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The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

Joshua 8:12

JOSHUA—NOTE ON Joshua 8:12 Perhaps the 5,000 men (or 5 units) set in ambush represent a section of the force mentioned in vv. Joshua 8:3, and the other 25,000 men (or 25 units) make up the main attack force. If so, this may help to explain why the king of Ai falls for the deception. Israel appears to be attempting the same direct approach of ch. Joshua 7:1, but with more than eight times as many troops.

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See also Joshua 8:12 in other biblical comments:

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    HE TOOK - Rather “had taken;” the words refer to the ambuscade which Joshua had detached during the previous night....

  • 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...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    OF THE CITY. Another school of Massorites read "of Ai", with many codices and Aramaic....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _he took_ Or rather, HAD TAKEN. _between Beth-el and Ai_ Comp. ch. Joshua 7:2 with Genesis 12:8; Genesis 13:3....

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    _VER._ 12. _AND HE TOOK ABOUT FIVE THOUSAND MEN_— Besides the thirty thousand men whom Joshua had sent off, he detached five thousand more, either to inforce the former, or to guard the defiles, and s...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    _The Conquest of Ai Joshua 8:9-29_ 9Joshua therefore sent them forth; and they went to lie in ambush, and abode behind Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai: but Joshua lodged that night among the pe...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _AND HE TOOK ABOUT FIVE THOUSAND MEN, AND SET THEM TO LIE IN AMBUSH BETWEEN BETHEL AND AI, ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE CITY._ No JFB commentary on this verse....

  • 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 HE TOOK ABOUT FIVE THOUSAND MEN, AND SET THEM TO LIE IN AMBUSH... — Is this a fresh body, or only a portion of the thirty thousand mentioned in Joshua 8:3? It is, of course, _possible_ that the bo...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יִּקַּ֕ח כַּ חֲמֵ֥שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֖ים אִ֑ישׁ וַ

  • 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...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    And he took about five thousand men, (e) and set them to lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city. (e) He sent these few, that the others who lay in ambush might not be disco...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Five thousand. These were part of the 30,000 mentioned above, ver. 3. (Challoner) --- Josue had given orders to have them placed in ambush apart; (Calmet) unless, perhaps, he places these himself in...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    I pass over, in a short remark, the mercy of the Lord vouchsafed Israel in this victory, to call the Reader's attention, to the manner in which the Lord was pleased to appoint the victory should be ob...

  • 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

    AND HE TOOK ABOUT FIVE THOUSAND MEN, AND SET THEM TO LIE IN AMBUSH,.... This was another ambush, as both Jarchi and Kimchi observe; and the latter adds, perhaps he set them nearer the city than the fo...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And he took about five thousand men, and set them to lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city. Ver. 12. _Between Bethel and Ai._] Those two confederate cities, in woods and c...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _He took about five thousand men and set them to lie in ambush _ Here commentators are divided. The learned Bishop Patrick, with many others, (see Le Clerc and Calmet,) has given it as his opinion, th...

  • 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

    And he took about five thousand men, and set them to lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city, for there was a second ridge toward the northwest....

  • 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...

  • Marginal Notes in the King James Version (1611)

    OF THE CITY: Or, of Ai...

  • 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

    AND HE TOOK, or, rather, _but he had taken_, to wit, out of the said number of thirty thousand, for this is added by way of recapitulation and further explication of what is said in general, JOSHUA 8:...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Joshua 8:12 took H3947 (H8799) five H2568 thousand H505 men H376 set H7760 (H8799) ambush H693 ...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘ And he took about five thousand men, and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city.' These were probably a further precaution rather than to increase the previous ambush...

  • 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 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

    Joshua 8:2; Joshua 8:3...

  • 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...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    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....

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