And when Rather, but when; the inhabitants of Gibeon A great and royal city of the Hivites. They made as if they had been ambassadors Sent from a far country. Wine-bottles, old and rent, and bound up This seems scarce sense to us; but will appear clear enough when we recollect that glass bottles were not then known, but that bottles made of leather or skins were then used; and the Gibeonites, to make show of being come from a far country, brought with them such as were torn and rent, and bound about with strings or cords to keep them together.
Related Commentaries of Joshua 9:3
Joshua 9:3-4
3 And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,
4 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;