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 in the morning and assembled the troops. Then he and the leaders of Israel led the army to Ai. 11All the troops with him marched until they were near the city. They camped north of Ai with the ravine between them and Ai. Joshua had taken about five thousand men and had them hide between Bethel and Ai, west of the city. 13All the troops were positioned. The main camp was north of the city, and the other troops were hiding west of the city. That night Joshua went down into the middle of the valley. 14When the king of Ai saw the main camp, he and all his troops got up early in the morning. They rushed out toward the plains to meet Israel for battle, just where ⌞Joshua⌟ expected. However, the king didn’t know there were troops behind the city waiting to attack him.

Joshua 8:12 word by word

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• And he tookלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
• about fiveחָמֵשׁchâmêsh chămishshâh · fiveH2568
• thousandאֶ֫לֶף'eleph · thousandH505
• menאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• and setשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: makeH7760
• them to lie in ambushאָרַב'ârab · to ambushH693
• between Beth–elבֵּֽיתְ־אֵלbêyth-'êl · BethelH1008
• and Aiעַי‛ay ‛ayâ' ‛ayâth · AiH5857
• on the west sideיָםyâm · sea: westH3220
• of the cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892

Cross-references for Joshua 8:12

• Joshua 8:2You will do the same thing to Ai and its king that you did to Jericho and its king. However, you may take its loot and livestock for yourselves. Set 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