Yahusha Ba'Nun (Joshua) — 9
The Gybaunites Deceive Yashar'AL
1 Now all the kings west of the Yurdan River heard about what had happened. These were the kings of the Hittites, Amurites, Canaanites, Parizzites, Hibites, and Yabusites, who lived in the hill country, in the western foothills, and along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea as far north as the Labanun mountains.
2 These kings combined their armies to fight as one against Yahusha and the Yasharalym.
3 But when the people of Gybaun heard what Yahusha had done to Yarichu and Ah,
4 they resorted to deception to save themselves. They sent ambassadors to Yahusha, loading their donkeys with weathered saddlebags and old, patched wineskins.
5 They put on worn-out, patched sandals and ragged clothes. And the bread they took with them was dry and moldy.
6 When they arrived at the camp of Yashar'AL at Gilgal, they told Yahusha and the men of Yashar'AL, “We have come from a distant land to ask you to make a Shalum treaty with us.”
7 The Yasharalym replied to these Hibites, “How do we know you do not live nearby? For if you do, we cannot make a treaty with you.”
8 They replied, “We are your servants. “But who are you?” Yahusha demanded. “Where do you come from?”
9 They answered, “Your servants have come from a very distant country. We have heard of the might of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH your 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH and of all 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH did in Mitzraym.
10 We have also heard what 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH did to the two Amurite kings east of the Yurdan River, King Sihun of Hashbun and King Ug of Bashan (who lived in Ashtaruth).
11 So our elders and all our people instructed us, ‘Take supplies for a long journey. Go meet with the people of Yashar'AL and tell them, “We are your servants; please make a treaty with us.”’
12 “This bread was hot from the ovens when we left our homes. But now, as you can see, it is dry and moldy.
13 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.”
14 So the Yasharalym examined their food, but they did not consult 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH.
15 Then Yahusha made a Shalum treaty with them and guaranteed their safety, and the leaders of the community ratified their agreement with a binding oath.
16 Three days after making the treaty, they learned that these people actually lived nearby!
17 The Yasharalym set out at once to investigate and reached their towns in three days. The names of these towns were Gybaun, Kaphirah, Baaruth, and Kiriath-Yaarim.
18 But the Yasharalym did not attack the towns, for the Yasharalym leaders had made a vow to them in the name of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, the 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of Yashar'AL. The people of Yashar'AL grumbled against their leaders because of the treaty.
19 But the leaders replied, “Since we have sworn an oath in the presence of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, the 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of Yashar'AL, we cannot touch them.
20 This is what we must do. We must let them live, for divine anger would come upon us if we broke our oath.
21 Let them live.” So they made them woodcutters and water carriers for the entire community, as the Yasharalym leaders directed.
22 Yahusha called together the Gybaunites 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?
23 May you be cursed! From now on you will always be servants who cut wood and carry water for the house of my 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH.”
24 They replied, “We did it because we your servants were clearly told that 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH your 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH commanded his servant Musha 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.
25 Now we are at your mercy do to us whatever you think is right.”
26 So Yahusha did not allow the people of Yashar'AL to kill them.
27 But that day he made the Gybaunites the woodcutters and water carriers for the community of Yashar'AL and for the altar of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH wherever 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH. would choose to build it. And that is what they do to this day.