15 So Joshua amade 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 happened at the end of three days, after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors who dwelt near them.
17 Then the children of Israel journeyed and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities wereaGibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kirjath Jearim.
18 But the children of Israel did not1 attack them, abecause the rulers of the congregation had sworn to them by the Lord God of Israel. And all the congregation complained against the rulers.
19 Then all the rulers said to all the congregation, “We have sworn to them by the Lord God of Israel; now therefore, we may not touch them.
20 This we will do to them: We will let them live, lest awrath 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 awoodcutters and water carriers for all the congregation, as the rulers had bpromised them.”
22 Then Joshua called for them, and he spoke to them, saying, “Why have you deceived us, saying, a‘We are very far from you,’ when byou dwell near us?
23 Now therefore, you areacursed, and none of you shall be freed from being slaves—woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”
24 So they answered Joshua and said, “Because your servants were clearly told that the Lord your God acommanded His servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you; therefore bwe were very much afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this thing.
25 And now, here we are, ain your hands; do with us as it seems good and right to do to us.”
The children of Israel - came unto their cities - Probably when the fraud was discovered, Joshua sent out a detachment to examine their country, and to see what use could be made of it in the prosecution of their war with the Canaanites. Some of the cities mentioned here were afterwards in great repute among the Israelites: and God chose to make one of them, Kirjath-jearim, the residence of the ark of the covenant for twenty years, in the reigns of Saul and David. There is no evidence that the preservation of the Gibeonites was displeasing to Jehovah.
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