The leaders continued, “Let them live.” So they became woodcutters and water carriers for the whole community, just as the leaders had said.
In context
19All the leaders said to the whole community, “We have sworn an oath to them by Yahweh, the God of Israel, and now we cannot touch them. 20This is what we will do to them: we will let them live, so that no wrath falls on us because of the oath we swore to them.” 21The leaders continued, “Let them live.” So they became woodcutters and water carriers for the whole community, just as the leaders had said. 22Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said to them, “Why did you deceive us, saying, ‘We live very far from you,’ when in fact you live among us? 23Now you are under a curse. You will never cease to be slaves — woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”
