Joshua 8:26

Joshua 8:26 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For Joshua drew not his hand back, wherewith he stretched out the spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.
• New International Version (NIV)For Joshua did not draw back the hand that held out his javelin until he had destroyed all who lived in Ai.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But Joshua did not draw back his hand with which he stretched out the javelin until he had devoted all the inhabitants of Ai to destruction.
• New Living Translation (NLT)For Joshua kept holding out his spear until everyone who had lived in Ai was completely destroyed.

Context of Joshua 8:26

24And it came to pass when Israel had made an end of slaying all the inhabitants of Ai in the field, in the wilderness where they pursued them, and when they all had fallen by the edge of the sword until they were consumed, that all the Israelites returned to Ai and struck it with the edge of the sword. 25So it was that all who fell that day, both men and women, were twelve thousand—all the people of Ai. For Joshua did not draw back his hand, with which he stretched out the spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai. 27Only the livestock and the spoil of that city Israel took as booty for themselves, according to the word of the Lord which He had commanded Joshua. 28So Joshua burned Ai and made it a heap forever, a desolation to this day.

Joshua 8:26 word by word

וִיהוֹשֻׁ֙עַ֙ לֹֽא־הֵשִׁ֣יב יָד֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָטָ֖ה בַּכִּיד֑וֹן עַ֚ד אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֶחֱרִ֔ים אֵ֖ת כָּל־יֹשְׁבֵ֥י הָעָֽי׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• For Joshuaיְהוֹשׁוּעַyehôshûa‛ yehôshûa‛ · JoshuaH3091
• drewשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
• not his handיָדyâd · handH3027
• backשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
• wherewith he stretched outנָטָהnâţâh · to stretchH5186
• the spearכִּידוֹןkîydôn · javelinH3591
• until he had utterly destroyedחָרַםchâram · to devote/destroyH2763
• all the inhabitantsיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
• of Aiעַי‛ay ‛ayâ' ‛ayâth · AiH5857

Cross-references for Joshua 8:26

• Joshua 8:18Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Stretch out the spear that is in your hand toward Ai, for I will give it into your hand.” And Joshua stretched out the spear that was in his hand toward the city.
• Exodus 17:11And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.

Commentaries on Joshua 8:26

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 26Joshua drew not his hand back - He was not only the general, but the standard-bearer or ensign of his own army, and continued in this employment during the whole of the battle. See on Joshua 8:18; (note). Some commentators understand this and Joshua 8:18; figuratively, as if they implied that Joshua continued in prayer to God for the success of his troops; nor did he cease till the armies of Ai were annihilated, and the city taken and destroyed. The…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 23-29Verses 23-29 God, the righteous Judge, had sentenced the Canaanites for their wickedness; the Israelites only executed his doom. None of their conduct can be drawn into an example for others. Especial reason no doubt there was for this severity to the king of Ai; it is likely he had been notoriously wicked and vile, and a blasphemer of the God of Israel.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2626. Joshua drew not his hand back--Perhaps, from the long continuance of the posture, it might have been a means appointed by God, to animate the people, and kept up in the same devout spirit as Moses had shown, in lifting up his hands, until the work of slaughter had been completed--the ban executed. (See on Ex 17:10).Read the comment

Topics related to Joshua 8:26

• Massacre

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