2
gathered themselves together with one accord to fight with Joshua and with Israel.
3
But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,
4
they worked with prudence and went and made as if they had been ambassadors and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old and rent and bound up,
5
and old patched shoes upon their feet, and old garments upon them, and all the bread of their provision was dry
and mouldy.
6
Thus they came unto Joshua to the camp at Gilgal and said unto him and to the men of Israel, We are come from a far country; now, therefore, make ye a covenant with us.
7
And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us, and how shall we make a covenant with you?
8
And they said unto Joshua, We
are thy slaves. And Joshua said unto them, Who
are you and where do you come from?
9
And they said unto him, From very far lands thy slaves 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
10
and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that
were on the other side of the Jordan, and to Sihon, king of Heshbon, and to Og, king of Bashan, who
was at Ashtaroth.
11
Therefore, our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, Take provision with you for the journey and go to meet them and say unto them, We
are your slaves; therefore, now make ye a covenant with us.
12
This our bread we took hot
for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to come unto you, but now, behold, it is dry and mouldy.