Joshua 8 29

Joshua 8:29 kjv

And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until eventide: and as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his carcass down from the tree, and cast it at the entering of the gate of the city, and raise thereon a great heap of stones, that remaineth unto this day.

Joshua 8:29 nkjv

And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until evening. And as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his corpse down from the tree, cast it at the entrance of the gate of the city, and raise over it a great heap of stones that remains to this day.

Joshua 8:29 niv

He impaled the body of the king of Ai on a pole and left it there until evening. At sunset, Joshua ordered them to take the body from the pole and throw it down at the entrance of the city gate. And they raised a large pile of rocks over it, which remains to this day.

Joshua 8:29 esv

And he hanged the king of Ai on a tree until evening. And at sunset Joshua commanded, and they took his body down from the tree and threw it at the entrance of the gate of the city and raised over it a great heap of stones, which stands there to this day.

Joshua 8:29 nlt

Joshua impaled the king of Ai on a sharpened pole and left him there until evening. At sunset the Israelites took down the body, as Joshua commanded, and threw it in front of the town gate. They piled a great heap of stones over him that can still be seen today.

Joshua 8 verses

Joshua 8 29 Meaning

Joshua 8:29 records the specific execution and post-mortem disposition of the King of Ai by Joshua, reflecting adherence to Mosaic law and establishing a permanent, public testament to Israel's divine victory and God's judgment against the Canaanites.

Joshua 8 29 Context

Joshua 8:29 concludes the narrative of Israel's second campaign against Ai, which succeeded after the earlier failure due to Achan's sin and Israel's subsequent cleansing. The detailed account of the fall of Ai, from ambush to complete destruction, demonstrates Yahweh's restoration of favor and validation of Joshua's leadership. The treatment of Ai's king—first hanged, then removed and buried under a stone heap at the city gate—serves as a fulfillment of divine instructions given through Moses (specifically Dt 21:22-23) regarding the handling of executed criminals and dedicated cities (cherem). Historically, this period marks Israel's active conquest of Canaan under divine guidance, establishing a territorial foothold and showcasing God's covenant faithfulness when His people obey. The scene reinforces the seriousness of God's judgment upon the wicked and the visible consequences of idolatry and defiance against Him, ensuring Israel remembers what befell their enemies.

Joshua 8 29 Word analysis

• And he hanged: From the Hebrew tālāh (תָלָה), meaning to hang, suspend. While it implies death by hanging, in contexts like Dt 21 and often here, it refers to the public display of a deceased enemy on a tree or stake as an act of shaming, judgment, and deterring. It was a potent symbol of defeat and utter disgrace, declaring the enemy's complete subjugation.
• the king of Ai: A specific, identifiable target of divine judgment and military action. The king represents the authority, power, and essence of the conquered city. His fate epitomizes the fate of his entire domain, underscoring the completeness of Israel's victory.
• on a tree: ʿēts (עֵץ), literally "tree" or "wood." In ancient Near Eastern contexts, a tree or stake was a common means for public display of executed individuals, signifying extreme degradation. The 'tree' in Dt 21:23 carries the implication of a curse.
• until evening: ʿad hāʿerev (עַד הָעֶרֶב). This specific temporal marker is crucial, directly fulfilling the commandment in Dt 21:23 that a body was not to remain overnight on a tree. This precise adherence highlights Joshua's (and Israel's) scrupulous obedience to God's law, emphasizing Israel's identity as a covenant people distinct from surrounding pagan practices.
• But at sunset: šemeš bāʾ (שֶׁמֶשׁ בָּא), "when the sun enters/comes in" (to its setting point). This phrase reaffirms the "until evening" detail, ensuring compliance with the law's requirement for removal before nightfall, as nighttime was when the land would be considered defiled.
• Joshua commanded: Shows Joshua's leadership and direct involvement in upholding God's law. He ensures proper procedures are followed even in the aftermath of battle, reinforcing the centrality of divine command over human expediency or cruelty.
• and they took his body down from the tree: A collective action, performed under command, ensuring the land's purity was maintained as prescribed by the Mosaic Law. This swift removal contrasts with pagan customs of leaving bodies to decay or be consumed by scavengers.
• and threw it: šālḵūhū (שָׁלְכוּהוּ), implying an undignified, dismissive disposal. It was not a burial with respect but an act of contempt for the deceased enemy.
• at the entrance of the gate of the city: The city gate was the most prominent public space—the hub of commercial, judicial, and social activity. Placing the defiled body here symbolized Ai's complete conquest and degradation. It served as a stark public warning and reminder of Yahweh's judgment against all who defy Him, marking the city as completely 'devoted' (cherem).
• and raised over it a great heap of stones: gal gāḏôl ʾaḇānîm (גַּל גָּדוֹל אֲבָנִים), a large pile or cairn of stones. Such heaps were ancient markers, often signifying a grave, a boundary, or the site of a significant event. In cases of those under a curse (like Achan in Josh 7:26 or Absalom in 2 Sam 18:17), a stone heap served as a lasting monument of disgrace, confirming their cursed fate and acting as a warning to passersby.
• which remains to this day: ʿaḏ hay-yōm haz-zeh (עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה). A common biblical idiomatic expression affirming the historicity and tangible, verifiable persistence of an event or landmark for the original Israelite audience. It authenticates the narrative as true history and a continuous testimony of God's mighty acts of judgment and Israel's obedience.

Joshua 8 29 Bonus section

• The account highlights the dual nature of God's covenant with Israel: promising blessing for obedience and warning of severe consequences for disobedience or defilement of the land. Joshua's actions demonstrate a meticulous adherence to the 'cherem' (devotion to destruction) doctrine applied to cities like Ai, ensuring no Israelite would profit from or be corrupted by the idolatrous goods.
• The enduring "heap of stones" serves a didactic purpose beyond simply marking a grave. It acts as a continuous, silent sermon for anyone passing by, testifying to the sovereignty of Yahweh, the consequences of rebellion, and the importance of His commands in structuring the life of His people.
• The specific location at the "entrance of the gate" makes the memorial exceptionally potent, as the gate was the most frequented and politically significant part of any ancient city. This choice ensured maximum public visibility and a constant, unavoidable reminder of the fate of Ai's king.

Joshua 8 29 Commentary

Joshua 8:29 serves as a theological marker for Israel's obedience to God's specific commandments amidst the conquest. The hanging of the King of Ai was not an act of gratuitous violence but a publicly visible execution and subsequent desecration reflecting divine judgment on a defiant, pagan ruler. Critically, Joshua's immediate command to remove the body "at sunset" demonstrates Israel's strict adherence to Deuteronomy 21:22-23, which forbade a crucified or hanged body from remaining overnight on the tree, considering it a curse that defiled the land. This contrasts sharply with typical ancient Near Eastern practices of leaving bodies exposed and underscores Israel's distinctiveness under God's law, emphasizing the sanctity of the land and God's holy character. The heap of stones at the city gate created a permanent, visible reminder—a memorial not of honor, but of utter destruction and a solemn warning of the consequences of opposing God. It solidified the memory of Ai's fall, reminding generations of God's covenant faithfulness in granting victory and His uncompromising justice against ungodliness.