Joshua 9:13

KJV

And these bottles of wine, which we filled, [were] new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey.

KJV (with Strong's)

And these bottles {H4997} of wine {H3196}, which we filled {H4390}, were new {H2319}; and, behold, they be rent {H1234}: and these our garments {H8008} and our shoes {H5275} are become old {H1086} by reason of the very {H3966} long {H7230} journey {H1870}.

Complete Jewish Bible

And these wineskins were new when we filled them, but look, now they're torn. Likewise these clothes of ours and our shoes are worn out because of the very long journey."

Berean Standard Bible

These wineskins were new when we filled them, but look, they are cracked. And these clothes and sandals are worn out from our very long journey.”

American Standard Version

and these wine-skins, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they are rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Joshua 9:13 captures a pivotal moment in the Gibeonite deception, where the Gibeonites present their fabricated evidence of a long journey to deceive Joshua and the Israelite leaders. This verse specifically details their supposed worn-out wineskins, tattered garments, and old shoes, all meticulously prepared to create a false impression of having traveled from a distant land, thereby circumventing God's command for Israel to utterly destroy the inhabitants of Canaan. It underscores the cunning nature of their ploy and sets the stage for Israel's critical error in judgment.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Joshua 9:13 is embedded within the narrative of the Gibeonites' elaborate deception of Israel. It immediately follows the accounts of Israel's decisive victories over Jericho and Ai (Joshua 6-8), which had spread fear among the Canaanite nations. The Gibeonites, unlike other peoples who prepared for battle, chose a strategy of cunning. Verses 3-12 describe their preparations and initial approach to Joshua, presenting themselves as envoys from a very distant land. Verse 13 provides the specific "proof" they offered—their worn provisions and clothing—which was intended to corroborate their false narrative. The immediate consequence, detailed in [Joshua 9:14](/joshua/9-14 "Joshua 9:14 - Israel's Failure to Inquire of the Lord"), is Israel's failure to consult the Lord, leading them to make a binding covenant with the Gibeonites, a decision they would later regret and which had lasting implications for their history.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Following the miraculous crossing of the Jordan and the initial conquests, Israel was establishing its presence in Canaan. The Mosaic Law, particularly as outlined in [Deuteronomy 20](/deuteronomy/20 "Deuteronomy 20 - Laws of Warfare"), distinguished between cities "very far off" (with whom treaties could be made, [Deuteronomy 20:15](/deuteronomy/20-15 "Deuteronomy 20:15 - Law for Distant Cities")) and those "within the cities of these peoples" (who were to be utterly destroyed, [Deuteronomy 20:16-18](/deuteronomy/20-16 "Deuteronomy 20:16-18 - Law for Canaanite Cities")). The Gibeonites, a Hivite people (Joshua 9:7) living relatively close to Israel's encampment at Gilgal, cleverly exploited this distinction. In the ancient Near East, treaties and covenants were sacred and binding, often involving solemn oaths and divine witnesses. The Gibeonites understood this cultural norm and sought to secure their survival through a deceptive covenant rather than direct confrontation, a strategy born of desperation and fear of Israel's God.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully illustrates the theme of **deception and cunning**, as the Gibeonites meticulously crafted their appearance to mislead. It highlights the **danger of relying solely on outward appearances** and the critical importance of **discernment**. Joshua and the Israelite leaders were swayed by superficial evidence—the worn wineskins, garments, and shoes—and failed to look beyond the surface. This directly leads to the theme of **lack of discernment and the failure to seek divine counsel**, a central lesson of the entire Gibeonite episode. The subsequent verses reveal the profound **consequences of hasty decisions** made without consulting the Lord, resulting in a binding covenant that violated God's explicit commands regarding the inhabitants of Canaan, demonstrating that even well-intentioned but ill-informed actions can have long-term repercussions for God's people.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **bottles of wine (Hebrew, _nēḇel'_):** Refers to wineskins, typically made from animal hides (goat or sheep). New wineskins were supple and elastic, able to expand as new wine fermented. Old wineskins, however, became brittle and prone to bursting when filled with new, fermenting wine. The Gibeonites' claim that their "new" wineskins had "rent" (burst) due to the journey was a deliberate lie, designed to suggest extreme age and wear from prolonged travel, making their story seem plausible.
* **rent (Hebrew, _bāqaʿ'_):** Meaning "to cleave, burst forth, tear open." This verb emphasizes the violent tearing or splitting of the wineskins. The Gibeonites' use of this term was meant to convey the severe strain and deterioration caused by an incredibly long and arduous journey, further bolstering their deceptive narrative of having traveled from a distant land.
* **old (Hebrew, _bālâ'_):** Meaning "worn out, decayed, consumed." This adjective describes the condition of their garments and shoes. The Gibeonites presented clothing and footwear that appeared utterly dilapidated, consistent with the effects of an extensive journey. This visual evidence, combined with the "rent" wineskins, was intended to create an undeniable impression of their far-off origin, preying on the Israelites' visual assessment without deeper inquiry.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And these bottles of wine, which we filled, [were] new; and, behold, they be rent:"** This clause focuses on the wineskins, which were a crucial part of their "proof." The Gibeonites claimed these wineskins were *new* when they started their journey, implying that their current "rent" (burst/torn) state was solely due to the immense distance traveled. This was a calculated lie, as they likely used old, brittle wineskins from the outset to create the desired effect, or deliberately damaged new ones. The emphasis on "new" highlights the supposed wear and tear, making their story of a long journey more convincing.
* **"and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey."** This second clause extends the visual evidence of their supposed arduous travel to their clothing and footwear. Just as with the wineskins, the Gibeonites presented garments and shoes that appeared severely worn and dilapidated. The phrase "by reason of the very long journey" explicitly states the fabricated cause for their worn appearance, reinforcing their narrative of having come from a distant land. This comprehensive presentation of worn-out provisions and attire was designed to overwhelm any suspicion with seemingly irrefutable physical evidence.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device at play in Joshua 9:13 is **Irony**. The Gibeonites' appearance, meticulously crafted to convey truth (a long journey), is in fact a profound lie. Their "proof" is a calculated deception, making the very evidence they present ironic in its true nature. Furthermore, there is powerful **Symbolism** in the worn-out items. The "rent" wineskins and "old" garments and shoes symbolize not only the Gibeonites' feigned arduous journey but also, by extension, the brittle and decaying nature of their deceptive scheme, which would eventually unravel. The verse also employs **Foreshadowing**, subtly hinting at the Israelites' lack of discernment and the costly consequences of their failure to inquire of the Lord, which is explicitly stated in the subsequent verse. The detailed description of the worn items serves to build dramatic tension, as the reader is aware of the deception while the Israelite leaders remain oblivious.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Joshua 9:13 serves as a potent reminder of the pervasive nature of deception in a fallen world and the critical importance of spiritual discernment. The Gibeonites' cunning highlights that appearances can be profoundly misleading, and superficial evidence can easily sway those who do not seek deeper truth. Theologically, this event underscores God's expectation for His people to rely on His wisdom and guidance, not merely human reason or visible cues. Israel's failure to inquire of the Lord before making a covenant demonstrates a lapse in their trust and obedience, revealing the dangers of relying on one's own understanding. This narrative thus becomes a timeless lesson on the necessity of divine consultation in all significant decisions, especially when confronted with situations that seem straightforward but may conceal hidden motives or spiritual dangers.

* [Proverbs 3:5-6](/proverbs/3-5 "Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the Lord")
* [Matthew 9:17](/matthew/9-17 "Matthew 9:17 - New Wine in Old Wineskins")
* [2 Corinthians 11:14](/2_corinthians/11-14 "2 Corinthians 11:14 - Satan's Disguise")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The Gibeonite deception, encapsulated by the "evidence" in Joshua 9:13, offers profound lessons for contemporary believers. In a world saturated with information and often manipulated narratives, the call to discernment is more urgent than ever. We are constantly presented with "facts" and "proofs" that may be carefully constructed to mislead, whether in personal relationships, professional dealings, or even spiritual contexts. This passage compels us to look beyond the surface, to question initial impressions, and to resist the urge to make hasty judgments based solely on what is presented to our senses. The Israelites' critical error lay in their failure to consult God, a mistake we are prone to repeat when we rely on our own wisdom or the persuasive power of appearances. True wisdom comes from seeking the Lord's counsel through prayer, studying His Word, and listening to the Holy Spirit. Our decisions, especially those involving significant commitments or relationships, should be bathed in prayer and guided by divine wisdom, lest we enter into "covenants" that lead to regret or compromise our walk with God.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life am I most susceptible to being swayed by outward appearances or superficial evidence?**
* **How often do I genuinely "inquire of the Lord" before making significant decisions, or do I tend to rely on my own understanding?**
* **What practical steps can I take to cultivate greater spiritual discernment in my daily life?**
* **Can I identify past instances where a lack of discernment led to regrettable consequences, and what lessons did I learn from them?**

### FAQ
**What were "bottles of wine" in this context?**

Answer: In the ancient world, "bottles of wine" (as translated in KJV) referred to wineskins, which were typically made from the tanned hides of animals like goats or sheep. These skins were sealed and used for storing and transporting liquids, especially wine. New wineskins were supple and could expand with the fermentation of new wine, while old ones became brittle and prone to bursting. The Gibeonites' claim that their new wineskins had "rent" (burst) was part of their elaborate lie to prove a long journey.

**Why did the Gibeonites resort to such an elaborate deception?**

Answer: The Gibeonites resorted to deception out of fear for their lives. They had heard of Israel's miraculous victories at [Jericho](/joshua/6 "Joshua 6 - The Fall of Jericho") and [Ai](/joshua/8 "Joshua 8 - The Conquest of Ai"), and knew that Israel was commanded by God to utterly destroy the inhabitants of Canaan ([Deuteronomy 20:16-18](/deuteronomy/20-16 "Deuteronomy 20:16-18 - Law for Canaanite Cities")). Rather than fighting, they devised a cunning plan to secure a peace treaty by pretending to be from a very distant land, which would allow them to make a covenant with Israel according to Mosaic Law ([Deuteronomy 20:15](/deuteronomy/20-15 "Deuteronomy 20:15 - Law for Distant Cities")).

**What was Israel's critical mistake in dealing with the Gibeonites?**

Answer: Israel's critical mistake was their failure to inquire of the Lord before making a decision. [Joshua 9:14](/joshua/9-14 "Joshua 9:14 - Israel's Failure to Inquire of the Lord") explicitly states, "Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions; but they did not ask counsel from the mouth of the Lord." They relied on the Gibeonites' outward appearance and fabricated evidence rather than seeking divine guidance, leading them into a binding covenant that violated God's clear commands.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The Gibeonite deception, and Israel's subsequent failure of discernment, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the New Covenant. Just as the Gibeonites presented "new" wineskins that were "rent" and old garments to deceive, so too does the old covenant, in its inability to contain the fullness of God's redemptive plan, foreshadow the necessity of Christ. Jesus himself uses the imagery of "new wine in old wineskins" in [Matthew 9:17](/matthew/9-17 "Matthew 9:17 - New Wine in Old Wineskins"), [Mark 2:22](/mark/2-22 "Mark 2:22 - New Wine and Old Wineskins"), and [Luke 5:37-38](/luke/5-37 "Luke 5:37-38 - New Wine and Old Wineskins") to illustrate that His radical new teaching and the power of the Holy Spirit cannot be contained within the rigid, worn-out structures of legalism and human tradition. The Gibeonites' lie exposed Israel's lack of spiritual insight; similarly, the world often presents deceptive appearances, but Christ, as the "way, the truth, and the life" ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life")), empowers believers with the Holy Spirit to discern truth from falsehood ([1 John 4:1](/1_john/4-1 "1 John 4:1 - Test the Spirits")). Through Him, we are given new hearts and minds, capable of seeing beyond superficiality and walking in the Spirit, rather than being led astray by the cunning deceptions of the enemy, who himself "disguises himself as an angel of light" ([2 Corinthians 11:14](/2_corinthians/11-14 "2 Corinthians 11:14 - Satan's Disguise")). Christ is our ultimate wisdom and discernment, preventing us from entering into covenants with the world that contradict God's will.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.