Joshua 8:13

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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)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.
• 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.

Context of Joshua 8:13

11All the troops that were with him marched up and drew near the city. They camped north of Ai on the other side of the valley. 12He took five thousand men and set an ambush west of the city between Bethel and Ai. The army was in position – the main army north of the city and the rear guard west of the city. That night Joshua went into the middle of the valley. 14When the king of Ai saw Israel, he and his whole army quickly got up the next day and went out to fight Israel at the meeting place near the Arabah. But he did not realize men were hiding behind the city. 15Joshua and all Israel pretended to be defeated by them and they retreated along the way to the desert.

Joshua 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

• Joshua 8:8When you capture the city, set it on fire. Do as the Lord says! See, I have given you orders.”

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

• Ambush
• Armies
• Strategy

In the dictionaries

• Joshua
• Liers-in-Wait
• Ai
• Ambush
• Heap
• Raise
• Wait
• Exodus, the Book of
• Joshua, 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