6. Then they went to the camp at Gilgal and said to Joshua and the Israelites, “We have come from a distant land. We want you to make a treaty with us.”
7. But the Israelites said, “Why should we make a treaty with you? Maybe you live nearby.”
8. They said to Joshua, “We are at your service.”Joshua asked them, “Who are you? Where do you come from?”
9. Then they told him this story: “We have come from a very distant land, sir, because we have heard of the Lord your God. We have heard about everything that he did in Egypt
10. and what he did to the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan: King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth.
11. Our leaders and all the people that live in our land told us to get some food ready for a journey and to go and meet you. We were told to put ourselves at your service and ask you to make a treaty with us.
12. Look at our bread. When we left home with it and started out to meet you, it was still warm. But look! Now it is dry and mouldy.
13. When we filled these wineskins, they were new, but look! They are torn. Our clothes and sandals are worn out from the long journey.”
14. The Israelites accepted some food from them, but did not consult the Lord about it.
15. Joshua made a treaty of friendship with the people of Gibeon and allowed them to live. The leaders of the community of Israel gave their solemn promise to keep the treaty.
16. Three days after the treaty had been made, the Israelites learnt that these people did indeed live nearby.