Joshua 9:4

2 That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.

3 And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,

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.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
acted deceptively and set out as envoys, carrying on their donkeys worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended.
KJV
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;
WEB
they also resorted to a ruse, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks on their donkeys, and old, torn-up and bound up wineskins,
ASV
they also did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine-skins, old and rent and bound up,
DARBY
then they also acted with craft, and they went prepared as on a journey, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine-flasks, old and rent and tied up;
BLB
and they also worked craftily, and they went and acted as envoys, and they took old sacks on their donkeys, and wineskins [that were] old and torn and mended,
ÅB
da gikk de på sin side fram med list: De tok avsted og gav seg ut for sendebud; de la utslitte sekker på sine eseler og utslitte, sprukne og bøtede vinsekker;
OTB
handlet de med list og dro av sted med proviant, lastet sine esler med utslitte sekker og gamle vinssekker, sprukne og reparerte.
B1930
da gikk de på sin side frem med list: De tok avsted og gav sig ut for sendebud; de la utslitte sekker på sine asener og utslitte, sprukne og bøtede vinsekker;

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Matthew 10:16

    Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

    Read in context
  • Luke 5:37–38

    And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.

    Read in context
  • Luke 16:8

    And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

    Read in context
  • Mark 2:22

    And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.

    Read in context
  • 1 Kings 20:31–33

    And his servants said unto him, Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings: let us, I pray thee, put sackcloth on our loins, and ropes upon our heads, and go out to the king of Israel: peradventure he will save thy life.

    Read in context
  • Matthew 9:17

    Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 119:83

    For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes.

    Read in context
  • Genesis 34:13

    And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister:

    Read in context