יהושע, פרק ט׳, פסוק ה׳

The Gibeonites created a false impression to trick the Israelites, staging an elaborate scene to make it appear as though they had just completed a long and exhausting journey. To achieve this, they wore worn-out clothing and carried food that looked exceptionally old and spoiled.

Their disguise included ruined footwear and long garments [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. These clothes were heavily patched, a condition that showed how severely they had aged. The fabrics had faded and changed color over time, leaving the garments with a speckled, multi-colored appearance [מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון].

In addition to their clothing, the food they brought was meant to show the immense length of their travel [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The bread they carried was in a particularly degraded state, though commentators differ on its exact condition. One view suggests that the bread had aged so much that it was completely covered in white, red, green, and black mold spots [מצודת דוד, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ, מצודת ציון]. Another perspective explains that the bread was simply so dry it had started to fall apart into fine crumbs [רלב״ג, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. A third approach connects the bread's condition to fire, describing it as hard, crispy, and thoroughly roasted, similar to the dry baked goods often eaten at feasts [רש״י, רד״ק].