Immerse: Kingdoms Full Volume - Flipbook - Page 26
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IMMERSE
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KINGDOMS
9:1-20
Now all the kings west of the Jordan River heard about what had happened. These were the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Periz
zites, Hivites, and Jebusites, who lived in the hill country, in the western
foothills, and along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea as far north as the
Lebanon mountains. These kings combined their armies to fight as one
against Joshua and the Israelites.
But when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho
and Ai, they resorted to deception to save themselves. They sent ambassadors to Joshua, loading their donkeys with weathered saddlebags and old,
patched wineskins. They put on w
orn-out, patched sandals and ragged
clothes. And the bread they took with them was dry and moldy. When
they arrived at the camp of Israel at Gilgal, they told Joshua and the men
of Israel, “We have come from a distant land to ask you to make a peace
treaty with us.”
The Israelites replied to these Hivites, “How do we know you don’t live
nearby? For if you do, we cannot make a treaty with you.”
They replied, “We are your servants.”
“But who are you?” Joshua demanded. “Where do you come from?”
They answered, “Your servants have come from a very distant country.
We have heard of the might of the Lord your God and of all he did in
Egypt. We have also heard what he did to the two Amorite kings east of
the Jordan River—King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan (who
lived in Ashtaroth). So our elders and all our people instructed us, ‘Take
supplies for a long journey. Go meet with the people of Israel and tell
them, “We are your servants; please make a treaty with us.”’
“This bread was hot from the ovens when we left our homes. But now, as
you can see, it is dry and moldy. These wineskins were new when we filled
them, but now they are old and split open. And our clothing and sandals
are worn out from our very long journey.”
So the Israelites examined their food, but they did not consult the Lord.
Then Joshua made a peace treaty with them and guaranteed their safety,
and the leaders of the community ratified their agreement with a binding oath.
Three days after making the treaty, they learned that these people actually lived nearby! The Israelites set out at once to investigate and reached
their towns in three days. The names of these towns were Gibeon,
Kephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim. But the Israelites did not attack
the towns, for the Israelite leaders had made a vow to them in the name of
the Lord, the God of Israel.
The people of Israel grumbled against their leaders because of the treaty.
But the leaders replied, “Since we have sworn an oath in the presence of the
Lord, the God of Israel, we cannot touch them. This is what we must do.