Joshua 8:7 kjv
Then ye shall rise up from the ambush, and seize upon the city: for the LORD your God will deliver it into your hand.
Joshua 8:7 nkjv
Then you shall rise from the ambush and seize the city, for the LORD your God will deliver it into your hand.
Joshua 8:7 niv
you are to rise up from ambush and take the city. The LORD your God will give it into your hand.
Joshua 8:7 esv
Then you shall rise up from the ambush and seize the city, for the LORD your God will give it into your hand.
Joshua 8:7 nlt
you will jump up from your ambush and take possession of the town, for the LORD your God will give it to you.
Joshua 8 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference (Short note) |
|---|---|---|
| Divine Command & Strategy | ||
| Gen 22:18 | "...and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice." | Blessing tied to obedience to God's word. |
| Exod 14:14 | "The Lord will fight for you; you have only to be still." | God as the ultimate warrior for His people. |
| Deut 20:4 | "...for the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you..." | God's presence and active role in Israel's battles. |
| Judg 4:6-7 | "...‘Go, gather your men at Mount Tabor, taking 10,000 from the tribes... I will draw out Sisera... and give him into your hand.’" | Specific divine battle strategy leading to promised delivery. |
| Divine Promise of Victory / Deliverance "Into Your Hand" | ||
| Deut 7:2 | "...and when the Lord your God gives them over to you, you shall strike them..." | God actively delivering enemies into Israel's power. |
| Josh 6:2 | "And the Lord said to Joshua, ‘See, I have given Jericho into your hand...’" | Pre-emptive divine declaration of victory for the previous city. |
| Josh 10:8 | "And the Lord said to Joshua, ‘Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hand...’" | Reassurance of God's victory when facing a coalition. |
| Judg 1:2 | "And the Lord said, ‘Judah shall go up; behold, I have given the land into his hand.’" | God giving specific territories into the tribes' hands. |
| Judg 4:14 | "...for today the Lord has given Sisera into your hand..." | Prophetic assurance of enemy's defeat by God. |
| 1 Sam 17:46-47 | "...the Lord will deliver you into my hand... that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel." | God delivering a foe to show His power to nations. |
| 1 Chr 14:10 | "...and the Lord said to him, ‘Go up, for I will give them into your hand.’" | David receiving divine direction and promise of victory. |
| Ps 44:3 | "for not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm save them, but by your right hand..." | God, not human strength, secured the Promised Land. |
| Human Obedience & Action (Yet God's Doing) | ||
| Josh 1:7-9 | "Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law... for then you will make your way prosperous..." | Success contingent on obedience to God's law. |
| Deut 11:24 | "Every place on which the sole of your foot treads shall be yours." | Land possession requires physical, obedient advancement. |
| 2 Chr 20:17 | "...Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf..." | Requires standing ready and watching God work, despite battle. |
| Conquest Themes & Broader Significance | ||
| Num 13:30 | "But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, ‘Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.’" | Encouragement to "go up" and take possession based on faith. |
| Deut 9:3 | "...be assured today that he who goes before you... He will destroy them..." | God going before Israel to clear the way for conquest. |
| Josh 11:6 | "And the Lord said to Joshua, ‘Do not be afraid of them, for tomorrow at this time I will give them all up wounded before Israel.’" | God reiterating promise of total defeat to inspire courage. |
| New Testament Echoes | ||
| Eph 6:10 | "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might." | Believer's strength for spiritual battle from the Lord. |
| Phil 4:13 | "I can do all things through him who strengthens me." | All capabilities, even in hard tasks, through Christ's strength. |
| 2 Cor 10:3-5 | "For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh... for they have divine power..." | Spiritual warfare fought with divine power, not human might. |
| Heb 4:1-2 | "...let us therefore strive to enter that rest... the good news came to us just as to them, but the message... did not benefit them..." | Emphasizes the need for faith to accompany hearing God's word. |
Joshua 8 verses
Joshua 8 7 Meaning
Joshua 8:7 details God's specific command and assurance for Israel's second assault on Ai. It instructs Joshua and the army to initiate the decisive military action by rising from their ambush to capture the city. This directive is immediately followed by a divine guarantee that the Lord, Israel's covenant God, will definitively hand Ai over into their control, thereby ensuring their complete victory. The verse highlights the partnership of human obedience to divine strategy and the sovereign power of God in securing the victory.
Joshua 8 7 Context
Joshua 8:7 is situated in the aftermath of Israel's initial, humiliating defeat at Ai, which occurred due to Achan's sin of disobedience in taking devoted things from Jericho. This previous failure had severely disheartened the people and Joshua himself. This verse marks a turning point as God re-engages with Israel, providing a new, divinely orchestrated strategy for taking Ai. It demonstrates God's gracious restoration after national repentance and the renewed necessity of absolute obedience. The "ambush" strategy prescribed by God (mentioned in preceding verses) highlights that divine wisdom, not brute force alone, secures victory. This specific battle is crucial in the broader context of the conquest of Canaan, demonstrating God's faithfulness to His covenant promises to give the land to Israel and His justice against the inhabitants. The repeated emphasis on God delivering the city "into your hand" underscores the theological message that it is the Lord who fights for Israel and grants their success, despite requiring their active participation.
Joshua 8 7 Word analysis
- And you, and all the people of war with you,: Emphasizes Joshua's pivotal leadership role but also includes the collective army ("people of war"), signifying corporate involvement and shared responsibility in the execution of God's command. This shows it's a unified effort under divine direction.
- shall rise up (וְקַמְתֶּם, veqamtem): From the root קוּם (qum), meaning "to rise, stand up, take action." It conveys a decisive and immediate movement, implying coming out of the hidden position of the ambush with purpose. It is an active and essential part of the military strategy.
- from the ambush (מֵהָאוֹרֵב, meha'orev): Derived from אָרַב ('arav), meaning "to lie in wait, ambush." This is the core tactical element specified by God. It highlights a divinely-instructed deceptive maneuver, contrasting with direct frontal assault and emphasizing God's detailed strategic guidance for their particular circumstance.
- and seize (וְהוֹרַשְׁתֶּם, vehorashtem): From יָרַשׁ (yarash), "to take possession of, inherit, dispossess." It implies a thorough, decisive act of driving out the current inhabitants and taking complete control. This verb is foundational to the theme of Israel inheriting the promised land by dispossessing its enemies.
- the city (הָעִיר, ha'ir): Refers to Ai. It symbolizes not just a physical stronghold but also the previous place of Israel's defeat, representing the redemption of their failed attempt through God's renewed grace.
- for (כִּי, ki): This conjunction introduces the reason or justification for the command. It signals that the human action (rising from ambush and seizing) is predicated upon, and empowered by, the divine assurance that follows. It links obedience to divine enablement.
- the Lord your God (יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, YHWH Eloheykhem): YHWH is God's covenant name, signifying His personal, redemptive relationship with Israel. Eloheykhem ("your God") emphasizes this particular covenant bond and His special commitment to His people. This underscores that the victory is secured by their powerful, faithful, covenant God.
- will deliver it (נְתָנָהּ, netanah): From the root נָתַן (natan), "to give, put, place." It's a strong declarative statement of divine action. This is not a possibility but a certain, willed act of God. It implies the pre-ordained nature of the victory from God's perspective.
- into your hand (בְּיֶדְכֶם, beyedkhem): A common Hebrew idiom signifying complete power, control, possession, and assured victory. It means the city and its inhabitants will be entirely subject to Israel, their power broken by God's decree.
Joshua 8 7 Bonus section
The tactical use of an ambush for Ai contrasts sharply with the miraculous, non-military fall of Jericho, illustrating that God’s methods are diverse and perfectly tailored to each situation, emphasizing His control over all circumstances. This variation also serves to deepen Israel’s understanding of God’s nature – He is not limited to one way of working. The divine directive to "seize" and "dispossess" connects to the overarching theological theme of Israel's "inheritance" of the land as a gift from God (Gen 12:7, Deut 1:8). The battle for Ai, though involving a human army, ultimately represents a "holy war" where God Himself is the chief combatant, validating His power and justice to both Israel and the surrounding nations.
Joshua 8 7 Commentary
Joshua 8:7 encapsulates the foundational principle of Israel's conquest: success hinges not on human strength or tactical brilliance alone, but entirely on the divine mandate and empowering presence of the Lord. Following a previous defeat caused by disobedience, this verse represents God's re-engagement with His people, providing a specific, yet unexpected, military strategy for Ai. The command to "rise up from the ambush and seize the city" demonstrates that while Israel was required to act decisively, their actions were merely the instrument through which God would bring about His sovereign will. The pivotal "for the Lord your God will deliver it into your hand" transitions from human instruction to divine assurance. This declaration is a covenant promise, making the victory a certain outcome before the battle even commences, provided Israel obeys. It transforms the act of conquest from a mere military feat into a tangible demonstration of God's power and faithfulness to His people, securing not just a city but also a vital lesson in trust and obedience.
- Practical examples:
- Like a student who diligently studies for an exam but knows ultimate understanding comes from a higher source of wisdom.
- A builder meticulously following blueprints, knowing the stability of the structure depends on the foundational engineering.