When all the men had been circumcised, they stayed there in the camp until they had healed.

Joshua made a peace treaty with them and agreed to let them live. The leaders of the community sealed it with an oath.

that you will spare the lives of my father, mother, brothers, sisters, and all who belong to them, and rescue us from death.”

We must let them live so we can escape the curse attached to the oath we swore to them.”

The leaders then added, “Let them live.” So they became woodcutters and water carriers for the whole community, as the leaders had decided.

The city and all that is in it must be set apart for the Lord, except for Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house, because she hid the spies we sent.

Yet Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, her father’s family, and all who belonged to her. She lives in Israel to this very day because she hid the messengers Joshua sent to spy on Jericho.

So now, look, the Lord has preserved my life, just as he promised, these past forty-five years since the Lord spoke these words to Moses, during which Israel traveled through the wilderness. Now look, I am today eighty-five years old.