17. The third day on the road, the Israelites came to their cities of Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim,
18. but did not attack them, because the leaders of the community had sworn to them by the Lord, the God of Israel. When the entire community grumbled against the leaders,
19. these all remonstrated with the community, “We have sworn to them by the Lord, the God of Israel, and so we cannot harm them.
20. Let us therefore let them live, and so deal with them that no wrath fall upon us because of the oath we have sworn to them.”
21. Thus the leaders said to them, “Let them live, and become hewers of wood and drawers of water for the entire community.” So the community did as the leaders advised them.
22. Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said to them, “Why did you deceive us and say, ‘We live far off from you’?—You live among us!
23. Now are you accursed: every one of you shall always be a slave, hewers of wood and drawers of water, for the house of my God.”
24. They answered Joshua, “Your servants were fully informed of how the Lord, your God, commanded Moses his servant that you be given the entire land and that all its inhabitants be destroyed before you. Since, therefore, at your advance, we were in great fear for our lives, we acted as we did.
25. And now that we are in your power, do with us what is good and right in your eyes.”
26. Joshua did what he had decided: while he saved them from being killed by the Israelites,
27. on that day he made them, as they still are, hewers of wood and drawers of water for the community and for the altar of the Lord, in the place the Lord would choose.