וַיְהִי כִשְׁמֹעַ כָּל הַמְּלָכִים אֲשֶׁר בְּעֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן בָּהָר וּבַשְּׁפֵלָה וּבְכֹל חוֹף הַיָּם הַגָּדוֹל אֶל מוּל הַלְּבָנוֹן הַחִתִּי וְהָאֱמֹרִי הַכְּנַעֲנִי הַפְּרִזִּי הַחִוִּי וְהַיְבוּסִי

It was when all the kings who were beyond the Jordan to the west, in the highlands, in the lowlands, and on the entire shore of the Great Sea at the foot of Lebanon, namely the kings of the Hitites, and the Emorites, the Canaanites, the Perizites, the Hivites, and the Yevusites, heard of all the previous events,

וַיִּתְקַבְּצוּ יַחְדָּו לְהִלָּחֵם עִם יְהוֹשֻׁעַ וְעִם יִשְׂרָאֵל פֶּה אֶחָד

that they gathered together in order to make war with Joshua and with Israel, as a unified front.

ויֹשְׁבֵי גִבְעוֹן שָׁמְעוּ אֵת אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה יְהוֹשֻׁעַ לִירִיחוֹ וְלָעָי

The inhabitants of Givon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to the Ai,

וַיַּעֲשׂוּ גַם הֵמָּה בְּעָרְמָה וַיֵּלְכוּ וַיִּצְטַיָּרוּ וַיִּקְחוּ שַׂקִּים בָּלִים לחֲמוֹרֵיהֶם וְנֹאדוֹת יַיִן בָּלִים וּמְבֻקָּעִים וּמְצֹרָרִים

and they too acted with cunning, namely, they devised a defensive strategy. Unlike the other kings, who prepared for war, they, the inhabitants of Givon, went and disguised themselves; they took worn sacks for their donkeys and worn, split, and retied wineskins, retied many times due to excessive use.

וּנְעָלוֹת בָּלוֹת וּמְטֻלָּאוֹת בְּרַגְלֵיהֶם וּשְׂלָמוֹת בָּלוֹת עֲלֵיהֶם וְכֹל לֶחֶם צֵידָם יָבֵשׁ הָיָה נִקֻּדִים

Also, worn and patched shoes were on their feet, and worn garments, long gowns, were on them, and all the bread of their provisions was dry and crumbled [nikkudim]. Some explain that nikkudim is related to the term nekkudot, spots, and means that the bread was moldy.

וַיֵּלְכוּ אֶל יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אֶל הַמַּחֲנֶה הַגִּלְגָּל וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלָיו וְאֶל אִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאֶרֶץ רְחוֹקָה בָּאנוּ וְעַתָּה כִּרְתוּ לָנוּ בְרִית

They went to Joshua, to the camp at Gilgal, and said to him and to the men of Israel: We have come from a distant land, as you can see. We heard that you are a new power to recently arrive in the region; now, establish a covenant with us.

וַיֹּאמֶר אִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל הַחִוִּי אוּלַי בְּקִרְבִּי אַתָּה יוֹשֵׁב וְאֵיךְ אֶכְרָת לְךָ בְרִית!

The men of Israel spontaneously said to the Givonites, who were from the Hivites: Perhaps you live in our midst; how can I establish a covenant with you? The men of Israel doubted the veracity of the story told by the Givonites; they suspected that they were not messengers from a distant land but local inhabitants.

וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֶל יְהוֹשֻׁעַ עֲבָדֶיךָ אֲנָחְנוּ וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם יְהוֹשֻׁעַ מִי אַתֶּם וּמֵאַיִן תָּבֹאוּ

When the Hivites saw that the people were reluctant to accept their claims, they turned to Joshua: They said to Joshua submissively: We are your servants, and we wish to speak with you. Joshua said to them: Who are you and from where do you come?

וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלָיו מֵאֶרֶץ רְחוֹקָה מְאֹד בָּאוּ עֲבָדֶיךָ לְשֵׁם ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ כִּי שָׁמַעְנוּ שָׁמְעוֹ וְאֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה בְּמִצְרָיִם

They said to him: Your servants have come from a very distant land because of the renown of the Lord your God, as we have heard of His fame and everything that He did in Egypt, as reports of the plagues in Egypt and the wonders that accompanied the exodus caused a great commotion even in distant lands,

וְאֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה לִשְׁנֵי מַלְכֵי הָאֱמֹרִי אֲשֶׁר בְּעֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן לְסִיחוֹן מֶלֶךְ חֶשְׁבּוֹן וּלְעוֹג מֶלֶךְ הַבָּשָׁן אֲשֶׁר בְּעַשְׁתָּרוֹת

and everything that He did to the two kings of the Emorites, who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of the Bashan, who was in Ashtarot.

וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלֵינוּ זְקֵינֵינוּ וְכָל יֹשְׁבֵי אַרְצֵנוּ לֵאמֹר קְחוּ בְיֶדְכֶם צֵידָה לַדֶּרֶךְ וּלְכוּ לִקְרָאתָם וַאֲמַרְתֶּם אֲלֵיהֶם עַבְדֵיכֶם אֲנַחְנוּ וְעַתָּה כִּרְתוּ לָנוּ בְרִית

After hearing these reports, our elders and all the inhabitants of our land said to us, stating: Take in your hands provisions for the journey; go to meet them, and say to them: We are your servants, and now establish a covenant with us. Although we have no connection to you, we have heard of your greatness and seek to make a covenant with you, as you are great and powerful newcomers to the region and are only growing stronger. We wish to submit to your command and to share your fate.

זֶה לַחְמֵנוּ חָם הִצְטַיַּדְנוּ אֹתוֹ מִבָּתֵּינוּ בְּיוֹם צֵאתֵנוּ לָלֶכֶת אֲלֵיכֶם וְעַתָּה הִנֵּה יָבֵשׁ וְהָיָה נִקֻּדִים

This is our bread that you see; we packed it hot and fresh from our houses on the day of our departure to go to you, but now, behold, it is dry, and has become crumbled, because much time has passed.

וְאֵלֶּה נֹאדוֹת הַיַּיִן אֲשֶׁר מִלֵּאנוּ חֲדָשִׁים וְהִנֵּה הִתְבַּקָּעוּ; וְאֵלֶּה שַׂלְמוֹתֵינוּ וּנְעָלֵינוּ בָּלוּ מֵרֹב הַדֶּרֶךְ מְאֹד

These are the wineskins that we filled new; behold, they are split. These are our garments and our shoes; they are worn from the very long journey. This proves that we have traveled a great distance to arrive here.

וַיִּקְחוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים מִצֵּידָם אֶת פִּי ה' לֹא שָׁאָלוּ

The men of Israel who were present, although not necessarily Joshua or the other leaders, took from their provisions. They dined with the Givonites and exchanged gifts, as is common with guests. The Israelites were not interested in global conquest; they wanted only to capture the land of Canaan. Therefore, they saw nothing wrong in befriending people who had arrived from distant lands. But they did not ask for the directive of the Lord.

וַיַּעַשׂ לָהֶם יְהוֹשֻׁעַ שָׁלוֹם וַיִּכְרֹת לָהֶם בְּרִית לְחַיּוֹתָם וַיִּשָּׁבְעוּ לָהֶם נְשִׂיאֵי הָעֵדָה

Joshua made a peace agreement with them, and established a more formal, official, and ceremonious covenant with them to sustain them. The covenant included a commitment to their well-being. Presumably, the Givonites requested some sort of guarantee. Therefore, the princes of Israel joined in the covenant: And the princes of the congregation took an oath to them that they would abide by the covenant.

וַיְהִי מִקְצֵה שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים אַחֲרֵי אֲשֶׁר כָּרְתוּ לָהֶם בְּרִית וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ כִּי קְרֹבִים הֵם אֵלָיו וּבְקִרְבּוֹ הֵם יֹשְׁבִים

It was at the end of three days after they established a covenant with them that they, the Israelites, heard that they, these messengers, were their neighbors, and that they live among them. They discovered that the Givonites inhabited the region south of Mount Eival.

וַיִּסְעוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיָּבֹאוּ אֶל עָרֵיהֶם בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי וְעָרֵיהֶם גִּבְעוֹן וְהַכְּפִירָה וּבְאֵרוֹת וְקִרְיַת יְעָרִים

The children of Israel traveled, and they came to their cities on the third day. Their cities were Givon, the main city of the region, the Kefira, Be’erot, and Kiryat Ye’arim, which were smaller cities. When the people of Israel approached the Givonites, they encountered no resistance. The Givonites claimed that they were protected by their covenant with Israel.

וְלֹא הִכּוּם בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל כִּי נִשְׁבְּעוּ לָהֶם נְשִׂיאֵי הָעֵדָה בַּה' אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיִּלֹּנוּ כָל הָעֵדָה עַל הַנְּשִׂיאִים

Although Israel could have attacked the Givonite cities, the children of Israel did not smite them because the princes of the congregation took an oath to them by the Lord, God of Israel, but the entire congregation complained against the princes: How could you relinquish our rights for no benefit?

וַיֹּאמְרוּ כָל הַנְּשִׂיאִים אֶל כָּל הָעֵדָה אֲנַחְנוּ נִשְׁבַּעְנוּ לָהֶם בַּה' אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְעַתָּה לֹא נוּכַל לִנְגֹּעַ בָּהֶם

All the princes said to the entire congregation: We took an oath to them by the Lord, God of Israel; now, we may not touch them to cause them harm.

זֹאת נַעֲשֶׂה לָהֶם וְהַחֲיֵה אוֹתָם וְלֹא יִהְיֶה עָלֵינוּ קֶצֶף עַל הַשְּׁבוּעָה אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּעְנוּ לָהֶם

This we will do to them: we will uphold the oath and let them live, and there will be no anger against us from God because of the oath that we took to them. If we kill them, God will be angry with us because this would mean that we swore falsely in His name. Even though we took the oath under mistaken assumptions, the name of Heaven would nevertheless be profaned in the eyes of the nations.

וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֲלֵיהֶם הַנְּשִׂיאִים יִחְיוּ וַיִּהְיוּ חֹטְבֵי עֵצִים וְשֹׁאֲבֵי מַיִם לְכָל הָעֵדָה כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבְּרוּ לָהֶם הַנְּשִׂיאִים

After further discussion and deliberation, the princes said to them: Let them live. However, we should not consider them our equals; rather, we must subjugate and humiliate them. They, the Givonites, therefore became hewers of wood and drawers of water to the entire congregation, as the princes had spoken to them. Those who perform such tasks are the poorest folk, who cannot find a better source of income. It should be noted that the verse does not actually mention the suggestion of the princes; instead, it merely states what ultimately became of the Givonites. Perhaps this is because the princes spoke covertly and in vague terms.

וַיִּקְרָא לָהֶם יְהוֹשֻׁעַ וַיְדַבֵּר אֲלֵיהֶם לֵאמֹר לָמָּה רִמִּיתֶם אֹתָנוּ לֵאמֹר רְחוֹקִים אֲנַחְנוּ מִכֶּם מְאֹד וְאַתֶּם בְּקִרְבֵּנוּ יֹשְׁבִים!

After internal deliberations within Israel, Joshua summoned them, the representatives of the Givonites, and he spoke to them, saying: Why did you deceive us, saying: We are very distant from you, though in actual fact you live amidst us?

וְעַתָּה אֲרוּרִים אַתֶּם וְלֹא יִכָּרֵת מִכֶּם עֶבֶד וְחֹטְבֵי עֵצִים וְשֹׁאֲבֵי מַיִם לְבֵית אֱלֹהָי

Now you are cursed, because you deceived Israel and caused them to act improperly. Consequently, servants, hewers of wood, and drawers of water for the House of my God will never be eliminated from among you. You will perform these forms of manual labor, which require no special training and which are needed by the community. When the House of God is constructed, you shall perform these thankless tasks.

וַיַּעֲנוּ אֶת יְהוֹשֻׁעַ וַיֹּאמְרוּ כִּי הֻגֵּד הֻגַּד לַעֲבָדֶיךָ אֵת אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֶת מֹשֶׁה עַבְדּוֹ לָתֵת לָכֶם אֶת כָּל הָאָרֶץ וּלְהַשְׁמִיד אֶת כָּל יֹשְׁבֵי הָאָרֶץ מִפְּנֵיכֶם וַנִּירָא מְאֹד לְנַפְשֹׁתֵינוּ מִפְּנֵיכֶם וַנַּעֲשֵׂה אֶת הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה

They answered Joshua and said: Because it was told to your servants that the Lord your God commanded His servant Moses to give you the entire land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, we were very afraid for our lives due to you, as we knew that we would not be able to fight you, and we therefore did this thing.

וְעַתָּה הִנְנוּ בְיָדֶךָ כַּטּוֹב וְכַיָּשָׁר בְּעֵינֶיךָ לַעֲשׂוֹת לָנוּ עֲשֵׂה

Now, here we are in your hand; do to us as it is good and right in your eyes to do. We have abandoned the option of waging war against you, and we have submitted to you. Our lives now depend on you; all we can do is rely upon our covenant with you and upon your kindness.

וַיַּעַשׂ לָהֶם כֵּן וַיַּצֵּל אוֹתָם מִיַּד בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְלֹא הֲרָגוּם

He, Joshua, did so to them, and he delivered them from the hand of the children of Israel, that they did not kill them. There was presumably much turmoil among the Israelites when they realized that their leaders had been deceived and that they had lost the chance to conquer a portion of the land from the Canaanites. Much of the blame and anger was no doubt directed at the Givonites, which is why Joshua had to protect them.

וַיִּתְּנֵם יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא חֹטְבֵי עֵצִים וְשֹׁאֲבֵי מַיִם לָעֵדָה וּלְמִזְבַּח ה' עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה אֶל הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר יִבְחָר

Joshua rendered them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the Lord, to this day, that they should toil in the place that He would choose. The Givonites were not fixed to a particular location but were servants assigned to the needs of the altar and the House of God.