Joshua 9:16-18

Contemporary English Version

^16-17A couple of days later,^[a] the Israelites found out that these people actually lived in the nearby towns of Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-Jearim.^[b] So the Israelites left the place where they had camped and arrived at the four towns two days later.^[c] ¹⁸But they did not attack the towns, because the Israelite leaders had sworn in the name of the Lord that they would let these people live.

The Israelites complained about their leaders' decision not to attack,

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Footnotes

9.16,17 A couple … later: The Hebrew text has “At the end of three days,” meaning two days after the day the treaty was made.
9.16,17 Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-Jearim: These towns were 30 to 50 kilometers west of the Israelite camp at Gilgal.
9.16,17 A couple of days … later: Or “A couple of days later, the Israelites moved their camp to the area near the towns of Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-Jearim. When they arrived, they realized that they had made a peace treaty with the people of these nearby towns!”

Joshua 9:16-18

New International Version

¹⁶Three days after they made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites heard that they were neighbors, living near^(A) them. ¹⁷So the Israelites set out and on the third day came to their cities: Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth^(B) and Kiriath Jearim.^(C) ¹⁸But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath^(D) to them by the Lord, the God of Israel.