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

10Then Joshua rose up early in the morning and mustered the people. He and the elders of Israel marched before the people to Ai. 11All the people of war with him went up, advanced, and came in front of the city. They camped to the north of Ai, with a valley between him and Ai. But he had taken about 5,000 men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city. 13So they stationed the people, the main army that was to the north of the city, and its rear guard to the west of the city. Then Joshua walked that night in the midst of the valley. 14So it came to pass when the king of Ai saw this, the men of the city hurried and rose up early, and went out to meet Israel in battle, he and all his people at the appointed place facing the Arabah. But he did not know that there was an 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

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

• Joshua 8:2Then you will do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king—except you will take its spoil and its cattle as plunder for yourselves. Set 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