³ However, when the people of Gibeon^(A) heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,^(B)

¹⁵ Three of the thirty chiefs came down to David to the rock at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley^(A) of Rephaim.

¹⁷ So the Israelites set out and on the third day came to their cities: Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth^(A) and Kiriath Jearim.^{(B) 18} But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath^(C) to them by the Lord, the God of Israel.

The whole assembly grumbled^(D) against the leaders, ¹⁹ but all the leaders answered, “We have given them our oath by the Lord, the God of Israel, and we cannot touch them now. ²⁰ This is what we will do to them: We will let them live, so that God’s wrath will not fall on us for breaking the oath^(E) we swore to them.” ²¹ They continued, “Let them live,^(F) but let them be woodcutters and water carriers^(G) in the service of the whole assembly.” So the leaders’ promise to them was kept.

²² Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, “Why did you deceive us by saying, ‘We live a long way^(H) from you,’ while actually you live near^(I) us? ²³ You are now under a curse:^(J) You will never be released from service as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”