1. WHEN ALL the kings beyond the Jordan in the hill country and in the lowland and all along the coast of the Great [Mediterranean] Sea toward Lebanon, the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites heard this,
2. They gathered together with one accord to fight Joshua and Israel.
3. But when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,
4. They worked cunningly, and went pretending to be ambassadors and took [provisions and] old sacks on their donkeys and wineskins, old, torn, and mended,
5. And old and patched shoes on their feet and wearing old garments; and all their supply of food was dry and moldy.
6. And they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, We have come from a far country; so now, make a covenant with us.
7. But the men of Israel said to the Hivites, Perhaps you live among us; how then can we make a covenant with you?
8. They said to Joshua, We are your servants. And Joshua said to them, Who are you? From where have you come?
9. They said to him, From a very far country your servants have come because of the name of the Lord 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 lived in Ashtaroth.
11. So our elders and all the residents of our country said to us, Take provisions for the journey and go to meet [the Israelites] and say to them, We are your servants; and now make a covenant with us.