Joshua 9:5

KJV

And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry [and] mouldy.

KJV (with Strong's)

And old {H1087} shoes {H5275} and clouted {H2921} upon their feet {H7272}, and old {H1087} garments {H8008} upon them; and all the bread {H3899} of their provision {H6718} was dry {H3001} and mouldy {H5350}.

Complete Jewish Bible

They put old, patched sandals on their feet and dressed in worn-out clothes; and took as provisions nothing but dried-up bread that was crumbling to pieces.

Berean Standard Bible

They put worn, patched sandals on their feet and threadbare clothing on their bodies, and their whole supply of bread was dry and moldy.

American Standard Version

and old and patched shoes upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and was become mouldy.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Joshua 9:5 meticulously details the elaborate disguise adopted by the Gibeonites, who sought to deceive the Israelites into a peace treaty. This verse, a crucial piece of the narrative, describes their feigned appearance of having traveled from a distant land, showcasing their worn-out footwear, tattered clothing, and stale, moldy provisions—all carefully orchestrated elements designed to convey extreme age and arduous travel, thereby masking their true identity and proximity to Israel.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Joshua 9:5 is embedded within the unfolding narrative of Israel's conquest of Canaan, immediately following the decisive victories at [Jericho](/joshua/6 "Joshua 6 - The Fall of Jericho") and [Ai](/joshua/8 "Joshua 8 - The Conquest of Ai"). The fame of Israel and the terror of their God had spread, prompting the inhabitants of Canaan to either unite against them or seek individual survival. The Gibeonites, unlike other Canaanite peoples who prepared for war, chose a path of cunning deception. This verse specifically describes the visual evidence of their ruse, setting the stage for the Israelites' examination of these very provisions in [Joshua 9:14](/joshua/9-14 "Joshua 9:14 - Israelites Examine Provisions"), which critically precedes their ill-advised covenant. The detailed description here underscores the Gibeonites' meticulous planning and the Israelites' subsequent failure in discernment.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** At this period, Israel was operating under explicit divine command to utterly destroy the inhabitants of Canaan and make no covenant with them, as outlined in [Deuteronomy 7:1-2](/deuteronomy/7-1 "Deuteronomy 7:1-2 - God's Command to Destroy Canaanites"). This was to prevent the Israelites from being corrupted by pagan idolatry and practices. The Gibeonites, a powerful Hivite city (cf. [Joshua 9:7](/joshua/9-7 "Joshua 9:7 - Gibeonites Identified as Hivites")), understood the gravity of Israel's mission and their own impending doom. Treaty-making was a common practice in the ancient Near East, often involving elaborate protocols and oaths. The Gibeonites exploited this by presenting themselves as ambassadors from a far-off land, a status that would typically warrant a peace treaty rather than destruction. Their disguise, therefore, was not merely cosmetic but a carefully constructed performance designed to appeal to the Israelites' sense of protocol and their understanding of international relations, effectively bypassing the divine command regarding local inhabitants.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Joshua and the broader Old Testament. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **deception and guile**, showcasing the Gibeonites' meticulous effort to secure their survival through cunning rather than direct confrontation. Their elaborate disguise underscores the lengths to which people will go to preserve themselves, even if it means resorting to falsehood. Secondly, the verse emphasizes the stark contrast between **appearance and reality**. The "old shoes and clouted," "old garments," and "dry and mouldy bread" were all props in a theatrical performance, designed to convey a false narrative of a long journey and distant origin. This serves as a cautionary tale, setting up the Israelites' failure to see beyond the superficial. Finally, Joshua 9:5 foreshadows the **consequences of hasty judgment and a lack of discernment**. The detailed description of the Gibeonites' provisions prepares the reader for the Israelites' critical error in failing to inquire of the Lord before making a covenant, as explicitly stated in [Joshua 9:14](/joshua/9-14 "Joshua 9:14 - Israel's Failure to Inquire of the Lord"), leading to a binding, albeit unintended, agreement that would have lasting repercussions.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Clouted (Hebrew, _ūməṭullāʾîm'_):** This term derives from a root meaning "to patch" or "to mend." It indicates that the shoes were not merely old and worn, but had been deliberately mended and patched up multiple times. This detail is crucial for the Gibeonites' deception, as it suggests extensive wear and tear from a very long journey, making their story of distant origin more believable. It implies intentional effort to create an appearance of extreme age and arduous travel.
* **Mouldy (Hebrew, _niqquḏîm'_):** While the KJV translates this as "mouldy," the Hebrew term literally means "spotted" or "marked with decay." When applied to bread, it vividly conveys a state of being spoiled, dried out, and possibly discolored from age and exposure. This condition of the bread was a key piece of "evidence" for the Gibeonites, as fresh bread would immediately betray their proximity. Its decayed state was a calculated element to reinforce their narrative of a long, provisions-exhausting journey.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And old shoes and clouted upon their feet":** This clause immediately establishes the visual deception. The Gibeonites carefully selected or prepared their footwear to appear ancient and heavily worn. The "clouted" (patched) aspect specifically highlights the deliberate effort to make them look as if they had endured countless miles, reinforcing the narrative of a journey from a distant land. This detail was intended to evoke sympathy and validate their claim of arduous travel.
* **"and old garments upon them":** Complementing the footwear, their clothing was also chosen to convey extreme age and wear. "Old garments" would suggest prolonged exposure to the elements and the passage of much time on the road. This element of their disguise aimed to create a consistent visual narrative of a group that had been traveling for an extended period, further supporting their fabricated story of coming from a far-off country.
* **"and all the bread of their provision was dry [and] mouldy":** The condition of their food was perhaps the most convincing piece of their "evidence." Bread, being perishable, would quickly spoil on a long journey. By presenting bread that was "dry" (stale, hard) and "mouldy" (decayed, spotted), the Gibeonites offered tangible proof that their provisions had been carried for an exceedingly long time. This detail was designed to be undeniable, serving as the clinching argument for their claim of distant origin and the urgency of their request for a treaty.

#### Literary Devices
Joshua 9:5 is rich in **Descriptive Language**, painting a vivid picture of the Gibeonites' disguise. The specific details—"old shoes and clouted," "old garments," "dry and mouldy bread"—are carefully chosen to evoke a sense of extreme age and arduous travel, making the deception plausible. This detailed imagery also serves as a form of **Foreshadowing**, subtly preparing the reader for the Israelites' eventual error in judgment. The very precision of the Gibeonites' props highlights the **Irony** of the situation: the Israelites, who had witnessed miraculous divine intervention and received clear commands, would be fooled by such earthly, tangible evidence. The entire scene is an elaborate **Performance**, where the Gibeonites are actors and their worn items are carefully selected **Props**, all designed to manipulate perception and secure their survival.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Joshua 9:5 stands as a powerful testament to the pervasive nature of deception and the critical need for spiritual discernment. The Gibeonites' elaborate ruse underscores humanity's propensity to rely on cunning and outward appearances rather than truth and divine guidance. This narrative serves as a timeless warning against superficial judgments, reminding believers that not everything is as it seems, and that true wisdom requires looking beyond the visible to seek God's counsel. The Israelites' failure to inquire of the Lord before making a covenant, despite the clear evidence of the Gibeonites' "long journey," highlights a profound spiritual lapse. This incident underscores the principle that even when circumstances appear clear or urgent, the ultimate source of truth and direction must always be God's Word and His Spirit, not human logic or persuasive presentations.

* [Deuteronomy 7:1-2](/deuteronomy/7-1 "God's Command to Destroy Canaanites")
* [Joshua 9:14-15](/joshua/9-14 "The Israelites' Hasty Covenant")
* [Proverbs 3:5-6](/proverbs/3-5 "Trust in the Lord")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The detailed description in Joshua 9:5 offers profound lessons for believers today, primarily emphasizing the critical importance of discernment in a world often characterized by superficiality and deception. We are constantly bombarded with information, claims, and appearances that may not reflect reality. This passage challenges us to cultivate a spiritual sensitivity that allows us to look beyond the immediate and the obvious, to question narratives, and to seek the underlying truth. Just as the Israelites were swayed by the Gibeonites' convincing disguise, we too can be misled by persuasive arguments, appealing images, or seemingly urgent circumstances if we do not anchor ourselves in God's wisdom. The ultimate lesson is the necessity of seeking God's counsel in all significant decisions, even when the path seems clear. Our reliance should not be on our own understanding or the convincing nature of external evidence, but on the unfailing guidance of the Holy Spirit and the unchanging truth of God's Word.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life am I most susceptible to being swayed by appearances rather than truth?**
* **What practices can I cultivate to enhance my spiritual discernment and ensure I am seeking God's guidance in all decisions?**
* **How does the Gibeonites' deception remind me of the subtle ways misinformation or falsehoods can operate in my own context?**
* **When faced with urgent decisions, how can I ensure I prioritize seeking God's will over immediate action?**

### FAQ

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

Answer: The Gibeonites resorted to elaborate deception because they were aware of Israel's overwhelming military victories against Jericho and Ai, and God's explicit command to Israel to utterly destroy all the inhabitants of Canaan (as seen in [Deuteronomy 7:1-2](/deuteronomy/7-1 "Deuteronomy 7:1-2 - God's Command to Destroy Canaanites")). Unlike other Canaanite peoples who prepared for war, the Gibeonites, being a powerful city-state themselves, chose a strategy of cunning to preserve their lives and their city. By pretending to be from a very distant land, they hoped to bypass the divine injunctions against covenant-making with local Canaanites and secure a peace treaty that would guarantee their survival. Their detailed disguise was an act of desperation and calculated cunning to exploit the Israelites' sense of protocol and prevent their own annihilation.

**What was the Israelites' key mistake in dealing with the Gibeonites?**

Answer: The Israelites' key mistake was their failure to inquire of the Lord before making a covenant with the Gibeonites. [Joshua 9:14](/joshua/9-14 "Joshua 9:14 - Israel's Failure to Inquire of the Lord") explicitly states, "And the men of Israel took of their provisions, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord." Despite the Gibeonites' elaborate disguise and seemingly convincing evidence, the Israelites relied solely on their own judgment and the outward appearance of things. They neglected to seek divine wisdom, which would have revealed the Gibeonites' true identity and prevented them from entering into a forbidden treaty. This oversight led to a binding oath that God honored, even though it was made under false pretenses, highlighting the serious consequences of neglecting to seek God's guidance.

**How does this story relate to God's command to destroy the Canaanites?**

Answer: This story directly relates to God's command to destroy the Canaanites by showing the consequences of human failure to fully obey that command. God had explicitly commanded Israel to make no covenant with the inhabitants of the land and to utterly destroy them to prevent the spread of idolatry and wickedness (e.g., [Exodus 23:32-33](/exodus/23-32 "Exodus 23:32-33 - No Covenant with Inhabitants")). The Gibeonites' deception circumvented this command. While the Israelites were bound by their oath, the Gibeonites were ultimately subjugated, becoming "hewers of wood and drawers of water" for the congregation and the altar of the Lord ([Joshua 9:27](/joshua/9-27 "Joshua 9:27 - Gibeonites Become Servants")). This outcome, while not total destruction, was a direct result of Israel's lack of discernment and their failure to consult God, demonstrating that even when human error leads to a deviation from the initial command, God's sovereignty can still work within the new circumstances to serve His broader purposes for Israel and His sanctuary.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The narrative of the Gibeonites' deception and Israel's subsequent error in Joshua 9:5 finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment in several ways. While the Gibeonites sought to secure their lives through cunning and a false appearance, Christ offers true life and peace through genuine truth and self-sacrifice. The Gibeonites' elaborate disguise highlights the world's pervasive deception, a stark contrast to Jesus, who is the [Way, the Truth, and the Life](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus is the Way, Truth, Life"). He came not with "old shoes and clouted" to feign a long journey, but as the eternal Son of God, truly journeying from heaven to earth to reconcile humanity to God. The Israelites' failure to discern the Gibeonites' true nature underscores humanity's spiritual blindness and inability to discern divine truth without God's Spirit. Christ, however, came to open the eyes of the blind ([John 9:39](/john/9-39 "John 9:39 - Jesus and the Blind Man")), enabling us to see beyond superficial appearances to the spiritual realities of God's kingdom. Furthermore, the covenant made with the Gibeonites, though initiated by deception, was upheld by God's faithfulness to an oath. This points forward to the new covenant established in Christ's blood, a covenant not based on human trickery or flawed judgment, but on God's unwavering grace and perfect sacrifice ([Luke 22:20](/luke/22-20 "Luke 22:20 - The New Covenant in Christ's Blood")). Unlike a covenant secured by human guile, the covenant in Christ is freely given, based on divine love, and offers eternal life to all who believe, fulfilling humanity's deepest need for true peace and security, not through deception, but through the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")).

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.