And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose.
And Joshua made them on that day wood cutters and water carriers for the community and for the LORD's altar, continuing to this day, in the place which he would choose.
Joshua assigned the Gibeonites to serve the Israelite community and God's altar by doing manual labor, a arrangement that continued for generations.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Joshua, the Israelites were conquering the Promised Land under God's direction, as part of His plan to fulfill the covenant with Abraham. The Gibeonites, a nearby Canaanite group, tricked Joshua and the Israelite leaders into a peace treaty by pretending to come from a distant land, fearing destruction from the advancing army. As a consequence, Joshua assigned them the role of providing wood and water for the community and the altar, turning them into permanent servants.
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