Joshua 9:16-26

¹⁶And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt in their midst.

¹⁷And the children of Israel journeyed, and came to their cities on the third day; and their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjath-jearim.

¹⁸And the children of Israel did not smite them, because the princes of the assembly had sworn unto them by Jehovah the God of Israel. Then all the assembly murmured against the princes.

¹⁹And all the princes said to all the assembly, We have sworn unto them by Jehovah the God of Israel, and now we may not touch them.

²⁰This we will do to them, and let them live, lest wrath come upon us, because of the oath which we swore unto them.

²¹And the princes said to them, Let them live. And they were hewers of wood and drawers of water for all the assembly; as the princes had said to them.

²²And Joshua called for them, and he spoke to them, saying, Why have ye deceived us, saying, We are very far from you; whereas ye dwell in our midst?

²³And now ye are cursed, and ye shall never cease to be bondmen, and hewers of wood, and drawers of water for the house of my God.

²⁴And they answered Joshua and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants how that Jehovah thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you; and we feared greatly for our lives because of you, and did this thing.

²⁵And now behold, we are in thy hand: as it is good and right in thine eyes to do to us, do.

²⁶And he did so to them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, and they did not slay them.