Joshua 9:1-10

Now when all the kings west of the Jordan heard about these things—those in the hill country, in the western foothills, and along the entire coast of the Great Sea as far as Lebanon (the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites)—they came together to make war against Joshua and Israel. When the inhabitants of Gibeon learned how Joshua had destroyed Jericho and Ai, they resorted to a ruse: They sent a delegation disguised as messengers from a distant land. They loaded their donkeys with worn-out sacks and old, patched wineskins. They wore old, patched sandals on their feet and old, tattered clothes, and took along dry, moldy bread. When they arrived at Israel’s camp at Gilgal, they said to Joshua and the Israelites: “We’ve come from a far country to propose that you make a treaty with us.” The men of Israel asked the Hivites, “Perhaps you live nearby. Why should we make a treaty with you?” “We are willing to be your servants,” they answered Joshua. Joshua questioned them further, “Who are you and where are you from?” The Gibeonites replied: “Your servants come from a very distant land because we’ve heard of the fame of your God, YAHWEH. We’ve heard of his wonders and all that he did in Egypt. We’ve also heard of all he did to help you defeat the two Amorite kings on the other side of the Jordan—King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth.

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