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.” ’
12. This bread of ours was hot as we took it from our homes on the day we left to come to you, but now, see, it is dry and crumbly.
13. These wineskins that we filled were new, but see, they are ripped open. These clothes and sandals wore out due to the very long journey.”
14. So the men examined some of the food provisions, but they did not ask the Lord about it.
15. Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them.
16. Three days after they had made a covenant with them, they heard that they were neighbors to them and lived among them.
17. So the children of Israel set out and came to their cities on the third day. Their cities were Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim.
18. Now the children of Israel did not attack them, for the leaders of the congregation had sworn an oath to them by the Lord, the God of Israel, so the congregation murmured against the leaders.