Joshua 8:23 kjv
And the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.
Joshua 8:23 nkjv
But the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.
Joshua 8:23 niv
But they took the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua.
Joshua 8:23 esv
But the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him near to Joshua.
Joshua 8:23 nlt
Only the king of Ai was taken alive and brought to Joshua.
Joshua 8 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Josh 1:2-3 | "Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan... Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you," | God's promise of land and victory, which Joshua's conquest fulfills. |
| Josh 7:1, 5 | "But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things... and the hearts of the people melted..." | The previous failure at Ai due to sin, contrasting with the restored victory in Josh 8. |
| Deut 20:10-18 | "When you draw near to a city to fight against it... you shall save alive nothing that breathes..." | Laws of war and "devotion to destruction" (herem), showing exceptions like this capture for specific purposes. |
| Num 31:8 | "They killed the kings of Midian... along with the rest of their slain." | Example of kings being killed as part of conquest, making the 'alive' capture notable. |
| Jgs 1:6-7 | "And they found Adoni-Bezek in Bezek, and fought against him... Judah brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there." | Capture and bringing of another king, similar in method and outcome. |
| 1 Sam 15:8-9 | "And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive... But Saul and the people spared Agag..." | Saul's disobedience regarding a captured king, highlighting Joshua's obedience. |
| 1 Sam 15:32-33 | "Then Samuel said, 'Bring here to me Agag the king of the Amalekites.'... And Samuel hacked Agag to pieces..." | The execution of a captured king, illustrating divine judgment. |
| Josh 10:24-25 | "When they brought these kings out to Joshua... Joshua said to them, 'Do not be afraid or dismayed; be strong and courageous.'" | Five Southern kings brought before Joshua for execution, showing authority. |
| Josh 10:28 | "And Joshua took Makkedah on that day... he devoted it to destruction and its king..." | The consistent practice of destroying the king and city in the conquest narratives. |
| Josh 11:10-14 | "And Joshua turned back at that time and took Hazor and struck its king with the sword... He left nothing alive that breathed." | Another major city and its king, showing the systematic nature of the conquest. |
| Judg 4:21 | "But Jael the wife of Heber took a tent peg... and drove it into his temple while he was lying asleep..." | Capture or neutralization of an enemy leader, Sisera, in a similar context of divine deliverance. |
| Ps 110:5-6 | "The Lord is at your right hand; he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath... he will execute judgment among the nations." | Prophecy of divine judgment and defeat of kings by the Messiah. |
| Isa 14:18-20 | "All the kings of the nations lie in glory, each in his own tomb... You are hurled from your tomb like a loathed branch..." | Prophecy depicting the humiliation of defeated kings, mirroring the fate of Ai's king. |
| Rom 13:1 | "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God..." | God's ultimate authority over all rulers, seen in the defeat of Ai's king. |
| Eph 6:12 | "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities..." | Spiritual warfare against opposing powers, paralleling physical conquests. |
| Col 2:15 | "He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him." | Christ's triumph over spiritual authorities, a New Covenant parallel to physical conquest. |
| Heb 4:8-9 | "For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on." | Joshua's role as a deliverer and leader, foreshadowing the greater rest in Christ. |
| Rev 19:19-20 | "And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies... And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet..." | The ultimate capture of opposing spiritual and earthly rulers in end times. |
| Josh 8:29 | "And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until evening." | The immediate continuation and fulfillment of the purpose of capturing the king alive. |
| Deut 21:22-23 | "And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death... then you shall hang him on a tree... for a hanged man is cursed by God." | Law concerning hanging on a tree, giving context to the king of Ai's eventual execution. |
Joshua 8 verses
Joshua 8 23 Meaning
Joshua 8:23 details a significant moment in the conquest of Ai: the capture of the city's king by the Israelites. Unlike the complete destruction of Ai's population and material possessions, the king was specifically taken alive and brought before Joshua. This act symbolized the total subjugation of the enemy, the validation of God's strategic guidance to Joshua, and the complete collapse of Ai's sovereignty before the power of Israel, divinely empowered. It highlights a particular aspect of victory, distinct from the immediate anathema placed upon the city itself.
Joshua 8 23 Context
Joshua 8:23 takes place immediately following Israel's second assault on the city of Ai. This battle contrasts sharply with the initial failed attempt recounted in Joshua 7, which resulted from Achan's sin regarding the devoted things. After the purification of the camp, God reinstated His blessing, providing Joshua with a specific strategy for Ai: an ambush. The verse fits into the climax of this successful campaign. The historical context is the early period of Israel's conquest of Canaan under Joshua, fulfilling God's ancient promises to Abraham. The "king" of Ai represents the highest authority of a pagan Canaanite city, standing in defiance of Yahweh's claim to the land. His capture alive is a significant moment of victory before his public execution (Josh 8:29), demonstrating Israel's complete subjugation of a formidable adversary and God's faithfulness in delivering the land to His people.
Joshua 8 23 Word analysis
- but (אַךְ - 'ak): A particle used to introduce an emphatic statement, a contrast, or a qualification. Here, it signals a specific action concerning the king, distinguishing his fate from that of the general population or city's plunder. It draws attention to this particular detail.
- the king of Ai (מֶלֶךְ הָעַי - melekh ha-ʿAy): "Melekh" means king, "Ai" refers to the city. This title signifies the absolute sovereign authority and military leadership of the city-state. His capture represents the decapitation of the enemy's entire political and military structure, making the conquest irreversible.
- they took (תָּפְשׂוּ - tafsu): From the verb "תָּפַשׂ" (tafas), meaning "to grasp," "seize," "capture," or "apprehend." It implies a forceful yet deliberate act of seizing control, indicating that the capture was not accidental but part of the military strategy.
- alive (חַי - chai): Meaning "living" or "alive." This is a crucial detail. While the city's inhabitants were devoted to destruction, the king was explicitly captured alive. This allowed for his subsequent public display and execution (Josh 8:29), serving as a powerful demonstration of Israel's divine victory and a deterrent to other Canaanite kings.
- and brought him (וַיַּקְרִיבוּ אֹתוֹ - vayyaqrivu oto): From "קָרַב" (qarab), meaning "to draw near," "to bring near," "to present," or "to offer." This verb often carries a formal or ritualistic connotation, suggesting he was presented as an offering or trophy before an authority. It signifies not merely a physical bringing but an official delivery for a specific purpose.
- to Joshua (אֶל יְהוֹשֻׁעַ - el Yehoshua): "El" means "to" or "towards." Joshua, as God's chosen leader, commander of Israel, and God's direct representative. Bringing the king to Joshua underscores his authority and divine appointment in the conquest. It symbolizes the transfer of power and sovereignty from Ai's king to the divine authority channeled through Joshua.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- but the king of Ai: The initial focus shifts from the general devastation of the city to the particular fate of its leader. This emphasizes the hierarchical importance of the king and his special significance in the eyes of the Israelites, marking the complete overthrow of the enemy's system.
- they took alive: This phrase highlights the deliberate nature of the capture. It signifies a specific tactical objective rather than random slaughter. The 'alive' status is vital for the ensuing humiliation and public execution, which carried profound symbolic and theological weight for both Israel and other Canaanite peoples. It points to divine providence in the execution of judgment.
- and brought him to Joshua: This denotes a formal act of submission and acknowledgment of Joshua's supreme authority, divinely delegated. The presentation signifies not only the physical delivery but the symbolic transfer of sovereignty, validating God's victory through His appointed leader. It transforms the private act of capture into a public demonstration of God's power and Israel's obedience.
Joshua 8 23 Bonus section
The practice of taking kings alive was not uncommon in ancient warfare, often for ritualistic purposes, public humiliation, or as a testament to the conqueror's power. In this specific biblical context, the immediate follow-up in Joshua 8:29 (the king's hanging) shows that his live capture was directly linked to this final act of public shaming and a legal-religious curse as per Mosaic law. This demonstrates a carefully executed divine judgment, distinct from mere battlefield slaughter. The theological implication is that God’s justice is comprehensive, extending from the common people to the highest authority, leaving no one untouched who opposes His will and land claim.
Joshua 8 23 Commentary
Joshua 8:23 presents a specific, deliberate action within the overall narrative of Ai's destruction. The capture of the king alive is not an act of mercy but part of a divine plan to fully subjugate the enemy and publicly declare Yahweh's sovereignty. His presentation to Joshua legitimizes Joshua's leadership and God's role in the conquest, underscoring Israel's obedience and restored favor after the prior defeat. The verse foreshadows the king's subsequent public hanging (Josh 8:29), which served as a stark visual message of divine judgment against Canaanite idolatry and resistance. It's a testament to the completeness of God's victory and Israel's role as the instrument of divine justice, ensuring no remnant of Ai's previous authority or religious practice remained.