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And it came to pass, when all the kings which were on this sideJordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the greatsea over againstLebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite,heard thereof;
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They did workwilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and tookoldsacks upon their asses, and winebottles,old, and rent, and bound up;
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And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a farcountry: now therefore make ye a league with us.
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And they said unto him, From a veryfarcountry thy servants are come because of the name of the LORD thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt,
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And all that he did to the twokings of the Amorites, that were beyondJordan, to Sihonking of Heshbon, and to Ogking of Bashan, which was at Ashtaroth.
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Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our countryspake to us, saying, Takevictuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants: therefore now make ye a league with us.
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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:
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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 verylongjourney.
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And it came to pass at the end of threedaysafter they had made a league with them, that they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they dweltamong them.
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And the children of Israeljourneyed, and came unto their cities on the thirdday. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjathjearim.
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And the children of Israelsmote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORDGod of Israel. And all the congregationmurmured against the princes.
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And the princessaid 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.
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Now therefore ye 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 God.
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And they answeredJoshua, and said, Because it was certainlytold thy servants, how that the LORD thy Godcommanded his servantMoses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were soreafraid of our livesbecause of you, and have done this thing.
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And Joshuamade them that dayhewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose.