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

7you will jump up from your ambush and take possession of the town, for the Lord your God will give it to you. 8Set the town on fire, as the Lord has commanded. You have your orders.” So they left and went to the place of ambush between Bethel and the west side of Ai. But Joshua remained among the people in the camp that night. 10Early the next morning Joshua roused his men and started toward Ai, accompanied by the elders of Israel. 11All the fighting men who were with Joshua marched in front of the town and camped on the north side of Ai, with a valley between them and the town.

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 8:12That night Joshua sent about 5,000 men to lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the town.
• Joshua 7:2Joshua sent some of his men from Jericho to spy out the town of Ai, east of Bethel, near Beth-aven.
• Genesis 12:8After that, Abram traveled south and set up camp in the hill country, with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. There he built another altar and dedicated it to the Lord, and he worshiped the Lord.
• Ezra 2:28The people of Bethel and Ai 223
• Nehemiah 7:32The people of Bethel and Ai 123
• Genesis 32:21So the gifts were sent on ahead, while Jacob himself 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