Joshua 8:6 kjv
(For they will come out after us) till we have drawn them from the city; for they will say, They flee before us, as at the first: therefore we will flee before them.
Joshua 8:6 nkjv
For they will come out after us till we have drawn them from the city, for they will say, 'They are fleeing before us as at the first.' Therefore we will flee before them.
Joshua 8:6 niv
They will pursue us until we have lured them away from the city, for they will say, 'They are running away from us as they did before.' So when we flee from them,
Joshua 8:6 esv
And they will come out after us, until we have drawn them away from the city. For they will say, 'They are fleeing from us, just as before.' So we will flee before them.
Joshua 8:6 nlt
We will let them chase us until we have drawn them away from the town. For they will say, 'The Israelites are running away from us as they did before.' Then, while we are running from them,
Joshua 8 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Josh 8:1-2 | And the Lord said to Joshua... rise up, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people... | God's direct command and assurance for the battle strategy. |
| Josh 7:4-5 | So about three thousand men went up... and they fled before the men of Ai, and the men of Ai struck down... | The previous, disastrous defeat at Ai, serving as the basis for the enemy's confidence. |
| Josh 7:10-12 | The Lord said to Joshua, "Get up!... Israel has sinned... therefore the people of Israel cannot stand..." | God's explanation for the initial defeat due to Achan's sin and disobedience. |
| Josh 7:25-26 | And all Israel stoned him with stones; they burned them with fire... and the Lord turned from his burning anger. | Achan's judgment, necessary for God's favor and strategy to succeed. |
| Deut 20:1-4 | When you go out to battle against your enemies... the Lord your God is with you, who goes with you to fight... | Assurance that God fights for Israel in their battles, not merely their own strength. |
| Judg 20:29-39 | Israel set an ambush around Gibeah... and the men of Israel turned and pretended to flee... | Another example of a successful feigned retreat used by Israel in warfare. |
| Exod 14:13-14 | Do not be afraid... The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent. | God's direct intervention in Israel's battles. |
| 1 Sam 17:47 | All this assembly shall know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s... | Victory belongs to the Lord, not human weaponry or strength. |
| 2 Chr 20:15 | Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid... For the battle is not yours but God’s.' | Emphasis on God's sovereignty over warfare outcomes. |
| Prov 21:30-31 | No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the Lord... But victory belongs to the Lord. | Human wisdom and military preparation are useless without God's ultimate decision for victory. |
| Isa 55:8-9 | For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. | God's divine strategies often differ from human logic, as seen in this unconventional battle plan. |
| Deut 28:1-14 | If you obey the voice of the Lord your God... all these blessings shall come upon you... | Promises of blessing and success in various endeavors, including warfare, for obedience. |
| Isa 1:19 | If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; | Connects willingness and obedience directly to favorable outcomes, contrasting with prior failure. |
| Prov 16:18 | Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. | The Aiites' overconfidence stemming from their previous victory proves to be their downfall. |
| Judg 7:2-3 | The Lord said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast..." | God often limits human resources or uses unusual strategies to prevent human pride and ensure His glory. |
| Rom 8:31 | What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? | God's enablement guarantees victory when following His plan, regardless of appearances. |
| Phil 4:13 | I can do all things through him who strengthens me. | Trust in divine enablement for seemingly impossible tasks. |
| 2 Cor 12:9-10 | But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” | God's strength is revealed through what appears to be weakness, fitting the feigned retreat. |
| Heb 11:30 | By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. | Demonstrates victory achieved through faith and obedience to unusual divine instructions. |
| Gen 50:20 | As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good... | God's ability to turn human evil or negative circumstances (Ai's initial victory) into ultimate good. |
| Eccl 9:11 | The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong... but time and chance happen to them all. | Underscores that human effort alone doesn't guarantee victory; divine intervention is key. |
| Psa 33:16-17 | The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. | Human strength and military might are ultimately insufficient for true deliverance or victory. |
Joshua 8 verses
Joshua 8 6 Meaning
Joshua 8:6 describes a pivotal element of Israel's divinely instructed battle plan against Ai. It outlines the strategic feigned retreat of the Israelite army designed to lure the inhabitants of Ai away from their fortified city. This specific deception capitalizes on the Aiites' prior success and perceived superiority over Israel, making them confident enough to abandon their defensive position and pursue the retreating Israelites into open terrain.
Joshua 8 6 Context
Joshua 8:6 is situated within the narrative of Israel's second attempt to conquer the city of Ai. The previous chapter (Joshua 7) detailed Israel's initial, humiliating defeat at Ai, which occurred because of Achan's sin—taking devoted things from Jericho. This act of disobedience led to God withdrawing His presence and blessing from Israel, causing them to flee before the men of Ai, with 36 casualties. Following the purification of the camp through Achan's judgment, God renews His command and promises victory to Joshua (Joshua 8:1-2), providing a detailed strategy that includes setting an ambush behind the city and then orchestrating a feigned retreat to lure Ai's forces out. Verse 6 specifically articulates the deceptive reasoning the Aiites would adopt based on Israel's previous failure, causing them to leave their fortified city and fall into Israel's ambush. The entire chapter highlights God's strategic wisdom and His restoration of favor to an obedient Israel, ensuring a decisive victory that reverses their earlier shame.
Joshua 8 6 Word analysis
- For they will flee (כִּי יָנֻסוּ - ki yānusu): The Hebrew word nūs means "to flee, escape." The repetition of the concept of "fleeing" throughout the verse emphasizes the deliberate, staged nature of Israel's retreat. This is not genuine panic, but a calculated tactical maneuver designed to appear as such to the enemy.
- from us (מִפְּנֵינוּ - mippənênû): Literally "from our face" or "from before us." It indicates a retreat away from direct confrontation with the enemy.
- until we have drawn them away (עַד הֹצִיאֵנוּ - `ad hoṣi'enu): Hoṣi'enu comes from the verb yātsā`, meaning "to go out," used in the causative sense ("to make them go out," or "draw them out"). This phrase explicitly states the objective of the feigned retreat: to pull or lure the inhabitants of Ai out from the safety of their city walls. The city walls provided a significant defensive advantage in ancient warfare.
- from the city (מִן־הָעִיר - min hā`iyr): The objective is clearly stated: the enemy must be drawn out of their primary defensive structure, making them vulnerable in open battle where Israel’s numerical and strategic advantage (the ambush) could be fully leveraged.
- for they will say (כִּי יֹאמְרוּ - kî yo`mᵉrû): This clause anticipates the enemy's psychological response and thought process. God's plan accounts for human perception and pride. It demonstrates divine foresight and strategy that understands the enemy's likely reaction.
- They are fleeing from us, as at the first (נָסִים הֵם מִפָּנֵינוּ כָּרִאשׁוֹנָה - nāsîm hēm mippānênû kārî'shônāh):
- Nāsîm hēm: "They are fleeing." Again, emphasizing the flight, reinforcing the intended deception.
- Ka-ri'shonah (כָּרִאשׁוֹנָה): "As at the first/beginning/previous time." This is a crucial element, directly linking the planned deception to Israel's actual previous defeat (Joshua 7:4-5). The enemy's past success breeds overconfidence, leading them to misinterpret the feigned retreat as another rout. This term is vital for understanding the entire battle plan's genius – it leverages the enemy’s prior victory to orchestrate their ultimate defeat. It subtly implies a reversal of fortunes divinely orchestrated.
- So we will flee before them (וְנַסְנוּ מִפְּנֵיהֶם - wᵉnasnû mippənêhem): This reconfirms the active, intentional nature of Israel's feigned retreat. It's a precise military tactic, not an unplanned panic. It highlights Israel's obedience to God's precise and counter-intuitive instruction.
Joshua 8 6 Bonus section
- Theological Reversal: Joshua 8:6 is a beautiful theological reversal of Joshua 7:4-5. The exact same outward appearance (Israel fleeing) now leads to entirely opposite results, illustrating how God restores blessing and transforms circumstances after repentance and obedience. The "fleeing" becomes a path to victory, whereas it was previously a sign of judgment.
- God as the Master Strategist: This verse, part of a detailed plan given by God (Josh 8:1-2), demonstrates God's intricate knowledge not just of military tactics but also of human psychology and the enemy's likely reactions. It's not just Joshua's genius, but God's, put into human action.
- Paradoxical Strength: The strategy of a feigned retreat embodies a divine paradox: strength found in what appears to be weakness. By appearing vulnerable, Israel becomes invincible, drawing the enemy into their doom. This resonates with New Testament themes of Christ's victory through apparent weakness (e.g., the Cross).
- Historical Echoes: While the Bible details this event, military historians note similar tactics of feigned retreat used in ancient warfare (e.g., Hannibal's strategy at Cannae). However, what distinguishes this biblical account is its divine origin and success specifically tied to Israel's relationship with God.
Joshua 8 6 Commentary
Joshua 8:6 encapsulates a masterful, divinely orchestrated military stratagem for conquering Ai. Following Israel's earlier humiliating defeat due to Achan's sin, this verse illustrates God's restored favor and provides a crucial step in the successful campaign. The essence of the verse lies in Israel's intentional, feigned retreat designed to exploit the overconfidence and arrogance of Ai's defenders. By mimicking their prior panicked flight, the Israelites would draw the Aiites out from their secure walled city, straight into a prepared ambush. This highlights several key themes: divine wisdom surpassing human strategy, the power of calculated deception in warfare (when divinely sanctioned), and the leveraging of an enemy's hubris (pride going before destruction). The "as at the first" phrase is crucial; it means the divine plan directly reverses the psychological impact of their earlier failure, turning shame into triumph by making the enemy's prior success their undoing. It underscores that with God's guidance, past failures can be redeemed and even become instrumental in future victories.