Joshua 8:15 kjv
And Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness.
Joshua 8:15 nkjv
And Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness.
Joshua 8:15 niv
Joshua and all Israel let themselves be driven back before them, and they fled toward the wilderness.
Joshua 8:15 esv
And Joshua and all Israel pretended to be beaten before them and fled in the direction of the wilderness.
Joshua 8:15 nlt
Joshua and the Israelite army fled toward the wilderness as though they were badly beaten.
Joshua 8 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference (Short Note) |
|---|---|---|
| Josh 8:2 | "...lay an ambush for the city behind it. You shall all be ready. So when all the people with you have encircled the city, strike down the city... for I have given the city into your hand." | God explicitly commands the ambush and the capture of Ai. |
| Josh 8:4 | "You shall command them, 'Watch, you are to hide yourselves... and wait." | Joshua instructs the specific ambushers about their role in the divine plan. |
| Josh 8:7 | "...and you shall rise from the ambush and seize the city, for the LORD your God will give it into your hand." | Joshua details to the main force their role in drawing the enemy and securing victory. |
| Josh 2:5-7 | "And as the men pursued after them by the way to the Jordan... the woman had brought them up to the roof and hid them." | Rahab's strategic deception against the king's pursuers, showcasing how God can use varied methods in His plans. |
| Judg 20:30-32 | "And the sons of Israel went up against the sons of Benjamin on the third day and set themselves in array... The sons of Benjamin went out... And the men of Israel turned back..." | Israel uses a similar feigned retreat to defeat the Benjaminites, illustrating a recurring divinely-guided military tactic. |
| Judg 20:36-39 | "And the men of Israel made a pretense of fleeing before Benjamin... then they turned around..." | Further elaboration on the feigned flight tactic against Benjamin, showing its effectiveness in drawing out the enemy. |
| 1 Sam 23:26-28 | "Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other... and behold, the Philistines made a raid on the land." | God's providential timing allows Saul's pursuit of David to be halted by another strategic need, ensuring David's escape. |
| 2 Sam 5:23-24 | "When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then go out to battle, for then the LORD has gone out before you to strike the army..." | God gives David a unique, unusual battle strategy demonstrating divine direction in warfare. |
| 2 Chr 13:13-16 | "But Jeroboam had sent an ambush around to come from behind them. So when Judah looked, behold, the battle was in front of and behind them..." | Abijah employs a strategic ambush, highlighting that such tactics, when blessed by God, lead to victory. |
| Exod 14:3-4 | "For Pharaoh will say of the sons of Israel, 'They are entangled in the land... and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his army.'" | God deliberately leads Israel to appear trapped, causing Pharaoh to pursue, ultimately leading to Pharaoh's downfall. |
| Ps 18:37-40 | "I pursued my enemies and overtook them... You armed me with strength for battle; you made my adversaries bow beneath me." | David acknowledges God's empowering him to pursue and defeat his enemies in battle. |
| Ps 144:1 | "Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle;" | A prayer acknowledging God as the source of skill and strength in military combat. |
| Prov 21:30-31 | "No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the LORD... but victory belongs to the LORD." | Emphasizes that human strategy alone is insufficient; ultimate victory is determined by God's sovereign will. |
| Isa 55:8-9 | "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, declares the LORD..." | Reinforces that God's methods and plans, including in warfare, transcend human understanding. |
| Jer 49:10 | "But I have stripped Esau bare; I have uncovered his hiding places..." | Shows God's ability to expose enemies and render their secure positions vulnerable, aligning with the defeat of Ai. |
| Amos 5:14 | "Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so the LORD, the God of hosts, will be with you..." | Underscores the spiritual foundation necessary for God's favor and presence in times of conflict. |
| Rom 13:4 | "For he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain..." | Relates to God establishing authorities and using instruments for justice and judgment, including in a military context. |
| Eph 6:11 | "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil." | Applies the concept of strategic defense and understanding the enemy's methods to spiritual warfare. |
| Matt 10:16 | "Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." | Jesus encourages prudence and strategic thinking when facing hostility, distinct from deceptive intent but involves wisdom. |
| Jas 1:5 | "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault..." | Wisdom, including for tactical decisions, is from God. |
| Heb 11:30 | "By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days." | Emphasizes obedience to God's specific and unconventional commands as the pathway to victory. |
| Josh 1:9 | "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous... for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." | Provides the overall divine mandate and assurance for Joshua's leadership and the conquest, including specific battle plans. |
Joshua 8 verses
Joshua 8 15 Meaning
Joshua 8:15 describes a crucial tactical maneuver by the Israelite army during their second attempt to conquer the city of Ai. Led by Joshua, the main Israelite force intentionally staged a defeat, making it appear as though they were being beaten and retreating into the wilderness. This feigned flight was part of a divinely revealed ambush strategy designed to lure the men of Ai out of their city, leaving it undefended for a hidden Israelite force to capture and destroy.
Joshua 8 15 Context
Joshua 8:15 takes place after Israel's initial, humiliating defeat at Ai (Joshua 7) due to Achan's sin and before their eventual conquest and destruction of the city. After purging the sin from the camp, the Lord gave Joshua a detailed, specific battle strategy for Ai (Joshua 8:1-2). This verse describes the implementation of a key component of that divine plan: a deceptive military maneuver. Joshua led the main force, approximately 30,000 men (Joshua 8:3), in this feigned retreat. Another force of 5,000 men (Joshua 8:12), was already positioned in ambush behind the city, out of sight. The entire chapter focuses on the methodical execution of God's commanded strategy for the destruction of Ai and the taking of its spoil, in direct contrast to the hasty and self-assured earlier attempt. Historically, this event solidified Israel's position in Canaan, proving God's continued faithfulness and power when His people were obedient.
Joshua 8 15 Word analysis
- And Joshua: וִיהוֹשֻׁעַ (vi-ho-shu-a') - The leader commanded by God to succeed Moses, central to the conquest narrative. His actions here demonstrate direct obedience to God's battle strategy.
- and all Israel: וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵל (wə-ḵāl-yiś-rā-’ēl) - Signifies the united army, the collective obedient participation of the people. This was not a rogue action by Joshua but a corporate execution of a divine plan.
- feigned themselves to be beaten: וַיִּנָּגְעוּ (vay-yin-nā-gə-‘u) - From the root נָגַע (naga‘), which primarily means "to touch, strike, reach, injure." Here, it's in the Niphil stem, implying a reflexive or passive action, which in this context, combined with the wider narrative of deliberate strategy, conveys "to make themselves appear struck/defeated" or "to pretend to be defeated." It is a tactical ruse, not actual defeat, demonstrating calculated pretense.
- before them: לִפְנֵיהֶם (li-fə-nê-hem) - "In their sight" or "in front of them." Directly implies that the Ai defenders were observers of this feigned defeat, essential for the deception to work.
- and fled: וַיָּנֻסוּ (vay-yā-nu-sū) - From נוּס (nūs), meaning "to flee, escape, take flight." This is a straightforward action of retreating, crucial for drawing the enemy out.
- by the way of: בְּדֶרֶךְ (bə-de-reḵə) - "By the road/path of." Indicates the specific direction and path of their retreat.
- the wilderness: הַמִּדְבָּרָה (ham-miḏ-bā-rāh) - From מִדְבָּר (midbar), "wilderness" or "desert." The suffix "-ah" (ה) denotes direction, meaning "towards the wilderness." This isn't necessarily a barren desert but rather the uncultivated, open terrain around Ai, ideal for drawing the pursuing enemy away from their city and towards the strategically positioned ambush.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "And Joshua and all Israel feigned themselves to be beaten before them": This phrase highlights the intentional and deceptive nature of the maneuver. It was a well-executed military stratagem, divinely ordained. This is not about moral deception for personal gain but about strategic deception in holy war against a wicked people destined for judgment, reflecting God's sovereignty over military outcomes and the tactics employed in the execution of His will. It underscores Israel's unified obedience to a specific, unconventional command from God, despite a recent humiliating defeat.
- "and fled by the way of the wilderness": This specifies the direction of their retreat. The "wilderness" path served multiple tactical purposes: it drew the men of Ai far enough from the city to prevent their rapid return, it was the prescribed route by God, and it likely offered terrain that facilitated the "escape" while also being conducive for the ambush force.
Joshua 8 15 Bonus section
- The divine command for this specific deceptive strategy sets it apart from human-initiated deceit for selfish purposes. In biblical ethics, while general truthfulness is enjoined (Prov 12:22), tactical deception in a God-ordained military context against declared enemies (as seen with Rahab in Josh 2 or Samuel in 1 Sam 16:2) is viewed differently, particularly when it fulfills God's judgment. This reflects God's prerogative to use all means to achieve His righteous purposes.
- The men of Ai's predictable pursuit (Joshua 8:16) was based on their earlier victory and their overconfidence. This human reaction, combined with Israel's disciplined obedience, facilitated the success of God's complex plan, illustrating how God can work through natural human tendencies to achieve His supernatural will.
Joshua 8 15 Commentary
Joshua 8:15 vividly portrays the execution of a sophisticated military deception, explicitly commanded by God for the conquest of Ai. Following the humiliating defeat caused by Achan's sin, Israel learned the importance of strict obedience to the Lord. Here, they meticulously follow God's detailed plan. The "feigned" retreat demonstrates a calculated ruse, not an act of cowardice. This strategic deception, permissible within the context of divine judgment against a condemned people, highlights God's authority over all aspects of war, including tactics that might otherwise be questioned. The goal was to lure Ai's defenders from their fortified city, setting them up for complete destruction by the hidden ambush force. It showcases God's wisdom, enabling His people to achieve victory even through methods that depend on human perception and the enemy's overconfidence, ultimately to display His power and ensure His promised triumph. It reminds us that God's ways are often unconventional and require full trust and obedience.