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.”