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 oathh we swore to them.” 21 They continued, “Let them live,i but let them be woodcutters and water carriersj 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 wayk from you,’ while actually you live nearl us? 23 You are now under a curse:m You will never be released from service as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”

24 They answered Joshua, “Your servants were clearly toldn how the Lord your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you the whole land and to wipe out all its inhabitants from before you. So we feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we did this. 25 We are now in your hands.o Do to us whatever seems good and rightp to you.”

26 So Joshua saved them from the Israelites, and they did not kill them. 27 That day he made the Gibeonitesq woodcutters and water carriersr for the assembly, to provide for the needs of the altar of the Lord at the place the Lord would choose.s And that is what they are to this day.

The Sun Stands Still

10 Now Adoni-Zedekt king of Jerusalemu heard that Joshua had taken Aiv and totally destroyeda w it, doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king, and that the people of Gibeonx had made a treaty of peacey with Israel and had become their allies. 2 He and his people were very much alarmed at this, because Gibeon was an important city, like one of the royal cities; it was larger than Ai, and all its men were good fighters. 3 So Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem appealed to Hoham king of Hebron,z Piram king of Jarmuth,a Japhia king of Lachishb and Debirc king of Eglon.d 4 “Come up and help me attack Gibeon,” he said, “because it has made peacee with Joshua and the Israelites.”

5 Then the five kingsf of the Amoritesg—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon—joined forces. They moved up with all their troops and took up positions against Gibeon and attacked it.

6 The Gibeonites then sent word to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal:h “Do not abandon your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us! Help us, because all the Amorite kings from the hill country have joined forces against us.”

7 So Joshua marched up from Gilgal with his entire army,i including all the best fighting men.