Joshua 9:21
New International Version
They continued, “Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers in the service of the whole assembly.” So the leaders’ promise to them was kept.

New Living Translation
Let them live.” So they made them woodcutters and water carriers for the entire community, as the Israelite leaders directed.

English Standard Version
And the leaders said to them, “Let them live.” So they became cutters of wood and drawers of water for all the congregation, just as the leaders had said of them.

Berean Standard Bible
They continued, “Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for the whole congregation.” So the leaders kept their promise.

King James Bible
And the princes said unto them, Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had promised them.

New King James Version
And the rulers said to them, “Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for all the congregation, as the rulers had promised them.”

New American Standard Bible
So the leaders said to them, “Let them live.” And they became gatherers of firewood and labor to draw water for the whole congregation, just as the leaders had spoken to them.

NASB 1995
The leaders said to them, “Let them live.” So they became hewers of wood and drawers of water for the whole congregation, just as the leaders had spoken to them.

NASB 1977
And the leaders said to them, “Let them live.” So they became hewers of wood and drawers of water for the whole congregation, just as the leaders had spoken to them.

Legacy Standard Bible
So the leaders said to them, “Let them live.” Thus they became hewers of wood and drawers of water for the whole congregation, just as the leaders had spoken to them.

Amplified Bible
The leaders said to them, “Let them live [as our slaves].” So they became the cutters and gatherers of firewood and water carriers for the entire congregation, just as the leaders had said of them.

Christian Standard Bible
They also said, “Let them live.” So the Gibeonites became woodcutters and water carriers for the whole community, as the leaders had promised them.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They also said, “Let them live.” So the Gibeonites became woodcutters and water carriers for the whole community, as the leaders had promised them.

American Standard Version
And the princes said unto them, Let them live: so they became hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation, as the princes had spoken unto them.

English Revised Version
And the princes said unto them, Let them live: so they became hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had spoken unto them.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
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.

Good News Translation
Let them live, but they will have to cut wood and carry water for us." This was what the leaders suggested.

International Standard Version
The leaders told them, "Let them live." So they became wood cutters and water carriers for the entire congregation, which is what the leaders had decided concerning them.

Majority Standard Bible
They continued, ?Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for the whole congregation.? So the leaders kept their promise.

NET Bible
The leaders then added, "Let them live." So they became woodcutters and water carriers for the whole community, as the leaders had decided.

New Heart English Bible
And the leaders said to them, "Let them live." So they became wood cutters and drawers of water for all the congregation, and all the congregation did as the leaders had spoken to them.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the princes said to them, Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood, and drawers of water to all the congregation; as the princes had promised them.

World English Bible
The princes said to them, “Let them live.” So they became wood cutters and drawers of water for all the congregation, as the princes had spoken to them.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the princes say to them, “They live, and are hewers of wood and drawers of water for all the congregation, as the princes spoke to them.”

Young's Literal Translation
And the princes say unto them, 'They live, and are hewers of wood and drawers of water for all the company, as the princes spake to them.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And the chiefs will say to them, They shall live; and shall be cutting wood and drawing water to all the assembly as the chiefs spake to them.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But so let them live, as to serve the whole multitude in hewing wood, and bringing in water. As they were speaking these things,

Catholic Public Domain Version
But though they live, let them serve the entire multitude by cutting wood and carrying water.” And while they were discussing these things,

New American Bible
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.

New Revised Standard Version
The leaders said to them, “Let them live.” So they became hewers of wood and drawers of water for all the congregation, as the leaders had decided concerning them.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the princes said to the children of Israel, Let them live; but let them become gatherers of wood and drawers of water to all the congregation; so they became gatherers of wood and drawers of water to all the congregation of the land; as the princes had promised them.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the Princes were saying to the children Israel: “They shall live and they shall be gathering wood and filling water for all of the assembly.” And they were gatherers of wood and drawers of water for all of the congregation, just as the Princes said to them
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the princes said concerning them: 'Let them live'; so they became hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation, as the princes had spoken concerning them.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
They shall live, and shall be hewers of wood and drawers of water to all the congregation, as the princes said to them.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Deceit of the Gibeonites
20This is how we will treat them: We will let them live, so that no wrath will fall on us because of the oath we swore to them.” 21They continued, “Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for the whole congregation.” So the leaders kept their promise. 22Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, “Why did you deceive us by telling us you live far away from us, when in fact you live among us?…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 29:11
your children and wives, and the foreigners in your camps who cut your wood and draw your water—

1 Kings 9:21
their descendants who remained in the land, those whom the Israelites were unable to devote to destruction—Solomon conscripted these people to be forced laborers, as they are to this day.

2 Chronicles 8:7-8
As for all the people who remained of the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites (these people were not Israelites)— / their descendants who remained in the land, those whom the Israelites had not destroyed—Solomon conscripted these people to be forced laborers, as they are to this day.

Nehemiah 11:3
These are the heads of the provinces who settled in Jerusalem. (In the villages of Judah, however, each lived on his own property in their towns—the Israelites, priests, Levites, temple servants, and descendants of Solomon’s servants—

Genesis 9:25-27
he said, “Cursed be Canaan! A servant of servants shall he be to his brothers.” / He also declared: “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Shem! May Canaan be the servant of Shem. / May God expand the territory of Japheth; may he dwell in the tents of Shem, and may Canaan be his servant.”

Exodus 1:11
So the Egyptians appointed taskmasters over the Israelites to oppress them with forced labor. As a result, they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh.

Leviticus 25:39-46
If a countryman among you becomes destitute and sells himself to you, then you must not force him into slave labor. / Let him stay with you as a hired worker or temporary resident; he is to work for you until the Year of Jubilee. / Then he and his children are to be released, and he may return to his clan and to the property of his fathers. ...

1 Samuel 4:9
Take courage and be men, O Philistines! Otherwise, you will serve the Hebrews just as they served you. Now be men and fight!”

1 Kings 5:13-14
Then King Solomon conscripted a labor force of 30,000 men from all Israel. / He sent them to Lebanon in monthly shifts of 10,000 men, so that they would spend one month in Lebanon and two months at home. And Adoniram was in charge of the forced labor.

2 Chronicles 2:17-18
Solomon numbered all the foreign men in the land of Israel following the census his father David had conducted, and there were found to be 153,600 in all. / Solomon made 70,000 of them porters, 80,000 stonecutters in the mountains, and 3,600 supervisors.

Isaiah 14:1-2
For the LORD will have compassion on Jacob; once again He will choose Israel and settle them in their own land. The foreigner will join them and unite with the house of Jacob. / The nations will escort Israel and bring it to its homeland. Then the house of Israel will possess the nations as menservants and maidservants in the LORD’s land. They will make captives of their captors and rule over their oppressors.

Jeremiah 34:8-11
After King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem to proclaim liberty, the word came to Jeremiah from the LORD / that each man should free his Hebrew slaves, both male and female, and no one should hold his fellow Jew in bondage. / So all the officials and all the people who entered into this covenant agreed that they would free their menservants and maidservants and no longer hold them in bondage. They obeyed and released them, ...

Matthew 20:26-28
It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, / and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave— / just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

Mark 10:43-45
But it shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, / and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all. / For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

Luke 22:26-27
But you shall not be like them. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who leads like the one who serves. / For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines? But I am among you as one who serves.


Treasury of Scripture

And the princes said to them, Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water to all the congregation; as the princes had promised them.

let them

Joshua 9:23,27
Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God…

Deuteronomy 29:11
Your little ones, your wives, and thy stranger that is in thy camp, from the hewer of thy wood unto the drawer of thy water:

2 Chronicles 2:17,18
And Solomon numbered all the strangers that were in the land of Israel, after the numbering wherewith David his father had numbered them; and they were found an hundred and fifty thousand and three thousand and six hundred…

as the princes

Joshua 9:15
And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.

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Assembly Carriers Community Company Congregation Continued Cutters Cutting Drawers Entire Hewers Live Princes Promise Promised Servants Water Whole Wood Woodcutters
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Assembly Carriers Community Company Congregation Continued Cutters Cutting Drawers Entire Hewers Live Princes Promise Promised Servants Water Whole Wood Woodcutters
Joshua 9
1. The kings combine against Israel
3. The Gibeonites by craft obtain a league
22. They are condemned to perpetual bondage














They continued
This phrase indicates a continuation of a previous discussion or decision. In the context of Joshua 9, the Israelites are deliberating on how to deal with the Gibeonites, who had deceived them into making a peace treaty. The Hebrew root here suggests a persistence or determination in the decision-making process, reflecting the leaders' commitment to uphold their oath despite the deception.

Let them live
This decision reflects a merciful approach, despite the Gibeonites' deceit. The Hebrew word for "live" (חָיָה, chayah) implies not just survival but a continued existence within the community. This decision aligns with the broader biblical theme of mercy triumphing over judgment, as seen in James 2:13.

but let them be woodcutters and water carriers
This phrase outlines the specific roles assigned to the Gibeonites. Historically, these tasks were considered menial and servile, yet essential for the functioning of the community. The Hebrew context suggests a form of servitude, but not slavery, indicating a place within the community albeit with a lower status. This decision reflects a balance between justice and mercy, allowing the Gibeonites to live but also holding them accountable for their deception.

for the whole congregation
This phrase emphasizes the communal aspect of the decision. The Gibeonites' roles were to benefit the entire Israelite community, not just a select few. This reflects the biblical principle of communal responsibility and service, where every member has a role to play for the common good, as seen in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27.

So the leaders kept their promise
This final phrase underscores the importance of integrity and faithfulness to one's word. Despite the Gibeonites' deception, the leaders honored their covenant, reflecting the biblical value of keeping one's promises, as emphasized in Psalm 15:4. The Hebrew root for "kept" (שָׁמַר, shamar) implies careful guarding and observance, highlighting the leaders' commitment to uphold their oath before God and the people. This decision serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of integrity and faithfulness in leadership.

Verse 21. - Said unto them, i.e., to the Israelites. But let them be. Rather, and they were, with Rosenmuller and Keil. See Keil in loc. for the force of the Vau conversive. The LXX. and Vulgate render as our version. Hewers of wood and drawers of water. Some amount of casuistry has been displayed upon this passage. But the fairness of the proceeding seems clear enough. The Gibeonites had escaped death by a fraud. For that fraud they deserved punishment. Their lives were spared by virtue of a solemn oath. But equality of rights had never been promised them. They might think themselves well off if they escaped destruction, even though they might be condemned permanently to occupy a servile condition. They appear to have assisted at the tabernacle worship, since they were condemned to serve, not individual Israelites, but the congregation. Such was the office of the נְתִינִים (Nethinhim i.e., the given or devoted) in the later history of Judah (see 1 Chronicles 9:2; Ezra 2:43-54, 58, 70; and Ezra 8:20. See also Drusius and Masius in loc.). The latter discusses the question whether the Nethinim were really the Gibeonites, or whether David, as stated in Ezra 8:20, instituted a new order of persons to take their place. If the latter were the case, then we have a proof that the Book of Joshua was written anterior to the time of David. It seems quite possible that Saul (2 Samuel 21:6) had all but exterminated the Gibeonites, and that David was compelled to institute a new order in their stead. If this suggestion be correct, and it is far from improbable, we have here an undesigned coincidence strongly supporting the credit of the narrative, in the place of Knobel's insinuation, contained in the words, that "the Elohist in Saul's time gives no hint of this, although he took the greatest interest in the persons engaged in God's service." As the princes had promised them. These words as they stand are unintelligible. No such promise had been given. The literal rendering is "as the princes" (see note on ver. 15) "said to them," by the mouth of Joshua, as recorded in ver. 23. The Syriac Version supplies some words here to make up for a supposed deficiency in the text. But this is not necessary. The repetition in vers. 23 and 27 is quite in the manner of the historian. Nor are the words "as the princes said to them" explicable on the supposition that the words after, "let them live," are the words of the princes (see note above).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
They
הַנְּשִׂיאִ֖ים (han·nə·śî·’îm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5387: An exalted one, a king, sheik, a rising mist

continued,
וַיֹּאמְר֧וּ (way·yō·mə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Let them live,
יִֽחְי֑וּ (yiḥ·yū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 2421: To live, to revive

but let them be
וַ֠יִּֽהְיוּ (way·yih·yū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

woodcutters
חֹטְבֵ֨י (ḥō·ṭə·ḇê)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 2404: To cut or gather wood

and water
מַ֙יִם֙ (ma·yim)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen

carriers
וְשֹֽׁאֲבֵי־ (wə·šō·’ă·ḇê-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 7579: To bale up water

for the whole
לְכָל־ (lə·ḵāl)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

congregation.”
הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה (hā·‘ê·ḏāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5712: A stated assemblage

So
כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר (ka·’ă·šer)
Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

the leaders
הַנְּשִׂיאִֽים׃ (han·nə·śî·’îm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5387: An exalted one, a king, sheik, a rising mist

kept their promise.
דִּבְּר֥וּ (dib·bə·rū)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue


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OT History: Joshua 9:21 The princes said to them Let them (Josh. Jos)
Joshua 9:20
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