Joshua 8 17

Joshua 8:17 kjv

And there was not a man left in Ai or Bethel, that went not out after Israel: and they left the city open, and pursued after Israel.

Joshua 8:17 nkjv

There was not a man left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel. So they left the city open and pursued Israel.

Joshua 8:17 niv

Not a man remained in Ai or Bethel who did not go after Israel. They left the city open and went in pursuit of Israel.

Joshua 8:17 esv

Not a man was left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel. They left the city open and pursued Israel.

Joshua 8:17 nlt

There was not a man left in Ai or Bethel who did not chase after the Israelites, and the town was left wide open.

Joshua 8 verses

Joshua 8 17 Meaning

Joshua 8:17 describes the strategic success of Israel's feigned retreat during their second assault on Ai. It signifies that the men of Ai, joined by some from nearby Bethel, were completely drawn out of their fortified cities in pursuit of the retreating Israelite army. This zealous pursuit caused them to abandon their urban defenses, leaving their cities unguarded and ripe for the hidden Israelite ambush force to capture, directly leading to the downfall of Ai.

Joshua 8 17 Context

Joshua 8:17 is a pivotal verse within the account of Israel's second conquest of Ai, following their humiliating initial defeat (Josh 7) due to Achan's sin. After national repentance and renewal of the covenant, God again commanded Joshua to attack Ai, providing a detailed divine strategy involving a feigned retreat and a massive ambush.

The verse details the climactic moment where the Canaanites fall directly into this trap. Chapters 7 and 8 underscore a profound lesson for Israel: success in the conquest was not dependent on their military might alone, but entirely on their obedience to God. The events at Ai demonstrate God's sovereignty over the enemies of His people, and how He can use their own overconfidence and misguided zeal (as seen in the headlong pursuit) to bring about their judgment and Israel's victory. It reflects God's justice being enacted upon the inhabitants of Canaan, as foretold and commanded.

Joshua 8 17 Word analysis

• And there was not a man left (וְלֹא־אִישׁ נִשְׁאָר, v'lo'-'ish nish'ar):

  • וְלֹא (v'lo'): "And not," indicates a negative conjunction, stressing the absolute absence.
  • אִישׁ ('ish): "Man," referring to a male individual, implies the fighting force or adult males.
  • נִשְׁאָר (nish'ar): "Left, remained." From the root שאר (shā'ar), meaning to be remaining or left over. The Hiphil conjugation here intensifies the action, stressing the complete removal or departure.
  • Significance: This phrase emphasizes the absolute success of the Israeli feigned retreat. No one remained behind in the city, ensuring the city was vulnerable for capture. It speaks to the psychological effectiveness of Israel's tactic, drawing every available fighter out. This contrasts with their previous defeat where Ai's defenses were solid.

• in Ai or Bethel (בָּעַי וּבֵית־אֵל, ba'ai u'veit-'eil):

  • בָּעַי (ba'ai): "In Ai." Ai (הָעַי, Ha-ʿAy, "the ruin" or "the heap of stones") was the immediate target.
  • וּבֵית־אֵל (u'veit-'eil): "And Bethel." Bethel (בֵּית־אֵל, Beit-'El, "House of God") was a significant Canaanite city very near Ai. Its inclusion implies that men from Bethel also joined in the pursuit. This suggests a military alliance between Ai and Bethel, or that Bethel's forces, concerned by the Israeli advance, quickly moved to assist Ai. This broadened participation further depleted the region's immediate defenses, playing into God's plan.
  • Significance: This highlights the extent of the Canaanite commitment to the chase. The pursuit was not limited to Ai's forces alone but involved their allies, likely from Bethel, leaving both localities potentially undefended (or at least severely weakened in terms of active defenders within the walls).

• who did not go out after Israel (אֲשֶׁר לֹא־יָצָא אַחֲרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, 'asher lo'-yatza' 'acharei Yisrael):

  • אֲשֶׁר לֹא ('asher lo'): "Who did not," another strong negative emphasizing universal participation.
  • יָצָא (yatza'): "Go out." A common verb indicating movement from an enclosed space.
  • אַחֲרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל ('acharei Yisrael): "After Israel." Indicates pursuit.
  • Significance: This double negative construction stresses that every single man who could fight indeed pursued Israel. Their collective overconfidence, fueled by their initial victory against Israel, blinded them to the tactical vulnerability they created. It signifies their total absorption in the perceived victory.

• and they left the city open (וַיִּעָזְבוּ אֶת־הָעִיר פְּתוּחָה, vayya'az'vu 'et-ha'ir p'tuchah):

  • וַיִּעָזְבוּ (vayya'az'vu): "And they left/abandoned." From the root עזב ('azav), meaning to forsake, leave behind.
  • אֶת־הָעִיר ('et-ha'ir): "The city." Referring specifically to Ai, although men from Bethel may have also come out. The singular "city" suggests Ai was the one primarily abandoned.
  • פְּתוּחָה (p'tuchah): "Open, unprotected." This is a crucial strategic detail. The city gates, or indeed the entire urban defense system, were left vulnerable.
  • Significance: This is the critical element of the trap. By emptying the city and neglecting its defenses, the people of Ai handed their city over to the hidden Israelite ambush force. It's a stark portrayal of tactical blundering driven by hubris and eagerness.

• and went out after Israel (וַיִּרְדְּפוּ אַחֲרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, vayyirdefu 'acharei Yisrael):

  • וַיִּרְדְּפוּ (vayyirdefu): "And they pursued." From the root רדף (radaph), meaning to chase, pursue, harass. Stronger than simply "going out," it implies a determined, vigorous chase.
  • אַחֲרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל ('acharei Yisrael): "After Israel."
  • Significance: This phrase reiterates and emphasizes the full extent of the enemy's pursuit. It highlights their complete commitment to eliminating the "retreating" Israelite force, thereby sealing their own fate. This repetition underscores the perfection of God's strategic guidance.

Words-group Analysis:

• "And there was not a man left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel": This sweeping statement underlines the completeness of the deception and the widespread participation in the chase. It conveys the total vulnerability of the cities by draining them of their able-bodied men, a direct result of falling for the strategic trap laid by God through Joshua.
• "and they left the city open and went out after Israel": This phrase details the direct consequence of their headlong pursuit. Their abandonment of defensive prudence—leaving the city vulnerable—is the immediate cause of their destruction. This act of "leaving open" is a dramatic pivot in the battle, revealing the trap. The second "went out after Israel" emphasizes the full extent of their pursuit, confirming the effectiveness of the ruse.

Joshua 8 17 Bonus Section

• The strategic brilliance displayed here by Joshua, guided by God, stands in stark contrast to the initial, undisciplined rush against Ai. It exemplifies the importance of listening for and following specific divine instructions, rather than relying on conventional military wisdom or past assumptions.
• The psychological element of the feigned retreat (drawing the enemy out through a sense of superiority or vengeance) is a recurring motif in military history, but here, it is specifically orchestrated by divine decree.
• The fate of Ai and Bethel here serves as a divine judgment against the inhabitants of Canaan, emphasizing that their depravity had reached a point where God, through His chosen people, was executing righteous judgment upon them.

Joshua 8 17 Commentary

Joshua 8:17 encapsulates the masterful execution of divine strategy. After their previous defeat due to sin, Israel's success here demonstrates the immediate blessings of obedience to God. The verse highlights the Canaanites' hubris; inflated by their earlier small victory over Israel, they pursued with reckless abandon, emptying their cities. The phrase "not a man left" conveys total commitment to the pursuit, making them blind to their critical tactical error. The mention of "Bethel" alongside "Ai" suggests either an alliance or that forces from the surrounding region were also drawn into the trap, amplifying the scale of their blunder. This overconfidence directly facilitated God's judgment, as the unprotected city of Ai lay vulnerable to the waiting ambush force. The divine wisdom that instructed Joshua thus became a trap for Israel's enemies, ensuring a decisive and total victory that underscored God's sovereignty over the conquest of Canaan. This episode serves as a powerful testament to the truth that God fights for His people when they walk in obedience.