Joshua 8:9

Joshua 8:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Joshua therefore sent them forth: and they went to lie in ambush, and abode between Beth–el and Ai, on the west side of Ai: but Joshua lodged that night among the people.
• New International Version (NIV)Then Joshua sent them off, and they went to the place of ambush and lay in wait between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai—but Joshua spent that night with the people.
• English Standard Version (ESV)So Joshua sent them out. And they went to the place of ambush and lay between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai, but Joshua spent that night among the people.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Joshua therefore sent them out; and they went to lie in ambush, and stayed between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai; but Joshua lodged that night among the people.

Context of Joshua 8:9

7Then you rise up from your hiding place and seize the city. The Lord your God will hand it over to you. 8When you capture the city, set it on fire. Do as the Lord says! See, I have given you orders.” Joshua sent them away and they went to their hiding place west of Ai, between Bethel and Ai. Joshua spent that night with the army. 10Bright and early the next morning Joshua gathered the army, and he and the leaders of Israel marched at the head of it to Ai. 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.

Joshua 8:9 word by word

וַיִּשְׁלָחֵ֣ם יְהוֹשֻׁ֗עַ וַיֵּֽלְכוּ֙ אֶל־הַמַּאְרָ֔ב וַיֵּשְׁב֗וּ בֵּ֧ין בֵּֽית־אֵ֛ל וּבֵ֥ין הָעַ֖י מִיָּ֣ם לָעָ֑י וַיָּ֧לֶן יְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַ בַּלַּ֥יְלָה הַה֖וּא בְּת֥וֹךְ הָעָֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Joshuaיְהוֹשׁוּעַyehôshûa‛ yehôshûa‛ · JoshuaH3091
• therefore sent them forthשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971
• and they wentיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
• to lie in ambushמַאֲרָבma'ărâb · ambushH3993
• and abodeיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
• between Beth–elבֵּֽיתְ־אֵלbêyth-'êl · BethelH1008
• and Aiעַי‛ay ‛ayâ' ‛ayâth · AiH5857
• on the west sideיָםyâm · sea: westH3220
• lodgedלוּןlûn lîyn · to lodgeH3885
• that nightלַ֫יְלָהlayil lêyl layelâh · nightH3915
• amongתָּ֫וֶךְtâvek · midstH8432
• the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971

Cross-references for Joshua 8:9

• Joshua 8:12He took five thousand men and set an ambush west of the city between Bethel and Ai.
• Joshua 7:2Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai (which is located near Beth Aven, east of Bethel) and instructed them, “Go up and spy on the land.” So the men went up and spied on Ai.
• Genesis 12:8Then he moved from there to the hill country east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and worshiped the Lord.
• Ezra 2:28the men of Bethel and Ai: 223;
• Nehemiah 7:32the men of Bethel and Ai, 123;
• Genesis 32:21So the gifts were sent on ahead of him while he spent that night in the camp.

Commentaries on Joshua 8:9

• 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. 4-9Joshua told the selected group what to expect from Israel’s main army. This special unit would be separated from Joshua’s direct command for almost two days. Because of this, they needed to understand clearly what they were supposed to do. Israel’s success in this second attack on Ai depended on exact timing. The group had to rush into the town at the right moment.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. between Beth-el and Ai--Beth-el, though lying quite near in the direction of west by north, cannot be seen from Tell-el-hajar; two rocky heights rise between both places, in the wady El-Murogede, just as the laying of an ambush to the west of Ai would require [Van De Velde; Robinson].Read the comment

Topics related to Joshua 8:9

• Ambush
• Armies
• Strategy

In the dictionaries

• Ai
• Joshua
• 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