Study Desk

But the sons of Israel did not ^(F1)attack them because the leaders of the congregation had sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. And the whole congregation grumbled against the leaders.

But all the leaders said to the whole congregation, "We have sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel, and now we cannot touch them.

"This we will do to them, even let them live, so that wrath will not be on us because of the oath which we swore to them."

So the leaders said to them, "Let them live." And they became ^(C1)gatherers of firewood and ^(F1)labor to draw water for the whole congregation, just as the leaders had spoken to them.