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they formed an alliance to fight against Joshua and Israel.[a]

When the residents of Gibeon heard what Joshua did to Jericho and Ai, they did something clever. They collected some provisions[b] and put worn-out sacks on their donkeys, along with worn-out wineskins that were ripped and patched.

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Footnotes

  1. Joshua 9:2 tn Heb “they gathered together to fight against Joshua and Israel [with] one mouth.”
  2. Joshua 9:4 tc Heb “and they went and [?].” The root and meaning of the verb form יִצְטַיָּרוּ (yitstayyaru) are uncertain. The Hebrew text form most likely should be יִצְטַיָּדוּ (yitstayyadu), read by some Hebrew mss and ancient versions, from the root צוּד (tsud, “take provisions,” BDB 845 s.v. II צוד) which also occurs in v. 11. Note NRSV “they went and prepared provisions”; cf. NEB “They went and disguised themselves”; NIV “they went as a delegation.”

they came together to wage war against Joshua and Israel.

However, when the people of Gibeon(A) heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,(B) they resorted to a ruse: They went as a delegation whose donkeys were loaded[a] with worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended.

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Footnotes

  1. Joshua 9:4 Most Hebrew manuscripts; some Hebrew manuscripts, Vulgate and Syriac (see also Septuagint) They prepared provisions and loaded their donkeys

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

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;

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