Take all the people — That all of them might be partakers of this first spoil, and thereby encouraged to proceed in their work. The weak multitude indeed were not to go, because they might have hindered them in the following stratagem; and it was but fit that the military men who run the greatest ha... [ Continue Reading ]
To Ai — That is, the city and people of Ai. Unto Jericho and her king — That is, overcome and destroy them. This was enjoined to chastise their last insolence, and the triumphs and blasphemies which doubtless their success had produced: and to revive the dread and terror which had been impressed upo... [ Continue Reading ]
To go up against Ai — That is, to consider about this expedition; not as if all the people of war did actually go up, which was both unnecessary and burdensome: but it seems to be resolved by Joshua and all the council of war, that the thirty thousand here following should be selected for the enterp... [ Continue Reading ]
Them — The same party last spoken of, even the five thousand mentioned Joshua 8:12, there are only two parties engaged in the taking of Ai, and but one ambush, as plainly appears by comparing Joshua 8:9, with Joshua 8:12, which speaks only of five thousand, who are justly supposed to be a part of th... [ Continue Reading ]
That are — Or, that shall be: for at present he sent them away, Joshua 8:9, but the next morning followed, and joined himself with them, Joshua 8:10. That we — I and the twenty five thousand with me.... [ Continue Reading ]
Sent them — The same party. Among the people — Heb. that people, the people of war as they are called, Joshua 8:11, that is, the main body of the host consisting of thirty thousand.... [ Continue Reading ]
The people — Heb. that people, not all the people of Israel; which was needless, and required more time than could now be spared; but the rest of that host of thirty thousand, whereof five thousand were sent away; the remainder are numbered, to see whether some of them had not withdrawn themselves,... [ Continue Reading ]
That were with him — Namely, the thirty thousand mentioned, Joshua 8:3, or the most of them.... [ Continue Reading ]
And he took — Or rather, but he had taken, namely, out of the said number of thirty thousand, for this is added by way of recapitulation and farther explication of what is said in general, Joshua 8:9.... [ Continue Reading ]
Joshua went — Namely, accompanied with a small part of the host now mentioned, that is, very early in the morning, when it was yet dark, as is said in a like case, John 20:1, whence it is here called night, though it was early in the morning, as is said, Joshua 8:10, for it seems most probable, that... [ Continue Reading ]
His people — Namely, all his men of war, for the rest were left in Ai, Joshua 8:16. At a time appointed — At a certain hour agreed upon between the king and people of Ai, and of Bethel too, who were their confederates in this enterprize, as it may seem from Joshua 8:17. Possibly they might appoint t... [ Continue Reading ]
Made as if they were beaten — That is, fled from them, as it were for fear of a second blow. The wilderness — Which lay between Ai and Jericho, whither they now seemed to flee.... [ Continue Reading ]
All the people — Namely, all that were able to bear arms, for old men and children were unfit for the pursuit or fight; and that they were yet left, may seem from Joshua 8:24.... [ Continue Reading ]
Not a man — Namely, fit for war. Bethel — Which, being a neighbouring city, and encouraged by the former success, had sent some forces to assist them; and now, upon notice sent to them of the flight of their common enemies, or upon some other signal given, all their men of war join with those of Ai... [ Continue Reading ]
Stretch out the spear — This was, either, for a sign to his host present with him, to stop their flight, and make head against the pursuers: or, for a signal to the liers in wait, or, as a token of God's presence and assistance with them, and of their victory.... [ Continue Reading ]
Set the city on fire — Not all of it, as appears from Joshua 8:28, and because then they had lost that prey which God had allowed them; but part of it, enough to raise a smoke, and give notice to their brethren of their success.... [ Continue Reading ]
All Israel — That is, all the Israelites there present.... [ Continue Reading ]
The other — They who lay in ambush.... [ Continue Reading ]
Took alive — Reserving him to a more ignominious punishment.... [ Continue Reading ]
Smote it — That is, the inhabitants of it, the men, who through age or infirmity were unfit for war, and the women, Joshua 8:25.... [ Continue Reading ]
Of Ai — Not strictly, but largely so called, who were now in Ai, either as constant and settled inhabitants, or as sojourners and such as came to them for their help.... [ Continue Reading ]
Drew not his hand back — He kept his hand and spear in the same posture, both stretched out and lifted up, as a sign both to encourage them, and to direct them to go on in the work.... [ Continue Reading ]
Hanged on a tree — He dealt more severely with the kings of Canaan than with the people, because the abominable wickedness of that people was not restrained and punished (as it should have been) but countenanced and encouraged by their evil examples; and because they were the principal authors of th... [ Continue Reading ]
Then — Namely, after the taking of Ai. For they were obliged to do this, when they were brought over Jordan into the land of Canaan, Deuteronomy 11:29, Deuteronomy 27:2, which is not to be understood strictly, as if it were to be done the same day; for it is manifest they were first to be circumcise... [ Continue Reading ]
Upon the stones — Not upon the stones of the altar, which were to be rough and unpolished, Joshua 8:31, but upon other stones, smooth and plaistered, as is manifest from Deuteronomy 27:2. The law of Moses — Not certainly the whole five books of Moses, for what stones and time would have sufficed for... [ Continue Reading ]
All Israel — That is, the whole congregation, old and young, male and female. That side — Some on one side of it, and some on the other. Mount Gerizim — These two places were in the tribe of Ephraim, not far from Shechem, as appears both from scripture, and from other authors. Bless — Or curse, whic... [ Continue Reading ]
Afterward — After the altar was built, and the stones plaistered and writ upon. He read — That is, he commanded the priests or Levites to read, Deuteronomy 27:14. Blessings and cursings — Which words came in not by way of explication, as if the words of the law were nothing else besides the blessing... [ Continue Reading ]
Read not — Therefore he read not the blessings and curses only, as some think, but the whole law, as the manner was when all Israel, men and women, were assembled together, or the ten commandments. Among them — Who were proselytes, for no others can be supposed to be with them at this time.... [ Continue Reading ]