Joshua 8:12

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 King James Version (NKJV)So he took about five thousand men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city.

Context of Joshua 8:12

10And Joshua rose early in the morning, and numbered the people, and went up, he and the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai. 11And all the people, even the people of war that were with him, went up, and drew near, and came before the city, and encamped on the north side of Ai: now there was a valley between them and Ai. And he took about five thousand men, and set them to lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city. 13And when they had set the people, even all the host that was on the north of the city, and their ones lying in ambush on the west of the city, Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley. 14And it came to pass, when the king of Ai saw it, that they hasted and rose early, and the men of the city went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at a time appointed, before the plain; but he knew not that there were liers in ambush against him behind the city.

Joshua 8:12 word by word

וַיִּקַּ֕ח כַּחֲמֵ֥שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֖ים אִ֑ישׁ וַיָּ֨שֶׂם אוֹתָ֜ם אֹרֵ֗ב בֵּ֧ין בֵּֽית־אֵ֛ל וּבֵ֥ין הָעַ֖י מִיָּ֥ם לָעִֽיר׃Read the interlinear

• tookלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
• fiveחָמֵשׁchâmêsh chămishshâh · fiveH2568
• thousandאֶ֫לֶף'eleph · thousandH505
• menאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• setשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: makeH7760
• ambushאָרַב'ârab · to ambushH693
• Bethelבֵּֽיתְ־אֵלbêyth-'êl · BethelH1008
• Aiעַי‛ay ‛ayâ' ‛ayâth · AiH5857
• sideיָםyâm · sea: westH3220
• cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892

Cross-references for Joshua 8:12

• Joshua 8:2And thou shalt do to Ai and its king as thou didst to Jericho and its king: only its spoil, and its cattle, shall ye take for a prey to yourselves: lay thee an ambush for the city behind it.

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

• Ambush
• Armies
• Strategy

In the dictionaries

• Ai
• Ambush
• Heap
• Raise
• Wait
• Egypt
• Exodus, the Book of
• Joshua, Book of
• Targum
• War

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