Joshua 9:27

27. [ Joshua made them Rather, as the margin, gave them; that is, appointed them to the service named. Jewish tradition and most commentators agree that these Gibeonites, thus given to perform the menial service of the sanctuary, were the original caste or order who in later times were known as the Nethinim, that is, the given ones. See 1 Chronicles 9:2; Ezra 2:43; Ezra 8:20, notes.]

For the congregation, and for the altar They were never to be required to render personal service, nor to be employed for private purposes.

In the place which he should choose Here is strong incidental evidence that the sanctuary had not, at the time this history was written, been permanently established at Jerusalem.