King James Version
What Does Joshua 9:4 Mean?
“They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up;”
Context
2
That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord. accord: Heb. mouth
3
And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,
4
They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up;
5
And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy.
6
And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us.
Commentary
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers(4) **They did work wilily.**—Literally, *and they *also *dealt with subtilty. *The stratagem does not seem a very profound one, or one that would have been difficult to detect. But we may remember a fact of Israel’s experience which puts it in a somewhat different light. The Israelites themselves had come from a far country, but their raiment had not “waxed old upon them,” nor did “their feet swell,” these forty years. Of bread they had no need, when there was manna, and God gave them water for their thirst. Of worn garments and stale provisions they had no experience, and therefore, when the Gibeonites presented themselves in this extraordinary garb and guise, it is not unnatural that they were not detected by the eyes of Israel.
**They . . . made as if they had been ambassadors.**—The verb thus translated does not occur elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible. By the alteration of a letter, the Targum, LXX., and some other versions make it mean, “they gat them provision.”
Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.
Historical Context
This verse is found in the book of Joshua. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.
Theological Significance
Joshua 9:4 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.
Cross-References
Verses related to Joshua 9:4
Cross-references from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge