^{18 Ref} And the children of Israel did not put them to death, because the chiefs of the people had taken an oath to them by the Lord, the God of Israel. And all the people made an outcry against the chiefs.

^{19 Ref} But all the chiefs said to the people, We have taken an oath to them by the Lord, the God of Israel, and so we may not put our hands on them.

^{20 Ref} This is what we will do to them: we will not put them to death, for fear that wrath may come on us because of our oath to them.