The leaderssaidto them, "Let them live."So they becamehewersof woodand drawersof waterfor the wholecongregation,justas the leadershad spokento them.
"Its soundmovesalong like a serpent;For they moveon like an armyAnd cometo her as woodcutterswith axes.
"You standtoday,allof you, beforethe LORDyour God:your chiefs,your tribes,your eldersand your officers,[even] allthe menof Israel,
your littleones,your wives,and the alienwhois withinyour camps,from the one who chopsyour woodto the one who drawsyour water,
Now it cameabout when Adoni-zedekkingof Jerusalemheardthat Joshuahad capturedAi,and had utterlydestroyedit (justas he had doneto Jerichoand its king,sohe had doneto Aiand its king),and that the inhabitantsof Gibeonhad madepeacewith Israeland were withintheir land,
Joshuamadepeacewith them and madea covenantwith them, to let them live;and the leadersof the congregationswore[an oath] to them.
"Thiswe will doto them, even let them live,sothat wrathwill not be upon us for the oathwhichwe sworeto them."
"Nowtherefore, you are cursed,and you shall neverceasebeing slaves,both hewersof woodand drawersof waterfor the houseof my God."
But Joshuamadethem that dayhewersof woodand drawersof waterfor the congregationand for the altarof the LORD,to thisday,in the placewhichHe would choose.
