^9:4they did something clever. They collected some provisions⁷ and put worn-out sacks on their donkeys, along with worn-out wineskins that were ripped and patched.

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Footnotes

7 Heb “and they went and [?].” The root and meaning of the verb form יִצְטַיָּרוּ (yitstayyaru) are uncertain. The form is most likely a corruption of יִצְטַיָּדוּ (yitstayyadu), read by some Hebrew and ancient versions, from the root צוּד (tsud, “take provisions,” 845 II צוד) which also occurs in v. 11. Note “they went and prepared provisions”; cf. “They went and disguised themselves”; “they went as a delegation.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

they on their part acted with cunning and went and made ready provisions and took worn-out sacks for their donkeys, and wineskins, worn-out and torn and mended,

NIVNew International Version (2011)

they resorted to a ruse: They went as a delegation whose donkeys were loaded with worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

they acted deceptively. They gathered provisions and took worn-out sacks on their donkeys and old wineskins, cracked and mended.

NLTNew Living Translation

they resorted to deception to save themselves. They sent ambassadors to Joshua, loading their donkeys with weathered saddlebags and old, patched wineskins.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

and they acted on their part with cunning: they went and prepared provisions, and took worn-out sacks for their donkeys and old wineskins that were torn and mended.

KJV 1900King James Version

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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