The Gibeonite Servitude

Joshua 9:22-27

Y'hoshua summoned them and said this to them: "Why have you deceived us by saying, 'We come from a place very far away,' when in fact you are living right here with us?

Now you have a curse on you: you will be slaves forever, supplying people to chop wood and draw water for the house of my God."

They answered Y'hoshua, "It is because we heard the reports that ADONAI your God had ordered his servant Moshe to give you all the land and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from ahead of you. So we were terrified for our lives on account of you; that's why we did this.

Now, as you see, we are in your hands; do to us whatever seems good and right to you."

So Y'hoshua did exactly that: he saved them from the power of the people of Isra'el, so that they didn't kill them.

But he did that same day make them choppers of wood and drawers of water for the community and for the altar of ADONAI in the place which he would choose; and they remain so to this day.

The Gibeonite Servitude

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