Joshua 8:9 kjv
Joshua therefore sent them forth: and they went to lie in ambush, and abode between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai: but Joshua lodged that night among the people.
Joshua 8:9 nkjv
Joshua therefore sent them out; and they went to lie in ambush, and stayed between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai; but Joshua lodged that night among the people.
Joshua 8:9 niv
Then Joshua sent them off, and they went to the place of ambush and lay in wait between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai?but Joshua spent that night with the people.
Joshua 8:9 esv
So Joshua sent them out. And they went to the place of ambush and lay between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai, but Joshua spent that night among the people.
Joshua 8:9 nlt
So they left and went to the place of ambush between Bethel and the west side of Ai. But Joshua remained among the people in the camp that night.
Joshua 8 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference ||-------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|| Josh 8:1-2 | "...the Lord said unto Joshua... lay thee an ambush for the city behind it."| God directly commands the ambush strategy for Ai. || Josh 8:4 | "And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye shall lie in wait against the city..."| Joshua's direct transmission of God's ambush command. || Josh 7:5 | "And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men..." | Prior defeat at Ai necessitating a new divine strategy. || Judg 20:29-30 | "And Israel set liers in wait round about Gibeah." | Similar use of ambush tactic for Israelite warfare. || Judg 9:34 | "And Abimelech rose up, and all the people... and put themselves in ambushes."| Another biblical example of ambush as a military tactic. || 2 Chr 13:13 | "But Jeroboam caused an ambushment to come about behind them..." | Instance of strategic ambush used in Judah's history. || Josh 1:5 | "...as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee..." | Divine assurance of God's presence with Joshua. || Deut 31:6-8 | "Be strong and of a good courage... the Lord... he will be with thee..." | God's encouragement for leaders to be present and fearless. || Phil 2:7 | "...took upon him the form of a servant..." | Christ's example of humble leadership, being "among" his people.|| Matt 20:26-28 | "...whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister..." | Emphasis on servant leadership and active engagement. || Ps 37:23 | "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord..." | God directs human actions, including military strategies. || Prov 21:31 | "The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord."| Human preparation is good, but victory comes from God. || 1 Sam 15:22 | "...to obey is better than sacrifice..." | Highlights the importance of complete obedience to God's command.|| Rom 8:28 | "And we know that all things work together for good..." | God can bring good and victory even after failure. || 1 Cor 10:13 | "...but will with the temptation also make a way to escape..." | God provides a way to overcome obstacles, as He did for Ai. || Exod 17:9 | "And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men... fight with Amalek..." | Early display of Joshua's leadership in battle. || Gen 12:8 | "pitched his tent... Bethel on the west, and Ai on the east..." | Historical and spiritual significance of Bethel and Ai. || Gen 28:19 | "And he called the name of that place Bethel..." | Bethel's meaning, "House of God," contrasts with Ai's ruin. || Amos 3:14 | "...I will visit the altars of Bethel: and the horns of the altar shall be cut off."| Bethel's later degradation, a contrast to its early sanctity.|| Josh 8:12 | "And he took about five thousand men... between Bethel and Ai..." | Further confirmation of the ambush location. || Isa 40:11 | "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd..." | Leadership depicted as caring, hands-on, like a shepherd. || 2 Sam 5:23-24 | David seeks God's direction for battle strategy. | Emphasizes seeking God's specific commands for warfare. || Prov 20:18 | "Every purpose is established by counsel..." | Underscores the value of careful planning and strategy. |
Joshua 8 verses
Joshua 8 9 Meaning
This verse details the precise tactical execution of God's commanded strategy for the conquest of Ai after Israel's initial defeat. It specifically describes Joshua's deployment of the designated ambush force to a strategically vital location between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai. It also highlights Joshua's active, direct leadership, choosing to lodge among the main body of the Israelite people that night, indicating his solidarity with them, his commitment to the plan, and his readiness for the main assault to commence at dawn.
Joshua 8 9 Context
Joshua 8:9 is nestled within the narrative of Israel's second attempt to conquer the city of Ai. Following the humiliating defeat in the first attempt (Joshua 7) due to Achan's sin and Israel's disobedience, this chapter details a divinely-ordained strategic reversal. God Himself commands Joshua to implement a precise ambush tactic (Joshua 8:1-2), completely different from the frontal assault that failed previously. This verse marks the literal deployment of that crucial part of the strategy. Historically, the conquest of Canaan was not merely a military endeavor but a holy war, demonstrating God's faithfulness to His covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Gen 12:7, 26:3, 28:13). The context highlights God's sovereignty over battle, contrasting human fallibility (as seen in chapter 7) with divine wisdom and the power of obedience, implicitly serving as a polemic against the strength of local pagan deities or the belief that military might alone ensures victory.
Joshua 8 9 Word analysis
- So Joshua sent them forth: The Hebrew phrase יְשַׁלְּחֵם יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (yeshallĕḥēm yəhôšua') implies a deliberate, authorized dispatching. "Sent them forth" ('arav) denotes an official act of deployment. This highlights Joshua's active leadership and direct involvement in implementing the divine strategy.
- and they went to lie in ambush: The Hebrew word for "ambush" is מַאֲרָב (ma'ărav), derived from the root ארב ('arab), meaning "to lie in wait" or "to set a snare." This is a crucial element of the new strategy for Ai, emphasizing deceptive tactics against the initial failed direct assault. It denotes a planned, hidden stratagem rather than an overt, frontal attack. This illustrates God's willingness to use cunning military strategy as part of His divine plan for victory.
- between Bethel and Ai: This specific geographical detail is vital. Bethel (בֵּית אֵל – Bêṯ-'Ēl, "House of God") held deep historical and spiritual significance for Israel, being associated with Abraham (Gen 12:8) and Jacob (Gen 28:19). Ai (הָעַי – hā-'Ay, "the ruin" or "the heap"), in contrast, was the site of Israel's recent defeat and future desolation. Positioning the ambush between these two points was geographically optimal for hiding and tactical effectiveness, using the rugged terrain. It implicitly sets up a juxtaposition: God's "house" and the doomed "heap," symbolizing the shift from Israel's initial failure to divinely-ordained victory.
- on the west side of Ai: This detail provides extreme tactical precision, essential for a successful ambush. It suggests a terrain feature or direction that was ideal for concealment and striking the flank or rear of Ai's defenders once lured out. This emphasizes the meticulous planning that characterized God's directives.
- but Joshua lodged that night among the people: The Hebrew verb וַיָּלֶן (vayyālen) from לִין (līn), means "to spend the night" or "to lodge." This specific detail reveals Joshua's servant leadership. Rather than remaining distant or safe, he chose to stay with the main fighting force. This presence would have provided morale, instilled confidence, and demonstrated his personal commitment to the upcoming battle. It reflects a leadership style of solidarity and active participation, mirroring biblical ideals of a leader sharing in the conditions of those he leads.
Joshua 8 9 Bonus section
The number of men for this initial ambush is implied to be 30,000, as stated in Joshua 8:3, which were deployed during the night. A later group of 5,000 men mentioned in 8:12 seems to be a secondary smaller ambush or support force, possibly positioned differently. The careful staging of these forces, the primary 30,000 men moving silently under the cover of darkness, demonstrates the absolute commitment to secrecy and surprise. The entire plan for Ai, meticulously detailed in chapter 8, illustrates a divinely-inspired strategy that combined human effort and strategic genius with ultimate reliance on God. This marked a profound lesson for Israel: victory was not from their strength, nor even solely from sound tactics, but from obedient execution of God's commands, however counter-intuitive (like an ambush vs. frontal assault for a larger army) or risky (like leaving the main force seemingly exposed).
Joshua 8 9 Commentary
Joshua 8:9 marks a critical moment of obedience and tactical brilliance in the conquest of Ai. Following the humiliating defeat, Israel now meticulously executes God's precise instructions for an ambush. The verse underscores several key points: the direct and specific nature of God's guidance, requiring Joshua to lead not just by faith but with meticulous military planning. The placement "between Bethel and Ai, on the west side" indicates geographical precision dictated by divine strategy, turning the known landscape into a death trap for the enemy. Joshua's personal decision to "lodge that night among the people" highlights his compassionate, hands-on leadership. He was not aloof but shared the imminent challenges and discomforts of his troops, building morale and trust. This collective readiness, from strategic deployment to leadership presence, signifies Israel's renewed alignment with God's will after their prior failure. The victory that follows is a testament to the power of obedient execution of divine strategy.