Joshua 9:18-27

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.

22Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said to them, “Why did you trick us by saying, ‘We live far away from you,’ when you really live nearby?

23Now you are condemned to perpetual servitude as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”

24They said to Joshua, “It was carefully reported to your subjects how the Lord your God commanded Moses his servant to assign you the whole land and to destroy all who live in the land from before you. Because of you we were terrified we would lose our lives, so we did this thing.

25So now we are in your power. Do to us what you think is good and appropriate.

26Joshua did as they said; he kept the Israelites from killing them

27and that day made them woodcutters and water carriers for the community and for the altar of the Lord at the divinely chosen site. (They continue in that capacity to this very day.)