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.”