1. When the news reached all the kings west of the Jordan, in the mountain regions and in the Shephelah, and all along the coast of the Great Sea as far as the Lebanon: Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites,
2. they gathered together to launch a common attack against Joshua and Israel.
3. On hearing what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, the inhabitants of Gibeon
4. formed their own scheme. They chose provisions for a journey, making use of old sacks for their donkeys, and old wineskins, torn and mended.
5. They wore old, patched sandals and shabby garments; and all the bread they took was dry and crumbly.
6. Thus they journeyed to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal, where they said to him and to the Israelites, “We have come from a far-off land; now, make a covenant with us.”
7. But the Israelites replied to the Hivites, “You may be living in land that is ours. How, then, can we make a covenant with you?”
8. But they answered Joshua, “We are your servants.” Then Joshua asked them, “Who are you? Where do you come from?”
9. They answered him, “Your servants have come from a far-off land, because of the fame of the Lord, your God. For we have heard reports of all that he did in Egypt