Joshua 9:15-21 ▼

15 And Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them.

16 Three days after they had made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites learned that they were neighbors, living among them.

17 So the Israelites set out and on the third day arrived at their cities— Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim.

18 But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the congregation had sworn an oath to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. And the whole congregation grumbled against the leaders.

19 All the leaders answered, “We have sworn an oath to them by the LORD, the God of Israel, and now we cannot touch them.

20 This 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.”

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