Joshua 9:16-27 - Gibeon's Deception Discovered
16 And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors, and that they dwelt among them. 17 And the sons of Israel journeyed, and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim. 18 And the sons of Israel did not smite them, because the rulers of the congregation had sworn to them by LORD, the God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the rulers.
19 But all the rulers said to all the congregation, We have sworn to them by LORD, the God of Israel, now therefore we may not touch them. 20 This we will do to them, and let them live, lest wrath be upon us because of the oath which we swore to them. 21 And the rulers said to them, Let them live. So they became hewers of wood and drawers of water to all the congregation, as the rulers had spoken to them.
22 And Joshua called for them, and he spoke to 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 there shall never fail to be bondmen of you, both 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 servants, how that LORD thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you. Therefore w 25 And now, behold, we are in thy hand. As it seems good and right to thee to do to us, do. 26 And so he did to them, and delivered them out of the hand of the sons of Israel, that they did not kill them. 27 And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of LORD to this day in the place which he should choose.