Joshua 9

1 Now when news [report, announcement] of this reached all [every, the entire group] the kings [rulers, sovereigns] west [on the other side, beyond] of the Jordan [a major river]—those in the hill country [mountainous region, highlands], the foothills [low-lying areas, plains], and all along the coast [shoreline, seashore] of the Great Sea [Mediterranean, large body of water] toward [in the direction of, facing] Lebanon [a mountain range] (the Hittites [descendants of Heth], Amorites [a Canaanite tribe], Canaanites [inhabitants of Canaan], Perizzites [a Canaanite tribe], Hivites [a tribe in Palestine], and Jebusites [inhabitants of Jebus])— word study 2 they came together [assembled with one purpose, gathered themselves] to wage war [to fight with one accord, to battle against] against Joshua [the leader of Israel] and Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people]. word study 3 But the people [inhabitants, dwellers] of Gibeon [a Levitical city], having heard [listened, obeyed] what Joshua [leader, commander] had done [made, accomplished] to Jericho [the city of palms, first conquered] and Ai [the heap of ruins, a city of Palestine], word study 4 acted deceptively [with craftiness, cunningly] and set out as envoys [ambassadors, messengers], carrying on their donkeys [asses, male donkeys] worn-out [old, tattered] sacks [sackcloth, coarse cloth] and old [worn out, no longer new] wineskins [wine bottles, leather containers], cracked [broken, torn] and mended [bound up, repaired]. word study 5 They put worn [old, clouted], patched sandals on their feet and threadbare [old, patched] clothing [garments] on their bodies, and their whole [all, everything] supply of bread [food or provision] was dry [to wither, dried up] and moldy [crumbly, broken into pieces]. word study 6 They went [traveled, approached] to Joshua [the leader] in the camp [army, encampment] at Gilgal [a region, a rolling wheel] and said to him and the men [individuals, people] of Israel [the descendants of Jacob], “We have come [approached, arrived] from a distant [far away, remote] land [country, territory]; please make [cut, establish] a treaty [covenant, agreement] with us [for our benefit, on our behalf].” word study 7 But the men [people, individuals] of Israel said to the Hivites [a member of an ancient tribe in Palestine], “Perhaps [if not, peradventure] you dwell [to sit, remain, or abide] near us [among us, in our midst]. How [in what way, by what means] can we make [cut, establish, or form] a treaty [covenant, agreement, or league] with you [to you, for your benefit]?” word study 8 “We [your humble servants, slaves] are your servants,” they said to Joshua [the leader, God’s chosen one]. Then Joshua asked them, “Who [what people, what nation] are you and where [from what place, what region] have you come from [originated, arrived]?” word study 9 “Your servants [faithful attendants, those who serve] have come from a very [exceedingly, greatly] distant land [far-off country, remote territory],” they replied, “because of the fame [reputation, renown] of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] your God [Elohim, the one true Deity]. For we have heard [listened to, been informed of] the reports [news, accounts] about Him: all [everything, the entirety] that He did [accomplished, performed] in Egypt [the land of the Nile, a country in northeastern Africa], word study 10 and all [everything, the entirety] that He did [accomplished, performed] to the two [a pair, dual] kings [rulers, monarchs] of the Amorites [a Canaanite tribe, descendants of Canaan] beyond [on the other side, across] the Jordan [a key river, boundary]—Sihon [a powerful king] king of Heshbon [a city, capital of the Amorites] and Og [a giant, powerful king] king of Bashan [a fertile region, area], who reigned [ruled, governed] in Ashtaroth [a place, city, associated with a deity]. word study 11 So the elders [responsible men, leaders] and inhabitants [people who dwell, citizens] of our land [country, territory] told us, ‘Take provisions [food, victuals] for your journey; go to meet them and say to them: We are your servants [slaves, bondmen] [willing to be in subjection to you]. Please make a treaty [covenant, league] with us [form an alliance, agreement].’ word study 12 This bread [food, provision] of ours was warm [hot, freshly baked] when we packed it at home [in our houses, our dwelling places] on the day [a 24-hour period, a significant time] we left [came out, departed] to come to you. But take a look [behold, see], it is now [at this time, presently] dry [withered, dried up] and moldy [crumbly, broken into small pieces]. word study 13 These wineskins [new, unused containers] were new when we filled them, but look, they are [rent, broken] cracked. And these clothes [garments, outer clothing] and sandals [shoes, footwear] are worn out from our very [exceedingly, greatly] long journey [path, way, road].” word study 14 Then the men [leaders, individuals] of Israel sampled [tasted, took of] their provisions [food, victuals], but did not seek [ask, inquire of] the counsel [guidance, advice] of the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God]. word study 15 And Joshua [the leader] made a treaty [covenant, agreement] of peace [shalom, completeness and wellness] with them to let them live [have life, be spared], and the leaders [princes, high-ranking officials] of the congregation [gathering, assembly] swore [made a vow, promised] an oath [pledge, promise] to them. word study 16 Three [at the end of, after a period of] days after they had made [cut, established] the treaty [covenant, agreement] with the Gibeonites, the Israelites learned [heard, discovered] that they were [their] neighbors [near, living close by], living [dwelling, residing] among them. word study 17 So the Israelites [sons of Jacob, descendants of Abraham] set out [began their journey, departed] and on the third day [the third morning, a period of completion] arrived at their cities [towns, communities]—Gibeon [a Levitical city, a place of worship], Chephirah [a city of Benjamin, a place of refuge], Beeroth [a city of wells, a source of life], and Kiriath-jearim [a city of forests, a place of abundance]. word study 18 But the Israelites [children of Israel, descendants of Jacob] did not attack them, because the leaders [princes, high-ranking officials] of the congregation [gathering of people, assembly] had sworn [made a promise, vowed] an oath [solemn promise, vow] to them by the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God], the God [Elohim, the one supreme God] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, referring to his descendants]. And the whole [all, everything] congregation [gathering of people, crowd] grumbled [murmured, complained] against the leaders [princes, captains]. word study 19 All the leaders [chiefs, high-ranking officials] answered, “We have sworn [made a promise, taken an oath] an oath to them by the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], the God [Elohim, the supreme God] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, referring to his descendants], and now [at this time, in this situation] we cannot [are not able, have no power] touch [reach, strike, or defeat] them. word study 20 This is how [in this manner, thus] we will treat them: We will let them live [allow them to remain alive, spare their lives], so that no [none, not any] wrath [anger, fierce indignation] will fall on us because of the oath [solemn promise, sworn vow] we swore [made a promise, bound ourselves] to them [namely, the Gibeonites].” word study 21 They continued, “Let them live [to have life, be spared], but let them be [exist as, become] woodcutters [hewers of wood, chopping trees] and water carriers [drawers of water, servants] for the whole [all, entire] congregation [gathering of people, community].” So the leaders [princes, high-ranking officials] kept their promise [spoken word, commitment]. word study 22 Then Joshua [the leader] summoned the Gibeonites and said, “Why did you [intentionally, by deceit] deceive us by telling us you live [at a great distance, very far] far away from us, when in fact you live [in our midst, dwelling nearby] among us? word study 23 Now [at this time, from now on] therefore you [as a direct address] are under a curse [to be execrated, wishing harm upon] and will perpetually [forever, never failing to be] serve [as bondmen, slaves] as woodcutters [hewers of wood, chopping trees] and water carriers [drawers of water, from a well or spring] for the house [dwelling place, temple] of my God [Elohim, the supreme One].” word study 24 The Gibeonites answered, “Your servants [faithful attendants, those bound to serve] were told clearly [with certainty, explicitly] that the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] your God [Elohim, the supreme deity] had commanded [given orders, appointed] His servant [faithful messenger, one entrusted with a task] Moses to give you all the land [the entire territory, every inch of ground] and wipe out [destroy, annihilate] all its inhabitants [those dwelling in the land, the people living there] before you. So we greatly feared [were exceedingly afraid, stood in awe] for our lives [our very souls, our existence] because of you, and that is why we have done [performed, carried out] this [the action we took, our decision]. word study 25 Now [at this time, as it seems good to you] we are in your [open] hands. Do to us whatever [as it seems right and just] seems good [beneficial or pleasing] and right [just or straight, convenient] to you [in your eyes, according to your judgment].” word study 26 So Joshua did this [as he had said, in agreement] and delivered them [rescued, saved] from the hands [power, direction] of the Israelites [descendants of Jacob], and they did not [absent from action] kill [slay with intent] the Gibeonites [inhabitants of Gibeon]. word study 27 On that day [at that specific time, in that particular moment] he made them woodcutters [hewers of wood, to chop and prepare] and water carriers [drawers of water, to fetch and supply], as they are to this day [even until now, continually] for the congregation [the gathering, the community] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] and for the altar [the place of sacrifice, the sacred table] at the place [the location, the site] He would choose [select, appoint, designate]. word study