12. This our bread we took hot for our supplies out of our houses on the day we went out to go to you; but now, behold, it is dry, and has become mouldy.
13. These wine skins, which we filled, were new; and behold, they are torn. These our garments and our shoes have become old because of the very long journey.”
14. The men sampled their provisions, and didn’t ask counsel from the Lord’s mouth.
15. Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them, to let them live. The princes of the congregation swore to them.
16. At the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they lived amongst them.
17. The children of Israel travelled and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim.
18. The children of Israel didn’t strike them, because the princes of the congregation had sworn to them by the Lord, the God of Israel. All the congregation murmured against the princes.
19. But all the princes said to all the congregation, “We have sworn to them by the Lord, the God of Israel. Now therefore we may not touch them.
20. We will do this to them, and let them live; lest wrath be on us, because of the oath which we swore to them.”
21. The princes said to them, “Let them live.” So they became wood cutters and drawers of water for all the congregation, as the princes had spoken to them.
22. Joshua called for them, and he spoke to them, saying, “Why have you deceived us, saying, ‘We are very far from you,’ when you live amongst us?
23. Now therefore you are cursed, and some of you will never fail to be slaves, both wood cutters and drawers of water for the house of my God.”
24. They answered Joshua, and said, “Because your servants were certainly told how the Lord your God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you. Therefore we were very afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this thing.