基遍人欺骗约书亚
约旦河西，住山区、低地和沿大海一带直到黎巴嫩的诸王，就是赫人、亚摩利人、迦南人、比利洗人、希未人、耶布斯人的诸王，听见这事，
And it came to pass, when all the kings which were on this side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard thereof;
2就都聚集，同心合意要与约书亚和以色列人作战。That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.
3基遍的居民听见约书亚向耶利哥和艾城所做的事，And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,
4就设诡计，假扮使者☛“假扮使者”：有古卷、七十士译本和其他古译本是“带着粮食”。出去。他们拿旧布袋和破裂补过的旧皮酒袋驮在驴上，They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up;
5将补过的旧鞋穿在脚上，把旧衣服穿在身上，作食物的饼都又干又长了霉☛“长了霉”或译“碎”；下同。。And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy.
6他们到吉甲营中约书亚那里，对他和以色列人说：“我们是从远地来的，现在求你与我们立约。”And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us.
7以色列人对希未人说：“或许你是住在我附近的。若是这样，我怎能和你立约呢？”And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you?
8他们对约书亚说：“我们是你的仆人。”约书亚对他们说：“你们是什么人？是从哪里来的？”And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye?
9他们对他说：“你的仆人是因耶和华－你神的名从极远之地来的。我们听见他的名声，他在埃及所做的一切，And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the LORD thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt,
10以及他向约旦河东的两个亚摩利王，希实本王西宏和在亚斯她录的巴珊王噩所做的一切。And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which was at Ashtaroth.
11我们的长老和我们当地所有的居民对我们说：‘你们手里要带着路上用的干粮去迎接以色列人，对他们说：我们是你们的仆人。现在求你们与我们立约。’Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants: therefore now make ye a league with us.
12我们出来要往你们这里来的那日，这从我们家里带出来的饼是热的；看哪，现在这饼又干又长了霉。This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is mouldy:
13这些皮酒袋，我们盛酒的时候还是新的；看哪，现在已经破裂了。我们这些衣服和鞋，因为路途非常遥远，也都穿旧了。”And these bottles of wine, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey.
14以色列人收下他们的一些食物，但是没有求问耶和华的指示。And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.
15于是约书亚与他们建立和好关系，与他们立约，让他们存活；会众的领袖也向他们起誓。And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.
16以色列人与他们立约之后，过了三天才听说他们是近邻，住在附近。And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, that they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt among them.
17以色列人起行，第三天就到了他们的城镇，他们的城镇是基遍、基非拉、比录和基列．耶琳。And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjathjearim.
18因为会众的领袖已经指着耶和华－以色列的神向他们起誓，所以以色列人不击杀他们。全会众就向领袖发怨言。And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes.
19众领袖对全会众说：“我们已经指着耶和华－以色列的神向他们起誓，现在我们不能碰他们。But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them.
20我们要这样对待他们，让他们存活，免得因我们向他们所起的誓而愤怒临到我们。”This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them.
21领袖对会众说：“让他们活着吧。”于是他们照领袖所说的，为全会众作劈柴挑水的人。And the princes said unto them, Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had promised them.
22约书亚召了他们来，对他们说：“你们为什么欺骗我们说：‘我们离你们很远’呢？其实你们就住在我们附近。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?
23现在你们当受诅咒！你们中间必不断有人作奴仆，为我神的殿作劈柴挑水的人。”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.
24他们回答约书亚说：“因为确实有人告诉你的仆人，耶和华－你的神曾吩咐他的仆人摩西，把这全地赐给你们，并要在你们面前除灭这地所有的居民。我们因你们的缘故很怕自己丧命，就做了这事。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.
25现在，看哪，我们在你手中，你看怎样待我们是好的，是对的，就这样做吧！”And now, behold, we are in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do.
26于是约书亚就这样对待他们，他救了他们脱离以色列人的手，以色列人没有杀他们。And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not.
27那日，约书亚分派他们到耶和华选择的地方，为会众和耶和华的坛劈柴挑水，直到今日。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.