19 Yet all the leaders said to the whole congregation, “We swore to them by the Lord God of Israel, so now we may not harm them.
20 This is what we will do to them. We will let them live so that wrath will not come upon us due to the oath that we swore to them.”
21 The leaders of the congregation also said to them, “Let them live!” So they became woodcutters and water carriers for the whole congregation, as the leaders told them.
22 Joshua met them and said, “Why did you trick us, saying, ‘We are very distant from you,’ but you are living in our midst?
23 Therefore now you are cursed, and you will always be slaves, cutting wood and carrying water for the house of my God.”
24 They answered Joshua, “It was told to your slaves that the Lord your God commanded Moses His servant to give you all the land and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land before you. So we were very afraid for our lives, and we did this thing.
25 Now here we are, in your hands. Do to us whatever is good and right in your eyes.”