The soldiers decided to kill the prisoners to keep them from swimming to shore and escaping.
And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.
It was the counsel of the soldiers to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim to land and escape;
And the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.
Then the soldiers were in agreement that they should kill the prisoners, lest anyone, after escaping by swimming, might flee.