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and what he did to the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan: King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth.
1
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Our leaders and all the people that live in our land told us to get some food ready for a trip and to go and meet you. We were told to put ourselves at your service and ask you to make a treaty with us.
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Look at our bread. When we left home with it and started out to meet you, it was still warm. But look! Now it is dry and moldy.
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When we filled these wineskins, they were new, but look! They are torn. Our clothes and sandals are worn out from the long trip."
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The Israelites accepted some food from them, but did not consult the Lord about it.
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Joshua made a treaty of friendship with the people of Gibeon and allowed them to live. The leaders of the community of Israel gave their solemn promise to keep the treaty.
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Three days after the treaty had been made, the Israelites learned that these people did indeed live nearby.
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So the people of Israel started out and three days later arrived at the cities where these people lived: Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim.
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But the Israelites could not kill them, because their leaders had made a solemn promise to them in the name of the Lord, Israel's God. All the people complained to the leaders about this,
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but they answered, "We have made our solemn promise to them in the name of the Lord God of Israel. Now we cannot harm them.
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We must let them live because of our promise; if we don't, God will punish us.