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Wesley's Explanatory Notes

Joshua 8:3

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 enterprize. Either,

1, the thirty thousand now mentioned; or, 2. part of them; namely, such as were to lie in wait; and these were

only five thousand men, as is expressed, Joshua 8:12.

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See also Joshua 8:3 in other biblical comments:

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    THIRTY THOUSAND MEN - comparing Joshua 8:3 and Joshua 8:12 (“five thousand men”), there is probably a mistake in the numbers of this verse, where an early copyist may have written the sign for 30,000...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    8. THE OVERTHROW OF AI CHAPTER 8 _ 1. The advance commanded (Joshua 8:1)_ 2. The strategy of Joshua (Joshua 8:3) 3. Ai's defeat (Joshua 8:14) 4. Joshua's obedience ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    CAPTURE OF AI. Here we have the second and the successful attempt to take Ai. That two accounts have been combined is obvious. In Joshua 8:3 Joshua sends 30,000 men as an ambuscade against the city; i...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _Joshua chose out thirty thousand mighty men of valour_ There is an apparent discrepancy between this statement and that in Joshua 8:10-12. But possibly (_a_) while 30000 were selected for the ambush,...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    _VER._ 3-9. _SO JOSHUA AROSE, AND ALL THE PEOPLE OF WAR,_ &C.— Joshua first detached from his army thirty thousand men, and charged them to go in the night-time and lie in ambush on the west side of A...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    _Plans for Attacking Ai Again Joshua 8:1-8_ And the Lord said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _SO JOSHUA AROSE, AND ALL THE PEOPLE OF WAR, TO GO UP AGAINST AI: AND JOSHUA CHOSE OUT THIRTY THOUSAND MIGHTY MEN OF VALOUR, AND SENT THEM AWAY BY NIGHT._ So Joshua ... chose out thirty thousand men...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE CONQUEST OF AI. THE COVENANT CONFIRMED UPON MT. EBAL 1-29. The Taking of Ai. Edersheim explains that Joshua detailed a corps of 30,000 men, of whom 5,000 were placed W. of Ai in a wood. The 25,000...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    COME IN, AND RECEIVE GOD’S PROMISES! JOSHUA _BRIAN ROWLANDS_ Maps to help you to study this book are on the Internet at www.easyenglish.info. CHAPTER 8 V1 Then the *Lord spoke again. ‘Do not b...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    AND JOSHUA CHOSE OUT THIRTY THOUSAND MIGHTY MEN. — Some difficulty arises from the fact that thirty thousand men are mentioned as having been sent away with general instructions to form an ambush in t...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יָּ֧קָם יְהֹושֻׁ֛עַ וְ כָל ־עַ֥ם הַ

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER XVI. THE CAPTURE OF AI. Joshua 8:1. JOSHUA, having dealt faithfully with the case of Achan, whose sin had intercepted the favour of God, is again encouraged, and directed to renew, but more...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    AI AGAIN ATTACKED Joshua 8:1 Now that the evil was put away, the people were assured of victory. “I _have_ given,” _etc_. But the assurance of faith is not inconsistent with the call for action: “Ari...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    As the result of the severity of the discipline exercised in the case of Achan, the nation returned to obedience, and consequently Jehovah immediately uttered the word of reassurance to Joshua and the...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    PAUSING FOR GOD IN THE MIDDLE OF VICTORY Joshua 8:1-35 Often, man holds himself guilty long after God has already wiped away the sin. It seems this was the case after Achan's sin had been removed fr...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    How beautiful to observe piety blended with valor. No doubt, after Joshua had arranged and formed the disposition of his army, according to the command of God, he retired to this valley, where he lodg...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    The passing of the Jordan was a wondrous and significant event; but it was not everything. It sank deep into the consciences of the Canaanites on all sides; but there was more that was needed, and mor...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Chapter 8 exhibits the return of Israel to their strength in God. If all the people were compromised by Achan's sin, it was needful that they should be sensibly restored to confidence, that they shoul...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    SO JOSHUA AROSE, AND ALL THE PEOPLE OF WAR, TO GO UP AGAINST AI,.... As the Lord had commanded him: AND JOSHUA CHOSE OUT THIRTY THOUSAND MIGHTY MEN OF VALOUR; out of all the men of war; these were a...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    _So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against Ai: and Joshua chose out thirty thousand mighty men of valour, and sent them away by night._ Ver. 3. _And Joshua chose out thirty thousan...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 God incourageth Ioshua. 3 The stratageme whereby Ai was taken. 29 The king thereof is hanged. 30 Ioshua buildeth an Altar, 32 writeth the Lawe on stones, 33 propoundeth blessings and cursings....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    So Joshua arose and all the people of war, the entire army, as ordered by God, TO GO UP AGAINST AI, he gave the command that all should be mustered. AND JOSHUA CHOSE OUT THIRTY THOUSAND MIGHTY MEN OF...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    PREPARATIONS FOR THE TAKING OF AI...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    AI TOTALLY DESTROYED (vs.1-29) Now the Lord gives explicit instructions to Joshua as to attacking Ai. How different these were to the plans Joshua used at first! God tells Joshua not to be afraid, bu...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    3-22 Observe Joshua's conduct and prudence. Those that would maintain their spiritual conflicts must not love their ease. Probably he went into the valley alone, to pray to God for a blessing, and he...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    TO GO UP AGAINST AI, i.e. to consider and conclude about this expedition of going against Ai; not as if all the people of war did actually go up, which was both unnecessary and burdensome, and might h...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Joshua 8:3 Joshua H3091 arose H6965 (H8799) people H5971 war H4421 up H5927 (H8800) Ai H5857 Joshua...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Conquest of Ai. The blessings and cursing of Ebal. CHARACTERS: God, Joshua, king of Ai. CONCLUSION: The believer, clad in the whole armor of God, meeting the enemy of God as God directs, w...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Joshua 8:4. _Ye shall lie in wait:_ la ruse du guerre. The craft of war is lawful, if war itself be lawful; and experience is often of more avail than strength. Joshua 8:25. _Twelve thousand._ Here is...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _So Joshua arose, and all the people of war._ ALL THE PEOPLE AT WORK FOR JESUS I. Consider the advice of the spies which led to such a shameful defeat (Joshua 7:3). 1. Here we shall have to deal wi...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    JOSHUA—NOTE ON JOSHUA 8:1__ Having been defeated in Ai (ch. Joshua 7:1), Israel now follows God’s instructions and is successful....

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    JOSHUA—NOTE ON JOSHUA 8:3 Thirty thousand men may seem to be a large number to LIE IN AMBUSH. Possibly the Hebrew word “thousand” should be understood in the alternative sense of “military unit.” And,...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— Joshua 8:3. Thirty thousand … and sent them away] Probably 30,000 was the entire number chosen to operate against Ai, and of these 5000 were sent, as stated in Joshua 8:12, to form th...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION THE CAPTURE OF AI.— JOSHUA 8:1 FEAR NOT. Joshua was down cast at his former failure, and well he might. "Treacherous Israelites are to be dreaded more than malicious Canaanites" (Matthew...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Then they went back to Ai, now this time under the direction of the Lord. Joshua sent part of the army around the other side of the city to hide in ambush. And then he said, "We'll come to the city li...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10; Matthew 24:39; Matthew 24:50;...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    THE CONQUEST OF AI Joshua 8:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS 1. Christian conquest depends upon a clean heart. When the Children of Israel went against Ai the first time, they fled in dismay. The reason for the...

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