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?
23. “And now you are cursed, and you shall not cease from being slaves, and woodcutters and drawers of water for the House of my Elohim.”
24. And they answered Yehoshua and said, “Your servants were clearly told that יהוה your Elohim commanded His servant Mosheh to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you. So we were very much afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this deed.
25. “And now, see, we are in your hands. Do with us as it seems good and right to do to us.”
26. And he did so to them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Yisra’ĕl, and they did not kill them.
27. And that day Yehoshua made them woodcutters and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of יהוה, even to this day, at the place that He should choose.