Joshua 9:21
Good News Translation
Let them live, but they will have to cut wood and carry water for us." This was what the leaders suggested.

New Revised Standard Version
The leaders said to them, “Let them live.” So they became hewers of wood and drawers of water for all the congregation, as the leaders had decided concerning them.

New American Bible
Thus the leaders said to them, “Let them live, and become hewers of wood and drawers of water for the entire community.” So the community did as the leaders advised them.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But so let them live, as to serve the whole multitude in hewing wood, and bringing in water. As they were speaking these things,

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

But so let them live, as to serve the whole multitude in hewing wood, and bringing in water. As they were speaking these things,

let them

Joshua 9:23,27 Therefore you shall be under a curse, and your race shall always be hewers of wood, and carriers of water, into the house of my God. . . .

Deuteronomy 29:11 Your children and your wives, and the stranger that abideth with thee in the camp, besides the hewers of wood, and them that bring water:

2 Chronicles 2:17,18 And Solomon numbered all the proselytes in the land of Israel, after the numbering which David his father had made, and they were found a hundred and fifty-three thousand and six hundred. . . .

as the princes

Joshua 9:15 And Joshua made peace with them, and entering into a league, promised that they should not be slain: the princes also of the multitude swore to them.

Context
The Deceit of the Gibeonites
20But this we will do to them: Let their lives be saved, lest the wrath of the Lord be stirred up against us, if we should be forsworn: 21But so let them live, as to serve the whole multitude in hewing wood, and bringing in water. As they were speaking these things,22Josue called the Gabaonites and said to them: Why would you impose upon us, saying: We dwell far off from you, whereas you are in the midst of us? …
Cross References
Deuteronomy 29:11
Your children and your wives, and the stranger that abideth with thee in the camp, besides the hewers of wood, and them that bring water:

Joshua 9:20
But this we will do to them: Let their lives be saved, lest the wrath of the Lord be stirred up against us, if we should be forsworn:

Joshua 9:23
Therefore you shall be under a curse, and your race shall always be hewers of wood, and carriers of water, into the house of my God.

Joshua 9:27
And he gave orders in that day, that they should be in the service of all the people, and of the altar of the Lord, hewing wood, and carrying water, until this present time, in the place which the Lord hath chosen.

Jeremiah 46:22
Her voice shall sound like brass, for they shall hasten with an army, and with axes they shall come against her, as hewers of wood.

Joshua 9:20
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