Joshua 8:17

Joshua 8:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And there was not a man left in Ai or Beth–el, that went not out after Israel: and they left the city open, and pursued after Israel.
• New International Version (NIV)Not a man remained in Ai or Bethel who did not go after Israel. They left the city open and went in pursuit of Israel.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Not a man was left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel. They left the city open and pursued Israel.
• New King James Version (NKJV)There was not a man left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel. So they left the city open and pursued Israel.

Context of Joshua 8:17

15Joshua and the Israelite army fled toward the wilderness as though they were badly beaten. 16Then all the men in the town were called out to chase after them. In this way, they were lured away from the town. There was not a man left in Ai or Bethel who did not chase after the Israelites, and the town was left wide open. 18Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Point the spear in your hand toward Ai, for I will hand the town over to you.” Joshua did as he was commanded. 19As soon as Joshua gave this signal, all the men in ambush jumped up from their position and poured into the town. They quickly captured it and set it on fire.

Joshua 8:17 word by word

וְלֹֽא־נִשְׁאַ֣ר אִ֗ישׁ בָּעַי֙ וּבֵ֣ית אֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־יָצְא֖וּ אַחֲרֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיַּעַזְב֤וּ אֶת־הָעִיר֙ פְּתוּחָ֔ה וַֽיִּרְדְּפ֖וּ אַחֲרֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ פRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And there was not a manאִישׁ'îysh · man: anyoneH376
• leftשָׁאַרshâ'ar · to remainH7604
• in Aiעַי‛ay ‛ayâ' ‛ayâth · AiH5857
• or Beth–elבֵּֽיתְ־אֵלbêyth-'êl · BethelH1008
• that went not outיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: comeH3318
• afterאַחַר'achar · afterH310
• Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• and they leftעָזַב‛âzab · to leave: forsakeH5800
• the cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
• openפָּתַחpâthach · to openH6605
• and pursuedרָדַףrâdaph · to pursueH7291

Cross-references for Joshua 8:17

• Joshua 8:3So Joshua and all the fighting men set out to attack Ai. Joshua chose 30,000 of his best warriors and sent them out at night
• Joshua 11:20For the Lord hardened their hearts and caused them to fight the Israelites. So they were completely destroyed without mercy, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
• Deuteronomy 2:30“But King Sihon of Heshbon refused to allow us to pass through, because the Lord your God made Sihon stubborn and defiant so he could help you defeat him, as he has now done.
• Job 5:13He traps the wise in their own cleverness so their cunning schemes are thwarted.
• Isaiah 19:11What fools are the officials of Zoan! Their best counsel to the king of Egypt is stupid and wrong. Will they still boast to Pharaoh of their wisdom? Will they dare brag about all their wise ancestors?

Commentaries on Joshua 8:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17There was not a man left in Ai or Beth-el - It is very likely that the principal strength of Beth-el had been previously brought into Ai, as the strongest place to make a stand in; Beth-el being but about three miles distant from Ai, and probably not greatly fortified. Therefore Ai contained on this occasion all the men of Beth-el - all the warriors of that city, as well as its own troops and inhabitants. Others think that the Beth-elites, seeing the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17Or Bethel - See the Joshua 8:1 note.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. 17Not a man was left in Ai or Bethel: Soldiers often gained from war by taking trophies from defeated enemies or receiving rewards from their king for each enemy killed. The warriors of Bethel likely joined those of Ai because they feared Israel's advance.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 15-1715-17. Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them--the pretended flight in the direction of the wilderness; that is, southeast, into the Ghor, the desert valley of the Jordan, decoyed all the inhabitants of Ai out of the city, while the people of Beth-el hastened to participate in the expected victory. It is supposed by some, from "the city," and not "cities," being spoken of, that the effective force of Beth-el had been concentrated in…Read the comment

Topics related to Joshua 8:17

• Ambush
• Armies
• Beth-El
• Strategy

In the dictionaries

• Ai
• Israel
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Ambush
• Bethel
• Heap
• Raise
• Wait
• Exodus, the 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