New King James Version
Joshua 8:12
12So he took about five thousand men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city.
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 Living Translation (NLT)That night Joshua sent about 5,000 men to lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the town.
Context of Joshua 8:12
10Then Joshua rose up early in the morning and mustered the people, and went up, he and the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai. 11And all the people of war who were with him went up and drew near; and they came before the city and camped on the north side of Ai. Now a valley lay between them and Ai. So he took about five thousand men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city. 13And 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. 14Now it happened, when the king of Ai saw it, that the men of the city hurried and rose early and went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at an appointed place before the plain. But he did not know that there was an ambush against him behind the city.
Read all of Joshua 8Joshua 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
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
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries