Joshua 9:11-21

11Our leaders and all who live in our land told us, ‘Take provisions for your journey and go meet them. Tell them, “We are willing to be your subjects. Make a treaty with us.”’

12This bread of ours was warm when we packed it in our homes the day we started out to meet you, but now it is dry and hard.

13These wineskins we filled were brand new, but look how they have ripped. Our clothes and sandals have worn out because it has been a very long journey.”

14The men examined some of their provisions, but they failed to ask the Lord’s advice.

15Joshua made a peace treaty with them and agreed to let them live. The leaders of the community sealed it with an oath.

16Three days after they made the treaty with them, the Israelites found out they were from the local area and lived nearby.

17So the Israelites set out and on the third day arrived at their cities – Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim.

18The Israelites did not attack them because the leaders of the community had sworn an oath to them in the name of the Lord God of Israel. The whole community criticized the leaders,

19but all the leaders told the whole community, “We swore an oath to them in the name of the Lord God of Israel. So now we can’t hurt them!

20We must let them live so we can escape the curse attached to the oath we swore to them.”

21The leaders then added, “Let them live.” So they became woodcutters and water carriers for the whole community, as the leaders had decided.