Immerse: Kingdoms Full Volume - Flipbook - Page 27
9:21–10:10
J osh u a
15
We must let them live, for divine anger would come upon us if we broke
our oath. Let them live.” So they made them woodcutters and water carriers for the entire community, as the Israelite leaders directed.
Joshua called together the Gibeonites and said, “Why did you lie to us?
Why did you say that you live in a distant land when you live right here
among us? May you be cursed! From now on you will always be servants
who cut wood and carry water for the house of my God.”
They replied, “We did it because we—your servants—were clearly told
that the Lord your God commanded his servant Moses to give you this
entire land and to destroy all the people living in it. So we feared greatly
for our lives because of you. That is why we have done this. Now we are at
your m
ercy—do to us whatever you think is right.”
So Joshua did not allow the people of Israel to kill them. But that day
he made the Gibeonites the woodcutters and water carriers for the community of Israel and for the altar of the Lord—wherever the Lord would
choose to build it. And that is what they do to this day.
Adoni-zedek, king of Jerusalem, heard that Joshua had captured and completely destroyed Ai and killed its king, just as he had destroyed the town
of Jericho and killed its king. He also learned that the Gibeonites had made
peace with Israel and were now their allies. He and his people became
very afraid when they heard all this because Gibeon was a large town—as
large as the royal cities and larger than Ai. And the Gibeonite men were
strong warriors.
So King Adoni-zedek of Jerusalem sent messengers to several other
kings: Hoham of Hebron, Piram of Jarmuth, Japhia of Lachish, and Debir
of Eglon. “Come and help me destroy Gibeon,” he urged them, “for they
have made peace with Joshua and the people of Israel.” So these five Amo
rite kings combined their armies for a united attack. They moved all their
troops into place and attacked Gibeon.
The men of Gibeon quickly sent messengers to Joshua at his camp in
Gilgal. “Don’t abandon your servants now!” they pleaded. “Come at once!
Save us! Help us! For all the Amorite kings who live in the hill country
have joined forces to attack us.”
So Joshua and his entire army, including his best warriors, left Gilgal and
set out for Gibeon. “Do not be afraid of them,” the Lord said to Joshua,
“for I have given you victory over them. Not a single one of them will be
able to stand up to you.”
Joshua traveled all night from Gilgal and took the Amor ite armies by
surprise. The Lord threw them into a panic, and the Israelites slaughtered
great numbers of them at Gibeon. Then the Israelites chased the enemy
along the road to B
eth-horon, killing them all along the way to Azekah and