Joshua 9:19

19 But all the princes said to all the congregation, We have sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Yisra'el: now therefore we may not touch them.

Joshua 9:19 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 9:19

But all the princes said to all the congregation
That is, all the princes that went to Gibeon addressed all the Israelites that were there:

we have sworn unto them by the Lord God of Israel;
by the Word of the Lord God, as the Targum; an oath is a solemn sacred thing, and not to be broken, and a good man will make conscience of it, and keep it, though he has sworn to his own hurt: and

now therefore we may not touch them;
neither take away their lives nor their substance.

Joshua 9:19 In-Context

17 The children of Yisra'el journeyed, and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Giv`on, and Kefirah, and Be'erot, and Kiryat-Ye`arim.

18 The children of Yisra'el didn't strike them, because the princes of the congregation had sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Yisra'el. All the congregation murmured against the princes.

19 But all the princes said to all the congregation, We have sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Yisra'el: now therefore we may not touch them.

20 This we will do to them, and let them live; lest wrath be on us, because of the oath which we swore to them.

21 The princes said to them, Let them live: so they became wood cutters and drawers of water to all the congregation, as the princes had spoken to them.