EJ2000(i)
15 ¶ And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live; also the princes of the congregation swore unto them.
16 At the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, they heard how they were their neighbours and that they dwelt among them.
17 And the sons of Israel journeyed and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon and Chephirah and Beeroth and Kirjathjearim.
18 And the sons of Israel did not smite them because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes.
19 But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel; therefore, now we may not touch them.
20 This we will do to them; we will let them live lest wrath come upon us because of the oath which we swore unto them.
21 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 said unto them.
22 ¶ And Joshua called for them, and spoke unto them saying, Why have ye beguiled us, saying, We are very far from you, when ye dwell among us?
23 Now, therefore, ye are cursed, and ye shall always be slaves and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.
24 And they answered Joshua and said, Because it was certainly told thy slaves how the LORD thy God commanded his slave Moses that he was to give you the land and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you; therefore, we feared greatly of our lives because of you and have done this thing.
25 And now, behold, we are in thy hand; as it seems good and right unto thee to do unto us, do.
26 And so did he unto them; he delivered them out of the hand of the sons of Israel, so that they did not slay them.
27 And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD, in the place which he should choose; which they are even unto this day.