congregation sware unto them.
16 But three days after they had made peace with them, they heard that they were neighbours unto them, and that they dwelt among them.
17 For the children of Israel took their journey and came unto their cities the third day: and their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth and Kiriathjearim.
18 And the children of Israel slew them not, because the lords of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel. And therefore all the multitude murmured against the lords.
19 But all the lords said unto all the congregation, "We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel, and therefore we may not hurt them.
20 But this we will do to them and let them live: and so shall no wrath be upon us because of the oath which we sware unto them."
21 And the lords said unto them, "Let them live, that they may be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation," as the lords said unto them.
22 Then Joshua sent for them, and talked with them, and said, "Wherefore have ye beguiled us and yet ye dwell among us?
23 And now therefore cursed be you, and there shall not cease to be of you, bondmen and hewers of wood and drawers of water unto the house of my God."
24 And they answered Joshua and said, "It was told thy servants, how that the LORD thy God had commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabiters thereof out of your sight, and therefore we were exceeding sore afraid of our lives because of you.
25 And now, behold, we are in thine hand; as it seemeth good and right in thine eyes to do unto us, so do."
26 And he dealt as it is said with them, and rid them out of the hands of the children of Israel, that they slew them not.
27 And Joshua made them that same day hewers of wood and drawers of water unto the congregation and unto the altar of God unto this day, in the place which God should choose.