Joshua 8:12

Joshua 8:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)Joshua had taken about five thousand men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city.
• English Standard Version (ESV)He took about 5,000 men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city.
• New King James Version (NKJV)So he took about five thousand men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city.

Context of Joshua 8:12

10Joshua got up early the next morning and mobilized his men, and he and the elders of Israel marched before them up to Ai. 11Then all the troops who were with him marched up and approached the city. They arrived in front of Ai and camped to the north of it, with the valley between them and the city. Now Joshua had taken about five thousand men and set up an ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city. 13So the forces were stationed with the main camp to the north of the city and the rear guard to the west of the city. And that night Joshua went into the valley. 14When the king of Ai saw the Israelites, he hurried out early in the morning with the men of the city to engage them in battle at an appointed place overlooking the Arabah. But he did not know that an ambush had been set up against him behind the city.

Joshua 8:12 word by word

וַיִּקַּ֕ח כַּחֲמֵ֥שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֖ים אִ֑ישׁ וַיָּ֨שֶׂם אוֹתָ֜ם אֹרֵ֗ב בֵּ֧ין בֵּֽית־אֵ֛ל וּבֵ֥ין הָעַ֖י מִיָּ֥ם לָעִֽיר׃Read the interlinear

• Now Joshua had takenלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
• about fiveחָמֵשׁchâmêsh chămishshâh · fiveH2568
• thousandאֶ֫לֶף'eleph · thousandH505
• menאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• and set upשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: makeH7760
• ·אֵת'êth · [Obj.]H853
• an ambushאָרַב'ârab · to ambushH693
• betweenבַּ֫יִןbêyn · betweenH996
• Bethelבֵּֽיתְ־אֵלbêyth-'êl · BethelH1008
• Aiעַי‛ay ‛ayâ' ‛ayâth · AiH5857
• to the westיָםyâm · sea: westH3220
• of the cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892

Cross-references for Joshua 8:12

• Joshua 8:2And you shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king, except that you may carry off their plunder and livestock for yourselves. Set up an ambush behind the city.”

Commentaries on Joshua 8:12

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12He took - Rather “had taken;” the words refer to the ambuscade which Joshua had detached during the previous night.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 3-22Verses 3-22 Observe Joshua's conduct and prudence. Those that would maintain their spiritual conflicts must not love their ease. Probably he went into the valley alone, to pray to God for a blessing, and he did not seek in vain. He never drew back till the work was done. Those that have stretched out their hands against their spiritual enemies, must never draw them back.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11-13The 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.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 11-1411-14. there was a valley between them and Ai--literally, "the valley."Read the comment

Topics related to Joshua 8:12

• Ambush
• Armies
• Strategy

In the dictionaries

• Ai
• Ambush
• Heap
• Raise
• Wait
• Egypt
• Exodus, the Book of
• Joshua, Book of
• Targum
• War

Commentaries on Joshua 8

• 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
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings