16Now three days after, when they had made this agreement with them, they had word that these men were their neighbours, living near them.
17And the children of Israel went forward on their journey, and on the third day came to their towns. Now their towns were Gibeon and Chephirah and Beeroth and Kiriath-jearim.
18And the children of Israel did not put them to death, because the chiefs of the people had taken an oath to them by the Lord, the God of Israel. And all the people made an outcry against the chiefs.
19But all the chiefs said to the people, We have taken an oath to them by the Lord, the God of Israel, and so we may not put our hands on them.
20This is what we will do to them: we will not put them to death, for fear that wrath may come on us because of our oath to them.
21Keep them living, and let them be servants, cutting wood and getting water for all the people. And all the people did as the chiefs had said to them.
22Then Joshua sent for them, and said to them, Why have you been false to us, saying, We are very far from you, when you are living among us?
