Leaders (Revised Standard Version “elders”) indicates that the Gibeonites did not have a king as their ruler (see 10.2). The Gibeonites tell their elaborate story, seeking to convince the Israelites that indeed they have come from a very distant land.

The instructions given the men by their leaders and by all the people of Gibeon may be made into direct discourse: “Our leaders and everyone in our country told us, ‘Get some food ready for a trip and go meet the people of Israel. Put yourselves at their service, and ask them to make a treaty with us.’ ”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Newman, Barclay M. A Handbook on Joshua. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .