Joshua 7:3

Joshua 7:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few.
• New International Version (NIV)When they returned to Joshua, they said, “Not all the army will have to go up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary the whole army, for only a few people live there.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)And they returned to Joshua and said to him, "Do not have all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not make the whole people toil up there, for they are few."
• New King James Version (NKJV)And they returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not let all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not weary all the people there, for the people of Ai are few.”

Context of Joshua 7:3

1The Israelites, however, acted unfaithfully regarding the things devoted to destruction. Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of what was set apart. So the anger of the LORD burned against the Israelites. 2Meanwhile, Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven to the east of Bethel, and told them, “Go up and spy out the land.” So the men went up and spied out Ai. On returning to Joshua, they reported, “There is no need to send all the people; two or three thousand men are enough to go up and attack Ai. Since the people of Ai are so few, you need not wear out all our people there.” 4So about three thousand men went up, but they fled before the men of Ai. 5And 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.

Joshua 7:3 word by word

וַיָּשֻׁ֣בוּ אֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁ֗עַ וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ אֵלָיו֮ אַל־יַ֣עַל כָּל־הָעָם֒ כְּאַלְפַּ֣יִם אִ֗ישׁ א֚וֹ כִּשְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֣ים אִ֔ישׁ יַעֲל֖וּ וְיַכּ֣וּ אֶת־הָעָ֑י אַל־תְּיַגַּע־שָׁ֙מָּה֙ אֶת־כָּל־הָעָ֔ם כִּ֥י מְעַ֖ט הֵֽמָּה׃Read the interlinear

• On returningשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
• toאֶל'êl 'el · to(wards)H413
• Joshuaיְהוֹשׁוּעַyehôshûa‛ yehôshûa‛ · JoshuaH3091
• they reportedאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• There is no needאַל'al · notH408
• There is no needעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: riseH5927
• to send allכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
• the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• twoאֶ֫לֶף'eleph · thousandH505
• ·אִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• orאוֹ'ô 'av · orH176
• threeשָׁלֹשׁshâlôsh shâlôsh shelôshâh shelôshâh · threeH7969
• and attackנָכָהnâkâh · to smiteH5221
• ·אֵת'êth · [Obj.]H853
• Aiעַי‛ay ‛ayâ' ‛ayâth · AiH5857
• Sinceכִּיkîy · forH3588
• the people of Aiהֵ֫מָּהhêm hêmmâh · they(masc.)H1992
• are so fewמְעַטme‛aţ me‛âţ · littleH4592
• wear outיָגֵעַyâga‛ · be weary/toilH3021
• thereשָׁםshâm · thereH8033

Cross-references for Joshua 7:3

• Proverbs 13:4The slacker craves yet has nothing, but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied.
• Proverbs 21:25The craving of the slacker kills him because his hands refuse to work.
• Luke 13:24“Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.
• Hebrews 4:11Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience.
• Hebrews 6:11We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure.
• 2 Peter 1:5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge;

Commentaries on Joshua 7:3

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3The total population of Ai was about twelve thousand Joshua 8:25. It could therefore hardly muster three thousand warriors.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-4God’s gift of victory at Jericho seems to have led to complacency and overconfidence (a false sense of security). Joshua did not even ask God for guidance before he sent a small group of soldiers to Ai.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. Let not all the people go up, ... for they are but few--As the population of Ai amounted to twelve thousand (Jos 8:25), it was a considerable town; though in the hasty and distant reconnoitre made by the spies, it probably appeared small in comparison to Jericho; and this may have been the reason for their proposing so small a detachment to capture it.Read the comment

Topics related to Joshua 7:3

• Armies

In the dictionaries

• Ai
• Joshua
• Folly
• Hide
• Tell
• Wedge
• Achan
• Covetousness
• Exodus, the Book of
• Guilt

Commentaries on Joshua 7

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings