11. “So our elders and all the inhabitants of our land spoke to us, saying, ‘Take food with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say to them, “We are your servants, and now, make a covenant with us.” ’
12. “This bread of ours we took hot for our provision from our houses on the day that we left to come to you. But now, see, it is dry and it is crumby.
13. “And these wineskins which we filled were new, and see, they are torn. And these our garments and our sandals have become old because of the very long journey.”
14. And the men of Yisra’ĕl took some of their food, but they did not ask the mouth of יהוה.
15. And Yehoshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them to let them live, and the rulers of the congregation swore to them.
16. And it came to be at the end of three days, after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbours who dwelt near them.
17. And the children of Yisra’ĕl set out and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Giḇ‛on, and Kephirah, and Be’ĕroth, and Qiryath Ye‛arim.
18. But the children of Yisra’ĕl did not smite them, because the rulers of the congregation had sworn to them by יהוה Elohim of Yisra’ĕl. And all the congregation grumbled against the rulers.
19. But all the rulers said to all the congregation, “We have sworn to them by יהוה Elohim of Yisra’ĕl, and we are unable to touch them now.
20. “Let us do this to them: We shall keep them alive, lest wrath be upon us because of the oath which we swore to them.”
21. And the rulers said to them, “Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and drawers of water for all the congregation, as the rulers had promised them.”
22. Then Yehoshua called for them, and he spoke to them, saying, “Why have you deceived us, saying, ‘We are very far from you,’ yet you are dwelling in our midst?