9:27a
On that day he made them woodcutters and water carriers: This indicates that Joshua carried out the decision of the leaders that was mentioned in 9:21. The Gibeonites will live among the Israelites and will cut firewood and draw water from the wells for them.
On that day: Here is another way to translate the words that day :
starting from that day
-or-
from that day on
9:27b
as they are to this day: The phrase as they are to this day indicates that when the book of Joshua was written, the Gibeonites were still slaves who cut wood and drew water.
9:27c
for the congregation of the LORD and for the altar: The phrase for the congregation of the LORD and for the altar indicates that the Gibeonites will supply wood and water for the Israelite community and for the special needs of the altar.
altar: The word altar is used in place of the phrase “house of my God” in 9:23b. Both the word altar and the phrase “house of my God” refer to the same place. This was the tent of worship where the priests burned sacrifices to Yahweh.
9:27d
at the place He would choose: This indicates that in the future Yahweh may choose a different place for the altar. The Gibeonites will continue to provide wood and water wherever it might be.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
wherever the Lord would choose to build it (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
wherever he chose it to be (New Century Version)
General Comment on 9:27c-d
It may be more natural in some languages to reorder 27b-d so that the phrase “at the place He would choose” is next to the phrase “for the altar.” For example:
27a But that day he made the Gibeonites the woodcutters and water carriers 27c for the community of Israel and for the altar of the Lord —27d wherever the Lord would choose to build it. 27b And that is what they do to this day. (New Living Translation (2004))
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