Joshua 9:16-26

¹⁶Three days after the Israelites made this covenant with them, they learned that they were their neighbors and that they lived nearby.

¹⁷Then the people of Israel set out and came to their cities on the third day. Their cities were Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim.

¹⁸The people of Israel did not attack them because their leaders had taken an oath about them before Yahweh, the God of Israel. All the Israelites were grumbling against their leaders.

¹⁹But all the leaders said to all the people, “We have taken an oath concerning them by Yahweh, the God of Israel, and now we cannot harm them.

²⁰This is what we will do to them: To avoid any wrath that may come on us because of the oath we swore to them, we will let them live.”

²¹The leaders said to their people, “Let them live.” So, the Gibeonites became cutters of wood and drawers of water for all the Israelites, just as the leaders said about them.

²²Joshua called for them and said, “Why did you deceive us when you said, 'We are very far from you', when you live right here among us?

²³Now, because of this, you are cursed and some of you will always be slaves, those who cut wood and draw water for the house of my God.”

²⁴They answered Joshua and said, “Because it was told to your servants that Yahweh your God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land before you—so we were very afraid for our lives because of you. That is why we did this thing.

²⁵Now, look, you hold us in your power. Whatever seems good and right for you to do to us, do it.”

²⁶So Joshua did this for them: He delivered them out of the control of the people of Israel, so that the Israelites did not kill them.