The Enemies Unite
Table of Contents
1 All the kings which were on this side Jordan, in the hills, valleys, and coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite heard of the news.
2 So they gathered together to fight Joshua and Israel with one accord.
3 When the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai, 4 they resorted to a ruse.
They went as a delegation whose donkeys were loaded a with worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended.
5 Old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments on them.
All the bread of their provision was dry and moldy.
6 They went to Joshua’s camp at Gilgal:
We come from a far country. Please make a league with us.
7 [to the Hivites] If you dwell among us, how shall we make a league with you?
88 [to Joshua] We are your servants.
Who are you? Where did you come from?
9 From a very far country. We come because of the name of Enki.
We have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt, 10 all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that [were] beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which [was] at Ashtaroth.
11 Our elders and our said to us:
Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them. Tell them that we are your servants. So please make you a league with us.
12 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, it is dry and moldy.
13 These bottles of wine, which we filled, were new. Now they are cracked. Our garments and shoes have become old by the very long journey.
14 The men took of their victuals, but did not ask for counsel from Enki.
15 Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live.
The princes of the congregation sware unto them.
16 3 days after making a league with them, they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt among them.
17 The Israelites journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day.
Their cities [were] Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjath-jearim.
18 The Israelites smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by Enki.
The congregation murmured against the princes.
19 But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by Enki God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them.
20 This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them.
21 The princes said unto them, Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had promised them.
22 Joshua called for them. asking:
Why have you beguiled us saying that you live very far away, when in fact you are from nearby?
23 Now you are cursed. There shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of Enki
24 Your servants told us how Enki commanded Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you.
So we were sore afraid of our lives because of you. So we did this.
25 We are in your hand: Do what you want with us.
26 And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the Israelites, that they slew them not.
27 Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of Enki, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose.