Joshua 9 (KJV)
Word spread to the inhabitants of the nearby city of Gibeon of what Joshua had done in Jericho and Ai. Fearing for their lives, the people devised a deceptive plan to save themselves. They dressed in old, worn apparel and packed old wine with dry and moldy bread for their provisions to appear to Joshua as his servants who had traveled a long journey "And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregations sware unto them" (v.15).
After three days, Israel learned that the people had not traveled far, but had come from the neighboring cities of Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth and Kirjath-jearim. "And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, We are very far from you; when ye dwell among us? Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God. And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the Lord thy 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 sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing. And now, behold, we are in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do. And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not. And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the Lord, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose" (vs. 22-27).
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