16. But three days after the treaty was made, the Israelites heard that these people were their neighbors and lived with them.
17. The Israelites broke camp. They came to the cities of Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim two days later.
18. The Israelites didn’t destroy these other people, because the leaders of the congregation had sworn an oath about them to the Lord God of Israel. The whole congregation complained about the leaders.
19. But all the leaders said to them, “We have sworn an oath about them to the Lord God of Israel, so we cannot touch them now.
20. We must let them live to avoid ⌊the Lord’s⌋ anger because of the oath we swore.”
21. The leaders said that they should be allowed to live. So they became woodcutters and water carriers for the whole congregation, as the leaders had said.
22. Joshua sent for the people of Gibeon and asked, “Why did you deceive us by saying, ‘We live very far away from you,’ when you live here with us?
23. You are under a curse now. You will always be servants. You will be woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”
24. They answered Joshua, “We were told that the Lord your God commanded his servant Moses to give you the whole land and destroy all who live there. We deceived you because we feared for our lives.
25. Now we’re at your mercy. Do to us what you think is good and right.”
26. So Joshua rescued them and did not let the people of Israel kill them.
27. But that day Joshua made them woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation. They served the Lord’s altar, wherever he chose to put it. They still serve today.