1. When all the kings west of the Jordan in the hill country, in the low country, and along all the coast of the Mediterranean Sea toward Lebanon—the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite kings—heard this,
2. they gathered together as one to wage war against Joshua and Israel.
3. But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,
4. they acted craftily, and took old sacks on their donkeys, and old wineskins, torn and mended,
5. old and patched sandals on their feet, and old garments on themselves. All the bread of their provision was dry and crumbly.
6. They went to Joshua at the Gilgal settlement and said to him and the children of Israel, “We have come from a distant land. Now make a pact with us.”
7. Then the children of Israel said to these Hivites, “Perhaps you live among us, so how could we make a pact with you?”
8. Yet they said to Joshua, “We are your slaves.”Joshua said to them, “Who are you, and where do you come from?”
9. They said to him, “We, your slaves, have come from a very distant land because of the name of the Lord your God, for we heard news of Him and all He did in Egypt
10. and all that He did to the two Amorite kings on the other side of the Jordan, King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan in Ashtaroth.
11. So our elders and all the inhabitants of our country said to us, ‘Take food provisions for the journey and go to meet them. Say to them, “We are your slaves. So now, make a pact with us.” ’