Joshua Chapter 9

2 And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until the eventide: and at the going down of the sun Joshua commanded, and they took his body down from the tree, and cast it at the entrance of the gate of the city, and raised thereon a great heap of stones, unto this day.

3 Then Joshua built an altar unto Jehovah, the God of Israel, in mount Ebal,

4 as Moses the servant of Jehovah commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of unhewn stones, upon which no man had lifted up any iron: and they offered thereon burnt-offerings unto Jehovah, and sacrificed peace-offerings.

5 And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote, in the presence of the children of Israel.

6 And all Israel, and their elders and officers, and their judges, stood on this side of the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, that bare the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, as well the sojourner as the home-born; half of them in front of mount Gerizim, and half of them in front of mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of Jehovah had commanded at the first, that they should bless the people of Israel.

7 And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessing and the curse, according to all that is written in the book of the law.

8 There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the assembly of Israel, and the women, and the little ones, and the sojourners that were among them.

9 And it came to pass, when all the kings that 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 thereof;

10 that they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.

11 But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,

12 they also did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine-skins, old and rent and bound up,

13 and old and patched shoes upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and was become mouldy.

14 And they went to Joshua unto 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.

15 And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a covenant with you?

16 And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye?

17 And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of Jehovah thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt,

18 and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth.

19 And our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take provision in your hand for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants: and now make ye a covenant with us.

20 This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and is become mouldy:

21 and these wine-skins, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they are rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey.

22 And the men took of their provision, and asked not counsel at the mouth of Jehovah.

23 And Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.

24 And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors, and that they dwelt among them.

25 And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim.

26 And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by Jehovah, the God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes.

27 But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by Jehovah, the God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them.

darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext

1 And it came to pass when all the kings who were on this side the Jordan, in the hill-country, and in the lowland, and along all the coast of the great sea as far as opposite to Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard [of it],

2 that they assembled together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.

3 And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai,

4 then they also acted with craft, and they went prepared as on a journey, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine-flasks, old and rent and tied up;

5 and old and patched sandals upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry [and] mouldy.

6 And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said to him, and to the men of Israel, From a far country are we come; and now make a covenant with us.

7 And the men of Israel said to the Hivite, Perhaps thou dwellest in the midst of us, and how should I make a covenant with thee?

8 And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said to them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye?

9 And they said to him, From a very far country are thy servants come, because of the name of Jehovah thyGod; 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 beyond Jordan, to Sihon the king of Heshbon, and to Og the king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth.

11 And our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, Take victuals in your hand for the way, and go to meet them, and say to them, We are your servants, and now make a covenant with us.

12 This our bread we took warm for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; and now, behold, it is dry, and is become mouldy.

13 And these flasks of wine which we filled new, behold, they are rent; and these our garments and our sandals are become old by reason of the very long journey.

14 And the men took of their victuals, but they did not inquire at the mouth of Jehovah.

15 And Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them, to let them live; and the princes of the assembly swore unto them.

16 And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt in their midst.

17 And the children of Israel journeyed, and came to their cities on the third day; and their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjath-jearim.

18 And the children of Israel did not smite them, because the princes of the assembly had sworn unto them by Jehovah theGod of Israel. Then all the assembly murmured against the princes.

19 And all the princes said to all the assembly, We have sworn unto them by Jehovah theGod of Israel, and now we may not touch them.

20 This we will do to them, and let them live, lest wrath come upon us, because of the oath which we swore unto them.

21 And the princes said to them, Let them live. And they were hewers of wood and drawers of water for all the assembly; as the princes had said to them.

22 And Joshua called for them, and he spoke to them, saying, Why have ye deceived us, saying, We are very far from you; whereas ye dwell in our midst?

23 And now ye are cursed, and ye shall never cease to be bondmen, and hewers of wood, and drawers of water for the house of myGod.

24 And they answered Joshua and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants how that Jehovah thyGod commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you; and we feared greatly for our lives because of you, and did this thing.

25 And now behold, we are in thy hand: as it is good and right in thine eyes to do to us, do.

26 And he did so to them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, and they did not slay them.

27 And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the assembly, and for the altar of Jehovah, to this day, in the place which he should choose.

lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM

1 And when the kings of the Amorites on the other side of Jordan, who were in the mountain country, and in the plain, and in all the coast of the great sea, and those who were near Antilibanus, and the Chettites, and the Chananites, and the Pherezites, and the Evites, and the Amorites, and the Gergesites, and the Jebusites, heard [of it],

2 they came all together at the same time to make war against Joshua and Israel.

3 And the inhabitants of Gabaon heard of all that the Lord did to Jericho and Gai.

4 And they also wrought craftily, and they went and made provision and prepared themselves; and having taken old sacks on their shoulders, and old and rent and patched bottles of wine,

5 and the upper part of their shoes and their sandals old and clouted on their feet, and their garments old upon them—and the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy and corrupt.

6 And they came to Joshua into the camp of Israel to Galgala, and said to Joshua and Israel, We are come from a far land: now then make a covenant with us.

7 And the children of Israel said to the Chorrhæan, Peradventure thou dwellest amongst us; and how should I make a covenant with thee?

8 And they said to Joshua, We are thy servants: and Joshua said to them, Whence are ye, and whence have ye come?

9 And they said, Thy servants are come from a very far country in the name of the Lord thy God: for we have heard his name, and all that he did in Egypt,

10 and all that he did to the kings of the Amorites, who were beyond Jordan, to Seon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Basan, who dwelt in Astaroth and in Edrain.

11 And our elders and all that inhabit our land when they heard spoke to us, saying, Take to yourselves provision for the way, and go to meet them; and ye shall say to them, We are thy servants, and now make a covenant with us.

12 These [are] the loaves—we took them hot for our journey on the day on which we came out to come to you; and now they are dried and become mouldy.

13 And these [are] the skins of wine which we filled when new, and they are rent; and our garments and our shoes are worn out because of the very long journey.

14 And the chiefs took of their provision, and asked not [counsel of] the Lord.

15 And Joshua made peace with them, and they made a covenant with them to preserve them; and the princes of the congregation sware to them.

16 And it came to pass three days after they had made a covenant with them, they heard that they were near neighbours, and that they dwelt among them.

17 And the children of Israel departed and came to their cities; and their cities [were] Gabaon, and Kephira, and Berot, and the cities of Jarin.

18 And the children of Israel fought not with them, because all the princes sware to them by the Lord God of Israel; and all the congregation murmured at the princes.

19 And the princes said to all the congregation: We have sworn to them by the Lord God of Israel, and now we shall not be able to touch them.

20 This we will do; take them alive, and we will preserve them: so there shall not be wrath against us by reason of the oath which we swore to them.

21 They shall live, and shall be hewers of wood and drawers of water to all the congregation, as the princes said to them.

22 And Joshua called them together and said to them, Why have ye deceived me, saying, We live very far from you; whereas ye are fellow-countrymen of those who dwell among us?

23 And now ye are cursed: there shall not fail of you a slave, or a hewer of wood, or a drawer of water to me and my God.

24 And they answered Joshua, saying, It was reported to us what the Lord thy God charged his servant Moses, to give you this land, and to destroy us and all that dwelt on it from before you; and we feared very much for our lives because of you, and [therefore] we did this thing.

25 And now, behold, we [are] in your power; do to us as it is pleasing to you, and as it seems [good] to you.

26 And they did so to them; and Joshua rescued them in that day out of the hands of the children of Israel, and they did not slay them.

27 And Joshua made them in that day hewers of wood and drawers of water to the whole congregation, and for the altar of God: therefore the inhabitants of Gabaon became hewers of wood and drawers of water for the altar of God until this day, even for the place which the Lord should choose.

vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)

1 Quibus auditis, cuncti reges trans Iordanem, qui versabantur in montanis et campestribus, in maritimis ac littore magni maris, hi quoque qui habitabant iuxta Libanum, Hethæus et Amorrhæus, Chananæus, Pherezæus, et Hevæus, et Iebusæus

2 congregati sunt pariter, ut pugnarent contra Iosue et Israel uno animo, eademque sententia.

3 At hi, qui habitabant in Gabaon, audientes cuncta quæ fecerat Iosue, Iericho et Hai:

4 et callide cogitantes tulerunt sibi cibaria, saccos veteres asinis imponentes, et utres vinarios scissos atque consutos,

5 calceamentaque perantiqua quæ ad indicium vetustatis pittaciis consuta erant, induti veteribus vestimentis: panes quoque, quos portabant ob viaticum, duri erant, et in frustra comminuti:

6 perrexeruntque ad Iosue, qui tunc morabatur in castris Galgalæ, et dixerunt ei, atque simul omni Israeli: De terra longinqua venimus, pacem vobiscum facere cupientes. Responderuntque viri Israel ad eos, atque dixerunt:

7 Ne forte in terra, quæ nobis sorte debetur, habitetis, et non possimus fœdus inire vobiscum.

8 At illi ad Iosue, Servi, inquiunt, tui sumus. Quibus Iosue ait: Qui nam estis vos? et unde venistis?

9 Responderunt: De terra longinqua valde venerunt servi tui in nomine Domini Dei tui. Audivimus enim famam potentiæ eius, cuncta quæ fecit in Ægypto,

10 et duobus regibus Amorrhæorum qui fuerunt trans Iordanem, Sehon regi Hesebon, et Og regi Basan, qui erat in Astaroth:

11 dixeruntque nobis seniores, et omnes habitatores Terræ nostræ: Tollite in manibus cibaria ob longissimam viam, et occurrite eis, et dicite: Servi vestri sumus, fœdus inite nobiscum.

12 En, panes quando egressi sumus de domibus nostris, ut veniremus ad vos, calidos sumpsimus, nunc sicci facti sunt, et vetustate nimia comminuti.

13 utres vini novos implevimus, nunc rupti sunt et soluti. vestes et calceamenta quibus induimur, et quæ habemus in pedibus, ob longitudinem longioris viæ trita sunt, et pene consumpta.

14 Susceperunt igitur de cibariis eorum, et os Domini non interrogaverunt.

15 Fecitque Iosue cum eis pacem, et inito fœdere pollicitus est quod non occiderentur: principes quoque multitudinis iuraverunt eis.

16 Post dies autem tres initi fœderis, audierunt quod in vicino habitarent, et inter eos futuri essent.

17 Moveruntque castra filii Israel, et venerunt in civitates eorum die tertio, quarum hæc vocabula sunt, Gabaon, et Caphira, et Beroth, et Cariathiarim.

18 Et non percusserunt eos, eo quod iurassent eis principes multitudinis in nomine Domini Dei Israel. Murmuravit itaque omne vulgus contra principes.

19 Qui responderunt eis: Iuravimus illis in nomine Domini Dei Israel, et idcirco non possumus eos contingere.

20 Sed hoc faciemus eis: Reserventur quidem ut vivant, ne contra nos ira Domini concitetur, si peieraverimus:

21 sed sic vivant, ut in usus universæ multitudinis ligna cædant, aquasque comportent. Quibus hæc loquentibus:

22 vocavit Gabaonitas Iosue, et dixit eis: Cur nos decipere fraude voluistis, ut diceretis: Procul valde habitamus a vobis, cum in medio nostri sitis?

23 Itaque sub maledictione eritis, et non deficiet de stirpe vestra ligna cædens, aquasque comportans in domum Dei mei.

24 Qui responderunt: Nunciatum est nobis servis tuis, quod promisisset Dominus Deus tuus Moysi servo suo ut traderet vobis omnem Terram, et disperderet cunctos habitatores eius. Timuimus igitur valde, et providimus animabus nostris, vestro terrore compulsi, et hoc consilium inivimus.

25 Nunc autem in manu tua sumus: quod tibi bonum et rectum videtur, fac nobis.

26 Fecit ergo Iosue ut dixerat, et liberavit eos de manu filiorum Israel, ut non occiderentur.

27 Decrevitque in illo die eos esse in ministerio cuncti populi, et altaris Domini, cædentes ligna, et aquas comportantes, usque in præsens tempus, in loco, quem Dominus elegisset.

web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV

1 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, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard of it

2 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 old, torn-up and bound up wineskins,

5 and old and patched sandals on their feet, and wore old garments. All the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy.

6 They went to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal, and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a far country. Now therefore make a covenant with us.”

7 The men of Israel said to the Hivites, “What if you live among us? How could we make a covenant with you?”

8 They said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” Joshua said to them, “Who are you? Where do you come from?”

9 They said to him, “Your servants have come from a very far country because of the name of the LORD your God; for we have heard of his fame, 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 supplies in your hand for the journey, and go to meet them. Tell them, “We are your servants. Now make a covenant with us.”’

12 This our bread we took hot for our supplies out of our houses on the day we went out to go to you; but now, behold, it is dry, and has become moldy.

13 These wineskins, which we filled, were new; and behold, they are torn. These our garments and our sandals have become old because of the very long journey.”

14 The men sampled their provisions, and didn’t ask counsel from the LORD’s mouth.

15 Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them, to let them live. The princes of the congregation swore to them.

16 At the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, they heard that they were their neighbors, and that they lived among them.

17 The children of Israel traveled and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim.

18 The children of Israel didn’t strike them, because the princes of the congregation had sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. All the congregation murmured against the princes.

19 But all the princes said to all the congregation, “We have sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. Now therefore we may not touch them.

20 We will do this to them, and let them live; lest wrath be on us, because of the oath which we swore to them.”

21 The princes said to them, “Let them live.” So they became wood cutters and drawers of water for all the congregation, as the princes had spoken to them.

22 Joshua called for them, and he spoke to them, saying, “Why have you deceived us, saying, ‘We are very far from you,’ when you live among us?

23 Now therefore you are cursed, and some of you will never fail to be slaves, both wood cutters and drawers of water for the house of my God.”

24 They answered Joshua, and said, “Because your servants were certainly told how the LORD your God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you. Therefore we were very afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this thing.

25 Now, behold, we are in your hand. Do to us as it seems good and right to you to do.”

26 He did so to them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, so that they didn’t kill them.

27 That day Joshua made them wood cutters and drawers of water for the congregation and for the LORD’s altar to this day, in the place which he should choose.

ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8

1 And it cometh to pass, when all the kings who <FI>are<Fi> beyond the Jordan, in the hill-country, and in the low-country, and in every haven of the great sea, over-against Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, hear--

2 that they gather themselves together to fight with Joshua, and with Israel--one mouth.

3 And the inhabitants of Gibeon have heard that which Joshua hath done to Jericho and to Ai,

4 and they work, even they, with subtilty, and go, and feign to be ambassadors, and take old sacks for their asses, and wine-bottles, old, and rent, and bound up,

5 and sandals, old and patched, on their feet, and old garments upon them, and all the bread of their provision is dry--it was crumbs.

6 And they go unto Joshua, unto the camp at Gilgal, and say unto him, and unto the men of Israel, `From a land far off we have come, and now, make with us a covenant;'

7 and the men of Israel say unto the Hivite, `It may be in our midst ye are dwelling, and how do we make with thee a covenant?'

8 and they say unto Joshua, `Thy servants we <FI>are<Fi> .' And Joshua saith unto them, `Who <FI>are<Fi> ye? and whence come ye?'

9 And they say unto him, `From a land very far off have thy servants come, for the name of Jehovah thy God, for we have heard His fame, and all that He hath done in Egypt,

10 and all that He hath done to the two kings of the Amorite who <FI>are<Fi> beyond the Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, who <FI>is<Fi> in Ashtaroth.

11 `And our elders, and all the inhabitants of our land speak unto us, saying, Take in your hand provision for the way, and go to meet them, and ye have said unto them, Your servants we <FI>are<Fi> , and now, make with us a covenant;

12 this our bread--hot we provided ourselves with it out of our houses, on the day of our coming out to go unto you, and now, lo, it is dry, and hath been crumbs;

13 and these <FI>are<Fi> the wine-bottles which we filled, new, and lo, they have rent; and these, our garments and our sandals, have become old, from the exceeding greatness of the way.'

14 And the men take of their provision, and the mouth of Jehovah have not asked;

15 and Joshua maketh with them peace, and maketh with them a covenant, to keep them alive; and swear to them do the princes of the company.

16 And it cometh to pass, at the end of three days after that they have made with them a covenant, that they hear that they <FI>are<Fi> their neighbours--that in their midst they are dwelling.

17 And the sons of Israel journey and come in unto their cities on the third day--and their cities <FI>are<Fi> Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjath-Jearim--

18 and the sons of Israel have not smitten them, for sworn to them have the princes of the company by Jehovah God of Israel, and all the company murmur against the princes.

19 And all the princes say unto all the company, `We--we have sworn to them by Jehovah, God of Israel; and now, we are not able to come against them;

20 this we do to them, and have kept them alive, and wrath is not upon us, because of the oath which we have sworn to them.'

21 And the princes say unto them, `They live, and are hewers of wood and drawers of water for all the company, as the princes spake to them.'

22 And Joshua calleth for them, and speaketh unto them, saying, `Why have ye deceived us, saying, We are very far from you, and ye in our midst dwelling?

23 and now, cursed are ye, and none of you is cut off <FI>from being<Fi> a servant, even hewers of wood and drawers of water, for the house of my God.'

24 And they answer Joshua and say, `Because it was certainly declared to thy servants, that Jehovah thy God commanded Moses His servant to give to you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you; and we fear greatly for ourselves because of you, and we do this thing;

25 and now, lo, we <FI>are<Fi> in thy hand, as <FI>it is<Fi> good, and as <FI>it is<Fi> right in thine eyes to do to us--do.'

26 And he doth to them so, and delivereth them from the hand of the sons of Israel, and they have not slain them;

27 and Joshua maketh them on that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the company, and for the altar of Jehovah, unto this day, at the place which He doth choose.

Explanations by Age Level

Explain Like I'm 5

A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!

Explain Like I'm 10

Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.

Explain Like I'm 15

Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).