They did work craftily, and went and made as if they were ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their donkeys, and wine skins, old, and torn, and mended;
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George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
Provisions. By the alteration of a single letter, Hebrew means, "they feigned themselves to be ambassadors. "But the Chaldean, Syriac, and Septuagint agree with the Vulgate. (Calmet)
The Gabaonites were Hevites, though they are called by the more general name of Amorrhites, 2 Kings xxi. 2. St. Jerome says that their city stood in the tribe of Benjamin; according to Josephus, 40 or 50 stadia north of Jerusalem. (Menochius)
They alone had the prudence to submit, (Calmet) being terrified and converted by the miracles of God. (Haydock)
Again. In the East, goat skins with the hair inwards, are used to carry wine.
