Joshua 7 4

Joshua 7:4 kjv

So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai.

Joshua 7:4 nkjv

So about three thousand men went up there from the people, but they fled before the men of Ai.

Joshua 7:4 niv

So about three thousand went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai,

Joshua 7:4 esv

So about three thousand men went up there from the people. And they fled before the men of Ai,

Joshua 7:4 nlt

So approximately 3,000 warriors were sent, but they were soundly defeated. The men of Ai

Joshua 7 verses

Joshua 7 4 Meaning

Joshua 7:4 describes the initial, disastrous engagement between a detachment of Israelite soldiers and the men of Ai. After scouting, a force of approximately three thousand Israelite men ascended to battle Ai but were decisively routed and fled before their adversaries, suffering an humiliating defeat. This verse marks a stark and immediate reversal of fortunes for Israel following their miraculous victory at Jericho, signaling a deeper problem within the community.

Joshua 7 4 Context

Joshua 7:4 is pivotal in the narrative of Israel's conquest of Canaan. It immediately follows the extraordinary victory at Jericho (Joshua 6), where God miraculously brought down the city walls, establishing His presence and power as the true leader of the army. After such a triumph, Israel's defeat at Ai comes as a profound shock and crisis. Unknown to most Israelites at the time of the battle, Achan, from the tribe of Judah, had disobeyed God's clear command not to take any devoted things (cherem) from Jericho. His secret sin, described in Joshua 7:1, was a corporate defilement, causing God to withdraw His protective hand from the entire nation. Thus, the defeat at Ai, as narrated in verse 4, was not a strategic error on Israel's part initially, but a direct consequence of divine displeasure and judgment due to sin within the camp. The scouting report mentioned in Joshua 7:2-3, suggesting that "not all the people need go up," led to an underestimation of the enemy and an overreliance on Israel's own strength, stemming from their recent success, inadvertently becoming part of the problem. This event highlights that Israel's military might was directly tied to their covenant faithfulness and God's enabling presence.

Joshua 7 4 Word analysis

• So about three thousand men: The phrase "So about" (וַיַּעֲלוּ שָׁמָּה מִן־הָעָם) implies an approximation. The Hebrew `shloshah elef` (שלושה אלף - three thousand) indicates the specific number chosen based on the flawed advice of the scouts (Jos 7:3). This small force, compared to Israel's overall army, demonstrates an overconfidence and underestimation of Ai's inhabitants, particularly after the seemingly effortless victory at Jericho. It reflects a human-centric strategic decision, rather than one guided by explicit divine instruction for this battle.
• went up there: The Hebrew `wayya`alu shamah` (וַיַּעֲלוּ שָׁמָּה) means "and they went up there." "Went up" implies a literal ascent to the city of Ai, which was located on elevated terrain, and signifies the military maneuver. It also implicitly conveys the intention of engagement and conquest.
• from the people: The Hebrew `min ha`am` (מִן־הָעָם) denotes that this was a contingent selected from the broader Israelite population or military, not the entire fighting force. This reinforces that it was a limited expedition based on a judgment call that proved disastrously wrong.
• and they fled: The Hebrew `wayyānûsû` (וַיָּנוּסוּ) is a strong verb indicating a panicked flight, a complete rout. This is highly significant, contrasting sharply with the confident ascent and Israel's usual victorious encounters when God was with them. "Fleeing" often signifies God's curse or withdrawal of His favor in battle contexts (cf. Deut 28:25). It shows an immediate, non-negotiable defeat.
• before the men of Ai: The Hebrew `lipnêy ’anshēy hā`ây` (לִפְנֵי אַנְשֵׁי הָעָי). "Before" here means "in front of" or "in the presence of," signifying their adversaries, the "men of Ai." The term "Ai" (הָעַי, Ha'Ay) literally means "The Ruin" or "The Heap," an ironic name considering its initial resistance and its eventual total destruction by Israel (Jos 8:28). This phrase emphasizes the humiliating nature of the defeat; Israel was put to flight by a comparatively minor enemy force.

• "So about three thousand men went up there from the people...": This segment highlights the human tactical error. After the awe-inspiring, God-driven victory at Jericho, the Israelites likely assumed a standard military engagement would suffice for Ai, which was perceived as a lesser threat (Jos 7:3). This limited force indicates a misjudgment born of overconfidence and perhaps a lack of persistent consultation with God, demonstrating a dangerous shift from reliance on divine power to reliance on human estimation and strength.
• "...and they fled before the men of Ai.": This phrase captures the shocking reversal of Israel's fortunes. It immediately communicates defeat, disarray, and shame. The contrast with the fall of Jericho is stark; while Jericho fell through supernatural intervention, Ai, a smaller town, brings Israel to its knees through its own human efforts, emphasizing that God's blessing, not numerical superiority or past victories, guarantees success. The defeat reveals that an external enemy can only truly conquer when God’s protective presence, withdrawn due to internal sin, is no longer assured.

Joshua 7 4 Bonus section

• The precise number of "three thousand men" chosen for the initial assault on Ai signifies that Israel did not perceive Ai as a significant military challenge after Jericho. This was a consequence of their human reconnaissance and assessment, not a divine command for the number of troops.
• The defeat at Ai was a catalyst for Joshua's profound distress and national lamentation (Jos 7:6-9), signifying that the setback was immediately recognized as more than a military failure; it was understood as a loss of God's favor and a deep spiritual crisis for the entire nation.
• The incident demonstrates that God’s presence and active participation are non-negotiable for His people's victory and prosperity in their divinely appointed tasks. When Israel deviated from this principle through sin or self-reliance, success was impossible.
• The vulnerability depicted in this verse contrasts sharply with God's earlier promise to Joshua in Jos 1:5, "No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you." The defeat reveals that this promise is conditional on Israel's faithfulness to the covenant.

Joshua 7 4 Commentary

Joshua 7:4 marks a dramatic and unexpected turning point in Israel's conquest. Following the overwhelming triumph at Jericho, this verse recounts a crushing defeat where a relatively small Israelite force is completely routed by the inhabitants of Ai. This immediate reversal of fortunes serves as a stark theological lesson: Israel's strength, military prowess, and success were never inherent in their numbers or battle strategies but derived solely from their covenant relationship with God and His active presence among them.

The underlying cause of this defeat, as later revealed, was the sin of Achan, who violated God's command regarding the devoted things from Jericho. His individual disobedience incurred corporate judgment, illustrating the profound interconnectedness of the community in ancient Israel. The swift flight of the 3000 men highlights that when divine favor is withdrawn, even a formidable army can be humiliated by an inferior foe. It serves as a sharp reminder that relying on past successes or human wisdom alone, without diligent adherence to God's will, leads to disaster. This episode functioned as God's severe but necessary discipline to expose the sin within the camp, bringing Israel to repentance and ultimately restoring their covenant standing, allowing them to proceed with the conquest. It powerfully teaches that secret sin can have devastating public consequences, hindering God's purposes for His people.