Joshua 9

All 27 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.

Read Joshua 9 in the Bible reader, with audio →

1. 1When all the kings west of the Jordan, in the hills, valleys, and along the coast of the great sea near Lebanon—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—heard about it;
2. 2They gathered together to fight against Joshua and Israel with one purpose.
3. 3When the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,
4. 4They acted cleverly and pretended to be ambassadors. They took old sacks on their donkeys and old, torn, and mended wineskins.
5. 5They wore old, patched shoes on their feet and old clothes. All the bread they had was dry and moldy.
6. 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. Now, please make a covenant with us."
7. 7The men of Israel said to the Hivites, "What if you live among us? How can we make a covenant with you?"
8. 8They said to Joshua, "We are your servants." Joshua asked them, "Who are you, and where do you come from?"
9. 9They replied, "Your servants have come from a very distant country because of the name of the LORD your God. We have heard of his fame and all that he did in Egypt.
10. 10and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites beyond the Jordan—Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth.
11. 11So our elders and everyone in our country told us, 'Take food for the journey and go meet them. Tell them, "We are your servants; please make a covenant with us."'
12. 12This bread of ours was hot when we took it from our houses as our provision on the day we set out to come to you, but now, look, it is dry and moldy.
13. 13These wineskins, which we filled, were new, and now they are torn. Our clothes and sandals have become old because of the very long journey.
14. 14The men took some of their provisions and did not ask for counsel from the LORD.
15. 15Joshua made a peace treaty with them and entered into a covenant to let them live. The leaders of the community confirmed it with an oath.
16. 16Three days after they made a covenant with them, the Israelites learned that these people were actually their neighbors and lived among them.
17. 17The Israelites traveled and arrived at their cities on the third day. These cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kirjathjearim.
18. 18But the Israelites did not attack them because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath to them by the LORD God of Israel. The entire assembly complained against the leaders.
19. 19But all the leaders said to the people, "We have sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel, so we cannot harm them now."
20. 20This is what we will do to them: we will indeed allow them to live, so that wrath does not come upon us because of the oath we swore to them.
21. 21The princes said to them, "Allow them to live, but have them cut wood and draw water for all the congregation," as the princes had promised them.
22. 22Joshua called for them and said, "Why have you deceived us by saying, 'We are very far from you,' when you live among us?"
23. 23Because of this, you are now cursed, and none of you will be freed from being servants, cutting wood and carrying water for the house of my God.
24. 24They answered Joshua, saying, "We did this because we were clearly told that the LORD your God commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land and to destroy all the inhabitants before you. We were very afraid for our lives because of you, so we acted as we did."
25. 25Now, look, we are in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you.
26. 26And so he did to them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, so that they did not slay them.
27. 27That day, Joshua made them woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD, continuing to this day, in the place he would choose.