This verse refers to the Gibeonites, a people who tricked the Israelites into making a covenant of peace with them. The Israelites, without consulting God, swore an oath to protect the Gibeonites. Later, they discovered they'd been deceived – the Gibeonites were Canaanites, people whom God had commanded the Israelites to drive out of the land.

Here's a breakdown of the meaning:

"We will do this to them, and let them live...": This refers to a decision the Israelite leaders made about how to deal with the Gibeonites. They decided not to kill them, even though they deserved it based on God's command to eliminate the Canaanites. Instead, they would make them servants (hewers of wood and drawers of water) for the sanctuary.

"...lest wrath be on us, because of the oath which we swore to them.": This is the crucial part. The Israelites feared divine retribution (God's wrath) if they broke the oath they had sworn in God's name. Oaths were considered sacred and binding, especially when made in God's name. Breaking an oath could bring severe consequences. The leaders recognized that breaking their oath, even to a people who had deceived them, would be a sin against God and could lead to punishment.

In summary, the verse reflects the Israelite leaders' decision to honor their oath to the Gibeonites, even though they had been tricked, because they feared the consequences of breaking a sacred oath sworn in God's name. This highlights the importance of keeping one's word, even in difficult circumstances, and demonstrates the weight oaths held in ancient Israelite society. The leaders prioritized their integrity (keeping their word) over their desire to eliminate the Canaanites as God had commanded. They believed God would be more displeased with them breaking a sworn oath than with them allowing the Gibeonites to live as servants.