English Standard Version
Joshua 8:13
13So they stationed the forces, the main encampment that was north of the city and its rear guard west of the city. But Joshua spent that night in the valley.
Joshua 8:13 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And when they had set the people, even all the host that was on the north of the city, and their liers in wait on the west of the city, Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley.
- New International Version (NIV)So the soldiers took up their positions—with the main camp to the north of the city and the ambush to the west of it. That night Joshua went into the valley.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And when they had set the people, all the army that was on the north of the city, and its rear guard on the west of the city, Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley.
- New Living Translation (NLT)So they stationed the main army north of the town and the ambush west of the town. Joshua himself spent that night in the valley.
Context of Joshua 8:13
11And all the fighting men who were with him went up and drew near before the city and encamped on the north side of Ai, with a ravine between them and Ai. 12He took about 5,000 men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city. So they stationed the forces, the main encampment that was north of the city and its rear guard west of the city. But Joshua spent that night in the valley. 14And as soon as the king of Ai saw this, he and all his people, the men of the city, hurried and went out early to the appointed place toward the Arabah to meet Israel in battle. But he did not know that there was an ambush against him behind the city. 15And Joshua and all Israel pretended to be beaten before them and fled in the direction of the wilderness.
Read all of Joshua 8Joshua 8:13 word by word
וַיָּשִׂ֨ימוּ הָעָ֜ם אֶת־כָּל־הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֗ה אֲשֶׁר֙ מִצְּפ֣וֹן לָעִ֔יר וְאֶת־עֲקֵב֖וֹ מִיָּ֣ם לָעִ֑יר וַיֵּ֧לֶךְ יְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַ בַּלַּ֥יְלָה הַה֖וּא בְּת֥וֹךְ הָעֵֽמֶק׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And when they had setשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: putH7760
- the peopleעַם‛am · people: soldiersH5971
- all the hostמַחֲנֶהmachăneh · campH4264
- on the northצָפוֹןtsâphôn tsâphôn · northH6828
- of the cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
- and their liers in waitעָקֵב‛âqêb ‛iqqebâh · heelH6119
- on the westיָםyâm · sea: westH3220
- Joshuaיְהוֹשׁוּעַyehôshûa‛ yehôshûa‛ · JoshuaH3091
- wentיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
- that nightלַ֫יְלָהlayil lêyl layelâh · nightH3915
- into the midstתָּ֫וֶךְtâvek · midstH8432
- of the valleyעֵ֫מֶק‛êmeq · valleyH6010
Cross-references for Joshua 8:13
Commentaries on Joshua 8:13
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13Joshua went down by night into the valley where He would be seen at daylight by the men of Ai, and was accompanied no doubt by a picked body of troops. The king of Ai, in the morning, would see neither the ambush in his rear, nor the whole of the great host of Israel among the hills away to the north on his left; but supposing, as it appears, that the Israelites before him were a body detached as on the former occasion to assail his city, he sallied out…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 8:13
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries