9:1 When the news reached all the kings on the west side of the Jordan 1 – in the hill country, the lowlands, 2 and all along the Mediterranean coast 3 as far as 4 Lebanon (including the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites) – 9:2 they formed an alliance to fight against Joshua and Israel. 5
9:3 When the residents of Gibeon heard what Joshua did to Jericho 6 and Ai, 9:4 they did something clever. They collected some provisions 7 and put worn-out sacks on their donkeys, along with worn-out wineskins that were ripped and patched. 9:5 They had worn-out, patched sandals on their feet and dressed in worn-out clothes. All their bread 8 was dry and hard. 9 9:6 They came to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant land. Make a treaty with us.” 9:7 The men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you live near us. 10 So how can we make a treaty with you?” 9:8 But they said to Joshua, “We are willing to be your subjects.” 11 So Joshua said to them, “Who are you and where do you come from?”
1 tn Heb “When all the kings who were beyond the Jordan heard.”
2 tn Or “foothills”; Heb “the Shephelah.”
3 tn Heb “all the coast of the Great Sea.” The “Great Sea” was the typical designation for the Mediterranean Sea.
4 tn Heb “in front of.”
5 tn Heb “they gathered together to fight against Joshua and Israel [with] one mouth.”
6 map For location see Map5-B2; Map6-E1; Map7-E1; Map8-E3; Map10-A2; Map11-A1.
7 tc Heb “and they went and [?].” The root and meaning of the verb form יִצְטַיָּרוּ (yitstayyaru) are uncertain. The form is most likely a corruption of יִצְטַיָּדוּ (yitstayyadu), read by some Hebrew
8 tn Heb “all the bread of their provisions.”
9 tn Or “moldy.”
10 tn Heb “in our midst.”
11 tn Heb “we are your servants.”