"This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them…" — Joshua 9:20

Joshua 9:20 · KJV

“This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them.”

— Joshua 9:20

Verse 19

But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them.

Verse 21

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.

Joshua 9 — Context

And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes.

But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them.

This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them.

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.

And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, We {are} very far from you; when ye dwell among us?

Cross References

Malachi 3:5

And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in {his} wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger {from his right}, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts. {oppress: or, defraud}

Ezekiel 17:12-21

Say now to the rebellious house, Know ye not what these {things mean}? tell {them}, Behold, the king of Babylon is come to Jerusalem, and hath taken the king thereof, and the princes thereof, and led them with him to Babylon;

Proverbs 20:25

{It is} a snare to the man {who} devoureth {that which is} holy, and after vows to make enquiry.

1 Timothy 1:10

For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

2 Samuel 21:1-6

Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, {It is} for Saul, and for {his} bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites. {enquired...: Heb. sought the face, etc}

Zechariah 5:3-4

Then said he unto me, This {is} the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off {as} on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off {as} on that side according to it. {every one that stealeth...: or, every one of this people that stealeth holdeth himself guiltless, as it doth}

Romans 1:31

Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: {without natural...: or unsociable}

2 Chronicles 36:13

And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God: but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning unto the LORD God of Israel.