¹⁷ The Israelites went out and arrived at their cities three days later. Their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim. ¹⁸ But the Israelites did not kill them, for the leaders of the assembly had made an oath to them by the Lord, the God of Israel. Everyone in the assembly, however, grumbled against their leaders. ¹⁹ All of the leaders said to the assembly, “We have made an oath to them by the Lord, the God of Israel, so now we cannot touch them.