16
At the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, they heard that they were their neighbors, and that they dwelt among them.
17
And the people of Israel set out and reached their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephi'rah, Be-er'oth, and Kir'iath-je'arim.
18
But the people of Israel did not kill them, because the leaders of the congregation had sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. Then all the congregation murmured against the leaders.
19
But all the leaders said to all the congregation, "We have sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel, and now we may not touch them.
20
This we will do to them, and let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we swore to them."
21
And the leaders said to them, "Let them live." So they became hewers of wood and drawers of water for all the congregation, as the leaders had said of them.
22
Joshua summoned them, and he said to them, "Why did you deceive us, saying, 'We are very far from you,' when you dwell among us?
23
Now therefore you are cursed, and some of you shall always be slaves, hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God."
24
They answered Joshua, "Because it was told to your servants for a certainty that the LORD your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you; so we feared greatly for our lives because of you, and did this thing.
25
And now, behold, we are in your hand: do as it seems good and right in your sight to do to us."
26
So he did to them, and delivered them out of the hand of the people of Israel; and they did not kill them.