1
It happened, when all the kings who were beyond the Jordan, in the hill-country, and in the lowland, and on all the shore of the great sea in front of Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard of it;
2
that they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.
3
But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai,
4
they also resorted to a ruse, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks on their donkeys, and wine-skins, old and torn and bound up,
5
and old and patched shoes on their feet, and old garments on them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and was become moldy.
6
They went to Joshua to the camp at Gilgal, and said to him, and to the men of Israel, We are come from a far country: now therefore make you a covenant with us.
7
The men of Israel said to the Hivites, What if you dwell among us; and how shall we make a covenant with you?
8
They said to Joshua, We are your servants. Joshua said to them, Who are you? and from whence come you?
9
They said to him, From a very far country your servants are come because of the name of Yahweh your 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, who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth.
11
Our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, Take provision in your hand for the journey, and go to meet them, and tell them, We are your servants: and now make you a covenant with us.