Joshua 8:1 kjv
And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land:
Joshua 8:1 nkjv
Now the LORD said to Joshua: "Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; take all the people of war with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land.
Joshua 8:1 niv
Then the LORD said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. For I have delivered into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city and his land.
Joshua 8:1 esv
And the LORD said to Joshua, "Do not fear and do not be dismayed. Take all the fighting men with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, and his people, his city, and his land.
Joshua 8:1 nlt
Then the LORD said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid or discouraged. Take all your fighting men and attack Ai, for I have given you the king of Ai, his people, his town, and his land.
Joshua 8 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jos 1:9 | "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous... for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." | God's previous command to Joshua to be fearless, showing continuity. |
| Dt 31:6 | "Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid... for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you." | Echoes the call to courage before conquest, linked to God's presence. |
| Is 41:10 | "Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God." | Divine command to overcome fear, based on God's identity and presence. |
| Php 4:6-7 | "Be anxious for nothing... and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds..." | NT command against anxiety, rooted in trust in God. |
| Jer 1:8 | "Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you..." | God assuring a prophet of protection against opposition. |
| Gen 15:1 | "Do not fear, Abram, I am your shield..." | First recorded "do not fear" to Abraham, establishing God's protective role. |
| Jos 6:2 | "And the LORD said to Joshua: 'See! I have given Jericho into your hand...'" | Similar divine declaration of victory over Jericho, a prior instance of God's gift. |
| Dt 2:24 | "Rise, take your journey... See! I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite..." | God's pre-conquest promise of giving land to Israel. |
| Jdg 7:9 | "Arise, go down against the camp, for I have delivered it into your hand." | God assuring Gideon of victory before battle against Midian. |
| 1 Sm 17:46 | "This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand..." | David's confident declaration to Goliath, anticipating divine delivery. |
| Is 45:1 | "...to subdue nations before him and loose the armor of kings..." | God's sovereignty over kings and nations, giving power for conquest. |
| Eph 6:13 | "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day..." | Calls for preparedness in spiritual warfare, mirroring physical readiness for battle. |
| Jos 7:1 | "But the children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the accursed things..." | Immediate prior context: the sin that led to the defeat at Ai. |
| Dt 20:1-4 | "When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses and chariots... do not be afraid..." | General instruction for courage in war, highlighting God fighting for them. |
| Ps 18:34 | "He teaches my hands to make war; My arms can bend a bow of bronze." | God as the one who equips and enables for battle. |
| 2 Cor 10:4 | "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds," | Spiritual warfare paralleling physical conquest, empowered by God. |
| Mt 18:20 | "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." | God's presence with His people, even in small gatherings. |
| 1 Jn 1:9 | "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." | Principle of divine cleansing after confession, relevant to post-Achan context. |
| Lk 22:31-32 | "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you... when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren." | Christ's intercession and restoration after Peter's failure, parallels God's renewal to Joshua. |
| Heb 10:35 | "Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward." | Encouragement not to lose heart, similar to "do not be dismayed." |
| Jud 20:23, 28 | "And the children of Israel went up and wept before the LORD... 'Shall I still again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin, my brother...?' And the LORD said, 'Go up...'" | God permits battle after two previous defeats and inquiries, illustrating renewed divine command. |
Joshua 8 verses
Joshua 8 1 Meaning
Joshua 8:1 conveys God's renewed command and assurance to Joshua following Israel's defeat at Ai due to Achan's sin. God dispels Joshua's fear and discouragement, reiterating His promise of victory over Ai and its king. The verse emphasizes that the conquest is God's initiative and gift, contingent on Israel's obedience, and calls for bold action, signifying a restoration of divine favor after the cleansing of sin from the camp.
Joshua 8 1 Context
Joshua 8:1 follows directly after the significant events of chapter 7, where Israel suffered a humiliating defeat at Ai. This defeat was not due to a lack of military prowess, but rather to the sin of Achan, who disobeyed God's specific command regarding the spoils of Jericho (the "accursed things"). Achan's sin caused God's anger to burn against the whole congregation of Israel, making them vulnerable and unable to stand before their enemies. After Achan's sin was revealed through a process of divine identification and then dealt with through his execution and the destruction of his family and possessions in the Valley of Achor, God's anger turned away. Joshua 8:1, therefore, marks a pivotal moment of divine reconciliation and renewed direction, as God restores His favor and leads His people forward in the conquest of the land, demonstrating that corporate sin must be dealt with before corporate blessing and victory can resume. Historically, the conquest of Canaan was the fulfillment of God's centuries-old promise to Abraham's descendants (Gen 12:7), establishing them in the land. This victory at Ai, specifically through the new strategy given by God, becomes another foundational step in establishing Israel's dominance and God's faithfulness in fulfilling His covenant.
Joshua 8 1 Word analysis
- And the LORD: (וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה - wayyōʾmer YHWH) - Signifies a direct divine communication. "YHWH" (rendered as LORD in caps) is God's covenant name, emphasizing His personal relationship and faithfulness to Israel, particularly relevant after their communal failure. His address signifies a renewed engagement after their sin was purged.
- said to Joshua: God is directly addressing His chosen leader, providing immediate instruction and encouragement. This intimate communication highlights Joshua's position as God's chosen instrument.
- Do not fear: (אַל־תִּירָא - ʾal-tîrāʾ) - A strong negative command to quell Joshua's apprehension and discouragement following the previous defeat. It indicates God's awareness of Joshua's state of mind. This divine reassurance is a recurring theme when God commissions His servants (e.g., Jos 1:9, Gen 15:1, Is 41:10).
- nor be dismayed: (וְאַל־תֵּחָת - wəʾal-tēḥāt) - Literally means "do not be shattered" or "do not be broken." It signifies a deeper level of despondency or demoralization. God forbids despair, indicating that their recent failure is not a terminal defeat. This promise follows directly from the resolution of the Achan crisis.
- take all the people of war with you: (קַח אִתְּךָ אֵת כָּל־עַם הַמִּלְחָמָה - qaḥ ʾittəkā ʾēt kol-ʿam hammilḥāmāh) - A specific, divinely given strategic instruction. Contrast this with the earlier, ill-fated attempt at Ai, where Joshua sent only "two or three thousand men" (Jos 7:3). God's command here indicates a full, collective military engagement, showing the seriousness and comprehensiveness of the renewed attack and implying a need for Israel's full commitment under God's renewed favor.
- and arise, go up to Ai: (וְקוּם עֲלֵה הָעָי - wəqūm ʿalēh hāʿAy) - "Arise" (קוּם - qûm) is a common biblical command to get ready for action, indicating a posture of immediate readiness and determination. "Go up" (עֲלֵה - ʿalēh) refers to approaching the city, which was likely on higher ground. These are active commands, emphasizing movement and direct engagement.
- See: (רְאֵה - reʾēh) - An imperative, drawing immediate attention to the declarative promise that follows. It signals a pronouncement of truth and certainty.
- I have given into your hand: (נָתַתִּי בְיָדֶךָ - nāṭattî bəyāḏekā) - The Hebrew verb "given" is in the perfect tense, which can denote a completed action with ongoing results or a certain future outcome presented as already accomplished. It's a prophetic perfect, highlighting God's sovereign pre-ordaining of the victory as if it has already occurred. This common idiom ("given into your hand") assures complete control and defeat of the enemy. It is not dependent on human strength but on divine bestowment. This declaration directly counters the previous defeat.
- the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land: A comprehensive list specifying the extent of the promised victory. God guarantees absolute conquest – of the leader, the inhabitants, the physical stronghold, and the territory itself – ensuring that no part of the enemy entity remains unsubdued. This demonstrates the completeness of God's triumph.
Joshua 8 1 Bonus section
The immediate turnaround from despair to triumph in Joshua 8:1 after the corporate sin of Achan was dealt with (Jos 7) powerfully illustrates a key theological principle: unconfessed and unpunished sin creates a barrier between God and His people, leading to vulnerability and defeat, but confession and removal of sin restore divine favor and empower victory. The "Achan event" functions as a purification ritual for Israel before they could properly fulfill their mandate of holy war. Furthermore, God's new strategy for Ai – involving an ambush and the use of the entire army – highlights His dynamic and adaptable leadership. It underscores that God is not limited to one method; He will tailor His plan to suit the specific circumstances and teach His people critical lessons, in this case, a lesson in renewed obedience and dependence. The name "Ai" means "ruin" or "heap of ruins," ironically foreshadowing its complete destruction as stated in the verse by God Himself, a potent symbol of God's ability to turn human folly into divine triumph when His commands are obeyed.
Joshua 8 1 Commentary
Joshua 8:1 is a profound message of God's grace, restoration, and sovereign initiative. After Israel's communal sin at Ai and its just, severe consequence, God does not abandon His people. Instead, He extends a word of profound comfort and renewed commission. "Do not fear nor be dismayed" directly addresses Joshua's (and implicitly, Israel's) understandable demoralization from the previous defeat, reminding them of God's abiding presence and power. The command to take "all the people of war" signifies a strategic shift mandated by God, indicating that while He previously intended a swift, smaller force to conquer Ai, the sin of Achan required a full display of unified commitment and obedience, underlining the corporate nature of their responsibility. The core of the verse lies in God's declarative "I have given into your hand." This statement, in the prophetic perfect tense, asserts the victory not as a possibility or a future act to be earned, but as a divinely accomplished reality that awaits human participation. God's act precedes and enables human effort. This teaches that even after failure, provided sin is addressed, God is quick to restore and empower, moving His people from despair to assured triumph based on His unfailing promise. The conquest is His, not theirs, ensuring His glory. Practically, it encourages us to address sin immediately, to not dwell in past failures, and to obey God's specific directions, trusting that His victory is assured.