The Book of Joshua, Chapter 9יהושע 9

וַיְהִ֣י כִשְׁמֹ֣עַ כָּֽל הַמְּלָכִ֡ים אֲשֶׁר֩ בְּעֵ֨בֶר הַיַּרְדֵּ֜ן בָּהָ֣ר וּבַשְּׁפֵלָ֗ה וּבְכֹל֙ ח֚וֹף הַיָּ֣ם הַגָּד֔וֹל אֶל מ֖וּל הַלְּבָנ֑וֹן הַֽחִתִּי֙ וְהָ֣אֱמֹרִ֔י הַֽכְּנַעֲנִי֙ הַפְּרִזִּ֔י הַחִוִּ֖י וְהַיְבוּסִֽי

And it happened, when all the kings who were beyond the Jordan — in the hill country, in the lowland, and along all the coast of the Great Sea toward Lebanon, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite — heard [of it],

וַיִּֽתְקַבְּצ֣וּ יַחְדָּ֔ו לְהִלָּחֵ֥ם עִם יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ וְעִם יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל פֶּ֖ה אֶחָֽד

gathered themselves together to fight against Joshua and against Israel, with one accord.

וְיֹשְׁבֵ֨י גִבְע֜וֹן שָׁמְע֗וּ אֵת֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשָׂ֧ה יְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַ לִֽירִיח֖וֹ וְלָעָֽי

but the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai,

וַיַּעֲשׂ֤וּ גַם הֵ֨מָּה֙ בְּעָרְמָ֔ה וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ וַיִּצְטַיָּ֑רוּ וַיִּקְח֞וּ שַׂקִּ֤ים בָּלִים֙ לַחֲמ֣וֹרֵיהֶ֔ם וְנֹאד֥וֹת יַ֨יִן֙ בָּלִ֔ים וּמְבֻקָּעִ֖ים וּמְצֹרָרִֽים

they too acted with cunning: they went and disguised themselves as envoys, and took worn-out sacks for their donkeys, and wineskins of wine, worn-out and split and tied up,

וּנְעָל֨וֹת בָּל֤וֹת וּמְטֻלָּאוֹת֙ בְּרַגְלֵיהֶ֔ם וּשְׂלָמ֥וֹת בָּל֖וֹת עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם וְכֹל֙ לֶ֣חֶם צֵידָ֔ם יָבֵ֖שׁ הָיָ֥ה נִקֻּדִֽים

and worn-out, patched sandals on their feet, and worn-out garments on them; and all the bread of their provisions was dry, become crumbs.

וַיֵּלְכ֧וּ אֶל יְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַ אֶל הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֖ה הַגִּלְגָּ֑ל וַיֹּאמְר֨וּ אֵלָ֜יו וְאֶל אִ֣ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל מֵאֶ֤רֶץ רְחוֹקָה֙ בָּ֔אנוּ וְעַתָּ֖ה כִּרְתוּ לָ֥נוּ בְרִֽית

And they went to Joshua, to the camp at Gilgal, and said to him and to the men of Israel, 'We have come from a far country; so now, cut a covenant with us.'

ויאמרו וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אִֽישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֶל הַחִוִּ֑י אוּלַ֗י בְּקִרְבִּי֙ אַתָּ֣ה יוֹשֵׁ֔ב וְאֵ֖יךְ אכרות אֶֽכְרָת לְךָ֥ בְרִֽית

And the men of Israel said to the Hivite, 'Perhaps you dwell in my midst — so how could I cut a covenant with you?'

וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ אֶל יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ עֲבָדֶ֣יךָ אֲנָ֑חְנוּ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֧ם יְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַ מִ֥י אַתֶּ֖ם וּמֵאַ֥יִן תָּבֹֽאוּ

And they said to Joshua, 'We are your servants.' And Joshua said to them, 'Who are you, and from where do you come?'

וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ אֵלָ֗יו מֵאֶ֨רֶץ רְחוֹקָ֤ה מְאֹד֙ בָּ֣אוּ עֲבָדֶ֔יךָ לְשֵׁ֖ם יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ כִּֽי שָׁמַ֣עְנוּ שָׁמְע֔וֹ וְאֵ֛ת כָּל אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָׂ֖ה בְּמִצְרָֽיִם

And they said to him, 'Your servants have come from a very far country, because of the name of YHWH your God; for we have heard the report of him, and all that he did in Egypt,

וְאֵ֣ת כָּל אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֗ה לִשְׁנֵי֙ מַלְכֵ֣י הָאֱמֹרִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּעֵ֣בֶר הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן לְסִיחוֹן֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ חֶשְׁבּ֔וֹן וּלְע֥וֹג מֶֽלֶךְ הַבָּשָׁ֖ן אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּעַשְׁתָּרֽוֹת

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 in Ashtaroth.'

וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ אֵלֵ֡ינוּ זְֽקֵינֵינוּ֩ וְכָל יֹשְׁבֵ֨י אַרְצֵ֜נוּ לֵאמֹ֗ר קְח֨וּ בְיֶדְכֶ֤ם צֵידָה֙ לַדֶּ֔רֶךְ וּלְכ֖וּ לִקְרָאתָ֑ם וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֤ם אֲלֵיהֶם֙ עַבְדֵיכֶ֣ם אֲנַ֔חְנוּ וְעַתָּ֖ה כִּרְתוּ לָ֥נוּ בְרִֽית

And our elders and all the inhabitants of our land said to us, saying, "Take provisions in your hand for the journey, and go to meet them, and say to them, 'We are your servants'; so now, cut a covenant with us."

זֶ֣ה לַחְמֵ֗נוּ חָ֞ם הִצְטַיַּ֤דְנוּ אֹתוֹ֙ מִבָּ֣תֵּ֔ינוּ בְּי֥וֹם צֵאתֵ֖נוּ לָלֶ֣כֶת אֲלֵיכֶ֑ם וְעַתָּה֙ הִנֵּ֣ה יָבֵ֔שׁ וְהָיָ֖ה נִקֻּדִֽים

This our bread — we took it hot as our provision from our houses on the day we set out to come to you; but now, behold, it is dry and has become crumbs.

וְאֵ֨לֶּה נֹאד֤וֹת הַיַּ֨יִן֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר מִלֵּ֣אנוּ חֲדָשִׁ֔ים וְהִנֵּ֖ה הִתְבַּקָּ֑עוּ וְאֵ֤לֶּה שַׂלְמוֹתֵ֨ינוּ֙ וּנְעָלֵ֔ינוּ בָּל֕וּ מֵרֹ֥ב הַדֶּ֖רֶךְ מְאֹֽד

And these wineskins, which we filled, were new — but behold, they are burst; and these our garments and our sandals are worn out from the very great length of the journey.'

וַיִּקְח֥וּ הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֖ים מִצֵּידָ֑ם וְאֶת פִּ֥י יְהוָ֖ה לֹ֥א שָׁאָֽלוּ

And the men took some of their provisions, but they did not ask for the mouth of YHWH.

וַיַּ֨עַשׂ לָהֶ֤ם יְהוֹשֻׁ֨עַ֙ שָׁל֔וֹם וַיִּכְרֹ֥ת לָהֶ֛ם בְּרִ֖ית לְחַיּוֹתָ֑ם וַיִּשָּׁבְע֣וּ לָהֶ֔ם נְשִׂיאֵ֖י הָעֵדָֽה

And Joshua made peace with them, and cut a covenant with them, to let them live; and the leaders of the congregation swore to them.

וַיְהִ֗י מִקְצֵה֙ שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת יָמִ֔ים אַחֲרֵ֕י אֲשֶׁר כָּרְת֥וּ לָהֶ֖ם בְּרִ֑ית וַֽיִּשְׁמְע֗וּ כִּי קְרֹבִ֥ים הֵם֙ אֵלָ֔יו וּבְקִרְבּ֖וֹ הֵ֥ם יֹשְׁבִֽים

And it happened, at the end of three days, after they had cut a covenant with them, that they heard that they were near them, and dwelling in their midst.

וַיִּסְע֣וּ בְנֵֽי יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וַיָּבֹ֛אוּ אֶל עָרֵיהֶ֖ם בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֑י וְעָרֵיהֶם֙ גִּבְע֣וֹן וְהַכְּפִירָ֔ה וּבְאֵר֖וֹת וְקִרְיַ֥ת יְעָרִֽים

And the sons of Israel set out and came to their cities on the third day; and their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim.

וְלֹ֤א הִכּוּם֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כִּֽי נִשְׁבְּע֤וּ לָהֶם֙ נְשִׂיאֵ֣י הָֽעֵדָ֔ה בַּֽיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיִּלֹּ֥נוּ כָל הָעֵדָ֖ה עַל הַנְּשִׂיאִֽים

But the sons of Israel did not strike them, because the leaders of the congregation had sworn to them by YHWH the God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the leaders.

וַיֹּאמְר֤וּ כָל הַנְּשִׂיאִים֙ אֶל כָּל הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה אֲנַ֨חְנוּ֙ נִשְׁבַּ֣עְנוּ לָהֶ֔ם בַּֽיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְעַתָּ֕ה לֹ֥א נוּכַ֖ל לִנְגֹּ֥עַ בָּהֶֽם

And all the leaders said to all the congregation, 'We have sworn to them by YHWH the God of Israel; so now, we cannot touch them.'

זֹ֛את נַעֲשֶׂ֥ה לָהֶ֖ם וְהַחֲיֵ֣ה אוֹתָ֑ם וְלֹֽא יִֽהְיֶ֤ה עָלֵ֨ינוּ֙ קֶ֔צֶף עַל הַשְּׁבוּעָ֖ה אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּ֥עְנוּ לָהֶֽם

This we will do to them: we will let them live, lest wrath be upon us because of the oath which we swore to them.

וַיֹּאמְר֧וּ אֲלֵיהֶ֛ם הַנְּשִׂיאִ֖ים יִֽחְי֑וּ וַ֠יִּֽהְיוּ חֹטְבֵ֨י עֵצִ֤ים וְשֹֽׁאֲבֵי מַ֨יִם֙ לְכָל הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר דִּבְּר֥וּ לָהֶ֖ם הַנְּשִׂיאִֽים

And the leaders said to them, 'Let them live.' And they became hewers of wood and drawers of water for all the congregation, as the leaders had spoken to them.

וַיִּקְרָ֤א לָהֶם֙ יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר לָמָּה֩ רִמִּיתֶ֨ם אֹתָ֜נוּ לֵאמֹ֗ר רְחוֹקִ֨ים אֲנַ֤חְנוּ מִכֶּם֙ מְאֹ֔ד וְאַתֶּ֖ם בְּקִרְבֵּ֥נוּ יֹשְׁבִֽים

And Joshua summoned them, and spoke to them, saying, 'Why did you deceive us, saying, "We are very far from you," when you dwell in our midst?'

וְעַתָּ֖ה אֲרוּרִ֣ים אַתֶּ֑ם וְלֹֽא יִכָּרֵ֨ת מִכֶּ֜ם עֶ֗בֶד וְחֹטְבֵ֥י עֵצִ֛ים וְשֹֽׁאֲבֵי מַ֖יִם לְבֵ֥ית אֱלֹהָֽי

So now, you are cursed; and there shall never fail to be from you a slave, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.

וַיַּעֲנ֨וּ אֶת יְהוֹשֻׁ֜עַ וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ כִּי֩ הֻגֵּ֨ד הֻגַּ֤ד לַעֲבָדֶ֨יךָ֙ אֵת֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר צִוָּ֜ה יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֨יךָ֙ אֶת מֹשֶׁ֣ה עַבְדּ֔וֹ לָתֵ֤ת לָכֶם֙ אֶת כָּל הָאָ֔רֶץ וּלְהַשְׁמִ֛יד אֶת כָּל יֹשְׁבֵ֥י הָאָ֖רֶץ מִפְּנֵיכֶ֑ם וַנִּירָ֨א מְאֹ֤ד לְנַפְשֹׁתֵ֨ינוּ֙ מִפְּנֵיכֶ֔ם וַֽנַּעֲשֵׂ֖ה אֶת הַדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּֽה

And they answered Joshua and said, 'Because it was surely told to your servants that YHWH your God commanded Moses his servant to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you; so we feared greatly for our lives because of you, and did this thing.'

וְעַתָּ֖ה הִנְנ֣וּ בְיָדֶ֑ךָ כַּטּ֨וֹב וְכַיָּשָׁ֧ר בְּעֵינֶ֛יךָ לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת לָ֖נוּ עֲשֵֽׂה

So now, behold, we are in your hand; do to us as it is good and right in your eyes.

וַיַּ֥עַשׂ לָהֶ֖ם כֵּ֑ן וַיַּצֵּ֥ל אוֹתָ֛ם מִיַּ֥ד בְּנֵֽי יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וְלֹ֥א הֲרָגֽוּם

And he did so to them, and delivered them from the hand of the sons of Israel, and they did not kill them.

וַיִּתְּנֵ֨ם יְהוֹשֻׁ֜עַ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא חֹטְבֵ֥י עֵצִ֛ים וְשֹׁ֥אֲבֵי מַ֖יִם לָֽעֵדָ֑ה וּלְמִזְבַּ֤ח יְהוָה֙ עַד הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה אֶל הַמָּק֖וֹם אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִבְחָֽר

And Joshua made them, that day, hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of YHWH, to this day, at the place he should choose.