The Gibeonites approached Israel with worn-out sacks, old wineskins, and moldy provisions to appear as if they had come from far away Joshua 9:4–5. Israel made a covenant with them, and only later discovered they were neighbors living nearby Joshua 9:15–16.
After hearing what Joshua did at Jericho and Ai, the people of Gibeon choose a different response than open battle. They arrange a deception, dressing up as if they are travelers from far away, carrying worn-out supplies and spoiled food to make the story believable. This episode follows Israel’s early victories in the land, especially the fall of Jericho and the defeat of Ai, which have begun to shape how local towns respond to Israel (Joshua 6:20; Joshua 8:28).
Joshua 9:3–7 presents a shift from open warfare to diplomacy—and deception. The Gibeonites have heard what Joshua did at Jericho and Ai, and they respond strategically rather than militarily. The text is explicit that they use a “ruse,” staging the look of a long journey with worn-out gear and spoiled food.
A common mistake is to treat this as trivia. Names, places, numbers, and sequence details often carry memory, covenant identity, or narrative movement in the biblical story.
Start with Joshua 9:4-5, then read the surrounding section so the answer stays connected to the passage's flow.
4they also resorted to a ruse, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks on their donkeys, and wine-skins, old and torn and bound up,
5and old and patched shoes on their feet, and old garments on them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and was become moldy.