13. These wineskins were new when we filled them, and behold, they have burst. And these garments and sandals of ours are worn out from the very long journey.”
14. So the men took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel from the Lord.
15. And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore to them.
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 lived among them.
17. And the people of Israel set out and reached their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim.
18. But the people of Israel did not attack 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: let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath that we swore to them.”
21. And the leaders said to them, “Let them live.” So they became cutters of wood and drawers of water for all the congregation, just as the leaders had said of them.