Berean Standard Bible
Joshua 8:17
17Not a man was left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel, leaving the city wide open while they pursued Israel.
Joshua 8:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And there was not a man left in Ai or Beth–el, that went not out after Israel: and they left the city open, and pursued after Israel.
- New International Version (NIV)Not a man remained in Ai or Bethel who did not go after Israel. They left the city open and went in pursuit of Israel.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Not a man was left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel. They left the city open and pursued Israel.
- New King James Version (NKJV)There was not a man left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel. So they left the city open and pursued Israel.
Context of Joshua 8:17
15Joshua and all Israel let themselves be beaten back before them, and they fled toward the wilderness. 16Then all the men of Ai were summoned to pursue them, and they followed Joshua and were drawn away from the city. Not a man was left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel, leaving the city wide open while they pursued Israel. 18Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Hold out your battle lance toward Ai, for into your hand I will deliver the city.” So Joshua held out his battle lance toward Ai, 19and as soon as he did so, the men in ambush rose quickly from their position. They rushed forward, entered the city, captured it, and immediately set it on fire.
Read all of Joshua 8Joshua 8:17 word by word
וְלֹֽא־נִשְׁאַ֣ר אִ֗ישׁ בָּעַי֙ וּבֵ֣ית אֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־יָצְא֖וּ אַחֲרֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיַּעַזְב֤וּ אֶת־הָעִיר֙ פְּתוּחָ֔ה וַֽיִּרְדְּפ֖וּ אַחֲרֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ פRead the interlinear
- Notלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
- a manאִישׁ'îysh · man: anyoneH376
- was leftשָׁאַרshâ'ar · to remainH7604
- in Aiעַי‛ay ‛ayâ' ‛ayâth · AiH5857
- or Bethelבֵּֽיתְ־אֵלbêyth-'êl · BethelH1008
- whoאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
- go outיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: comeH3318
- afterאַחַר'achar · afterH310
- Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- leavingעָזַב‛âzab · to leave: forsakeH5800
- ·אֵת'êth · [Obj.]H853
- the cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
- wide openפָּתַחpâthach · to openH6605
- while they pursuedרָדַףrâdaph · to pursueH7291
Cross-references for Joshua 8:17
- Joshua 8:3So Joshua and the whole army set out to attack Ai. Joshua chose 30,000 mighty men of valor and sent them out at night
- Joshua 11:20For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts to engage Israel in battle, so that they would be set apart for destruction and would receive no mercy, being annihilated as the LORD had commanded Moses.
- Deuteronomy 2:30But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass through, for the LORD your God had made his spirit stubborn and his heart obstinate, that He might deliver him into your hand, as is the case this day.
- Job 5:13He catches the wise in their craftiness, and sweeps away the plans of the cunning.
- Isaiah 19:11The princes of Zoan are mere fools; Pharaoh’s wise counselors give senseless advice. How can you say to Pharaoh, “I am one of the wise, a son of eastern kings”?
Commentaries on Joshua 8:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17There was not a man left in Ai or Beth-el - It is very likely that the principal strength of Beth-el had been previously brought into Ai, as the strongest place to make a stand in; Beth-el being but about three miles distant from Ai, and probably not greatly fortified. Therefore Ai contained on this occasion all the men of Beth-el - all the warriors of that city, as well as its own troops and inhabitants. Others think that the Beth-elites, seeing the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17Or Bethel - See the Joshua 8:1 note.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. 17Not a man was left in Ai or Bethel: Soldiers often gained from war by taking trophies from defeated enemies or receiving rewards from their king for each enemy killed. The warriors of Bethel likely joined those of Ai because they feared Israel's advance.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 15-1715-17. Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them--the pretended flight in the direction of the wilderness; that is, southeast, into the Ghor, the desert valley of the Jordan, decoyed all the inhabitants of Ai out of the city, while the people of Beth-el hastened to participate in the expected victory. It is supposed by some, from "the city," and not "cities," being spoken of, that the effective force of Beth-el had been concentrated in…Read the comment
Topics related to Joshua 8:17
In the dictionaries
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
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