Keraia
Joshua 8

Joshua 8:12

The Conquest of Ai · Joshua 8:1–29
Read Joshua 8

Translations

Modern
Now Joshua had taken about five thousand men and set up an ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city.
Traditional
And he took about five thousand men, and set them to lie in ambush between Beth–el and Ai, on the west side of the city.
Literal
And he took about five thousand men, and set them in ambush between Bethel and between Ai, on the west side of the city.
Latin
Quinque autem millia viros elegerat, et posuerat in insidiis inter Bethel et Hai ex occidentali parte ejusdem civitatis:

Original

Hebrew
English
Now Joshua had taken about five thousand men and set up an ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city.

Notes

Joshua 8:11–13

The main army marched in front of the town, showing that Joshua did not try to hide them from those defending Ai. The main army approached from the east and camped on Ai's north side by the end of the day. The men in ambush were west of Ai, between Ai and Bethel.

Joshua 8:1–13

The Israelites made the first attempt to conquer Ai without consulting God. The second attempt was at God's command and direction. Before this attempt, God spoke to Joshua and gave him a strategy. More importantly, after Israel's recent disaster, God offered encouragement and a promise.

Theme notes and profiles

Joshua

Events

Places

Ai: A Canaanite city conquered by Joshua after initial defeat Bethel: Important city in Israel, associated with Abraham and Jacob

Glossary

Ai Conquest and Allotment of the Land Joshua, Book of Judah, Tribe of Judges, Book of Tribe of Dan Warfare

Topics

Ambush: At Ai Armies: March in Ranks: Ambushes, at Ai Armies: March in Ranks: Decoy Sieges: Ai Strategy in War