Joshua 8:15

Joshua 8:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness.
• New International Version (NIV)Joshua and all Israel let themselves be driven back before them, and they fled toward the wilderness.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And Joshua and all Israel pretended to be beaten before them and fled in the direction of the wilderness.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness.

Context of Joshua 8:15

13The troops were stationed in this way: the main camp to the north of the city and its rear guard to the west of the city. And that night Joshua went into the valley. 14When the king of Ai saw the Israelites, the men of the city hurried and went out early in the morning so that he and all his people could engage Israel in battle at a suitable place facing the Arabah. But he did not know there was an ambush waiting for him behind the city. Joshua and all Israel pretended to be beaten back by them and fled toward the wilderness. 16Then all the troops of Ai were summoned to pursue them, and they pursued Joshua and were drawn away from the city. 17Not a man was left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel, leaving the city exposed while they pursued Israel.

Joshua 8:15 word by word

וַיִּנָּֽגְע֛וּ יְהוֹשֻׁ֥עַ וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לִפְנֵיהֶ֑ם וַיָּנֻ֖סוּ דֶּ֥רֶךְ הַמִּדְבָּֽר׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Joshuaיְהוֹשׁוּעַyehôshûa‛ yehôshûa‛ · JoshuaH3091
• and all Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• made as if they were beatenנָגַעnâga‛ · to touchH5060
• beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• them, and fledנוּסnûs · to fleeH5127
• by the wayדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: directionH1870
• of the wildernessמִדְבָּרmidbâr · wildernessH4057

Cross-references for Joshua 8:15

• Joshua 18:12Their border on the north side began at the Jordan, ascended to the slope of Jericho on the north, through the hill country westward, and ended at the wilderness around Beth-aven.

Commentaries on Joshua 8:15

• 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. 15Joshua and the Israelite army ran away like they did in the first attack (7:4–5).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 8:15

• Ambush
• Armies
• Strategy

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Joshua
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Ai
• Ambush
• Heap
• Raise
• Wait
• Exodus, the Book of

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