Joshua 9:12

This our bread we took hot [for] our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is mouldy:

This our bread {H3899} we took hot {H2525} for our provision {H6679} out of our houses {H1004} on the day {H3117} we came forth {H3318} to go {H3212} unto you; but now, behold, it is dry {H3001}, and it is mouldy {H5350}:

Here is the bread which we took for our provisions. It was still warm when we took it out of our homes the day we left to come to you. Now look at it! It's dry and turned to crumbs!

This bread of ours was warm when we packed it at home on the day we left to come to you. But take a look, it is now dry and moldy.

This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and is become mouldy:

Commentary

Joshua 9:12 KJV is a pivotal verse in the narrative of the Gibeonites' deception, highlighting the specific evidence they presented to convince Joshua and the leaders of Israel that they came from a very distant land. This verse captures the essence of their cunning strategy.

Context

Following their miraculous victories at Jericho and Ai, the Israelites under Joshua were a formidable force. The surrounding Canaanite nations were terrified. However, God had given strict instructions that Israel was not to make covenants or treaties with the inhabitants of the land they were to conquer, as outlined in passages like Deuteronomy 7:1-2. The Gibeonites, a Hivite people, devised a clever ruse to avoid destruction. They presented themselves as weary travelers from a far-off country, hoping to secure a peace treaty based on false pretenses.

Meaning of Joshua 9:12

This verse provides the tangible "proof" offered by the Gibeonites. They claimed that the bread they brought with them was fresh and hot when they began their journey, indicating they had just baked it before leaving their homes. The fact that it was now "dry, and it is mouldy" was meant to demonstrate the immense distance they had traveled and the long passage of time. This detail, along with their worn-out clothes, wineskins, and patched sandals (described in Joshua 9:4-5), painted a picture of hardship and a truly arduous journey. It was a calculated performance designed to evoke sympathy and lend credibility to their fabricated identity.

Key Themes

  • Deception and Cunning: The Gibeonites masterfully employed deceit to protect themselves from Israel's advancing army. Their story was meticulously crafted, using visual evidence to support their lie.
  • Lack of Discernment: The most significant theme here is the Israelites' failure to exercise spiritual discernment. Despite the Gibeonites' elaborate charade, the true error lay in the Israelite leaders' neglect to inquire of the Lord before making a decision.
  • Consequences of Hasty Decisions: This verse foreshadows the binding covenant that Israel would inadvertently make with the Gibeonites (Joshua 9:15). This covenant, though born of deception, was upheld due to the sacredness of an oath before God, leading to future implications for Israel (2 Samuel 21:1).

Linguistic Insight

The KJV phrase "hot [for] our provision" implies freshly baked bread intended for travel. The Hebrew word for "mouldy" (niqqลซแธim) suggests not merely stale but truly decayed or crumbly from age and exposure, reinforcing the Gibeonites' narrative of a very long and difficult journey.

Practical Application

Joshua 9:12 serves as a timeless reminder of the importance of seeking God's counsel in all decisions, especially when faced with seemingly convincing circumstances or appearances. What looks like clear evidence can sometimes be a carefully constructed deception. This narrative emphasizes that even well-intentioned leaders can be misled when they neglect to bring their plans and judgments before the Lord for divine guidance. It encourages believers to look beyond superficial appearances and to rely on spiritual discernment through prayer and God's Word.

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Cross-References

  • Joshua 9:4 (2 votes)

    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;

  • Joshua 9:5 (2 votes)

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