Joshua 9:12

Verse

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.

American Standard Version (1901)

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:

Bible in Basic English

This bread which we have with us for our food, we took warm and new from our houses when starting on our journey to you; but now see, it has become dry and broken up.

Free Bible Version

Look at this bread. It was warm when we took it from our houses on the day we set out to come here. But now it's dry and moldy, as you can see.

Geneva Bible 1599

This our bread we tooke it hote with vs for vittailes out of our houses, the day we departed to come vnto you: but nowe beholde, it is dried, and it is mouled.

King James (Authorized) Version

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:

Translation for Translators

Look at our bread. It was fresh and warm from having been baked on the day that we left our area, but now it is dry and moldy.

Unlocked Literal Bible

This is our bread, it was still warm when we took it from our houses on the day we set out to come to you. But now, see, it is dry and moldy.

Noah Webster Bible

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

World English Bible

This our bread we took hot for our supplies out of our houses on the day we went out to go to you; but now, behold, it is dry, and has become moldy.

Young's Literal Translation

this our bread — hot we provided ourselves with it out of our houses, on the day of our coming out to go unto you, and now, lo, it is dry, and hath been crumbs;

Context

The Deceit of the Gibeonites

¹¹So the elders and inhabitants of our land told us, ‘Take provisions for your journey; go to meet them and say to them: We are your servants. Please make a treaty with us.’¹²This 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.¹³These 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.”

Summary

In Joshua 9:12, the Israelites encounter the Gibeonites who deceive them by pretending to be from a distant land seeking a treaty. Despite the Israelites' failure to seek God's guidance through prayer and consultation of the Ark of the Covenant, they hastily make a covenant with the Gibeonites. This verse serves as a cautionary tale, warning against making decisions based on appearances and worldly wisdom without seeking God's direction. It underscores the importance of seeking God's wisdom and discernment in all matters to avoid being misled or deceived.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses,.... These are not the words of the elders to the messengers they sent, continued, but of the ambassadors to the Israelites, pointing to the bread they brought with them, which they pretended was newly baked and took hot out of the oven: on the day we came forth to go unto you, but now, behold, it is dry, and it is mouldy: See Gill on Jos 9:5; which they gave as a demonstration and proof that they were come from a far country, as they had asserted.