The man that took care of Ahab’s house, the man that controlled the city, the elders, and the people who raised {Ahab’s children} sent a message to Jehu. “We are your servants. We will do anything you tell us. We will not make any man king. Do what you think is good.”
The people in the city of Gibeon sent a message to Joshua at his camp at Gilgal. The message said: “We are your servants! Don’t leave us alone. Come and help us! Hurry! Save us! All the Amorite kings from the hill country have brought their armies together to fight against us.”
So our elders (leaders) and our people said to us, ‘Take enough food for your journey. Go and meet with the people of Israel. Tell them, “We are your servants. Make a peace agreement with us.”’
Joshua made the people of Gibeon become slaves of the people of Israel. They cut wood and carried water for the people of Israel and for the altar of the Lord—wherever the Lord chose it to be. Those people are still slaves today.
