Keraia
Joshua 7

Joshua 7:5

The Defeat at Ai · Joshua 7:1–15
Read Joshua 7

Translations

Modern
And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of them, chasing them from the gate as far as the quarries and striking them down on the slopes. So the hearts of the people melted and became like water.
Traditional
And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.
Literal
And the men of Ai struck down from them about thirty and six men, and they chased them from the face of the gate as far as Shebarim, and they struck them down on the descent. And the hearts of the people melted and became water.
Latin
…percussi sunt a viris urbis Hai, et corruerunt ex eis triginta sex homines: persecutique sunt eos adversarii de porta usque ad Sabarim, et ceciderunt per prona fugientes: pertimuitque cor populi, et instar aquæ liquefactum est.

Original

Hebrew
English
And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of them, chasing them from the gate as far as the quarries and striking them down on the slopes. So the hearts of the people melted and became like water.

Notes

Joshua 7:5

  • Ai’s defenders left through the town gate and attacked Israel’s troops directly (see 8:5).

  • as far as the quarries: This is a place not known from other sources.

Joshua 7:1–26

After Jericho became part of Israel, Joshua's first military task was to secure a position in the hill country. Conquering Jericho boosted Israel's confidence and left the people of Canaan feeling discouraged and without hope. However, everything depended on Israel's obedience to God. The sin of one man and its consequences show the importance of the command to destroy Jericho (see “Complete Dedication” Theme Note).

Events

Places

Ai: A Canaanite city conquered by Joshua after initial defeat Shebarim: Place near Ai where Israelites fled

Glossary

Ai Bible, Quotations of the Old Testament in the New Testament Carmi Conquest and Allotment of the Land Curse, Cursed Joshua, Book of Judges, Book of Numbers and Numerology Shebarim Tribe of Dan Zerah Zimri (Person)

Topics

Cowardice in the Battle with the People of Ai Cowardice: General Scriptures Concerning Shebarim: A Place Near the Town of Ai Water: (Its Weakness) of Faintness and Cowardice