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Joshua 9:21

19 All the leaders answered, “We have sworn an oath to them by the LORD, the God of Israel, and now we cannot touch them.

20 This is how we will treat them: We will let them live, so that no wrath will fall on us because of the oath we swore to them.”

They continued, “Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for the whole congregation.” So the leaders kept their promise.

22 Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, “Why did you deceive us by telling us you live far away from us, when in fact you live among us?

23 Now therefore you are under a curse and will perpetually serve as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”

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Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
They continued, “Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for the whole congregation.” So the leaders kept their promise.
KJV
And the princes said unto them, Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had promised them.
WEB
The princes said to them, “Let them live.” So they became wood cutters and drawers of water for all the congregation, as the princes had spoken to them.
ASV
And the princes said unto them, Let them live: so they became hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation, as the princes had spoken unto them.
DARBY
And the princes said to them, Let them live. And they were hewers of wood and drawers of water for all the assembly; as the princes had said to them.
BLB
And the rulers said to them, “Let them live; and let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water for all the congregation,” which the rulers had spoken to them.
ÅB
Høvdingene sa altså til dem[^1]: De skal få leve. Så ble de vedhuggere og vannbærere for hele menigheten, slik som høvdingene hadde sagt til dem[^1].
OTB
De fortsatte: “La dem leve, men la dem være vedhuggere og vannbærere for hele forsamlingen.” Dermed ble ledernes løfte til dem opprettholdt.
B1930
Høvdingene sa altså til dem: De skal få leve. Så blev de vedhuggere og vannbærere for hele menigheten, således som høvdingene hadde sagt til dem. / < Israels menighet.>

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Deuteronomy 29:11

    your children and wives, and the foreigners in your camps who cut your wood and draw your water—

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  • Joshua 9:27

    On that day he made them woodcutters and water carriers, as they are to this day for the congregation of the LORD and for the altar at the place He would choose.

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  • Joshua 9:23

    Now therefore you are under a curse and will perpetually serve as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”

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  • Joshua 9:15

    And Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them.

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  • 2 Chronicles 2:17–18

    Solomon numbered all the foreign men in the land of Israel following the census his father David had conducted, and there were found to be 153,600 in all.

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