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James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Joshua 7:2

"And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east side of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and spy out the land. And the men went up and spied out Ai. And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; make not all the people to toil thither; for they are but few. So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai. And the... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Joshua 7:2

Ver. 2. Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai.— To forward the conquest of the land of Canaan, Joshua made the fertile plain of Jericho the centre of his camp, whence he sent detachments to seize upon the neighbouring towns, till the Israelites should see themselves masters of an extent of country sufficient to be divided among the tribes: the event, however, did not take place till about six years after. See Usher's Annals. As soon as he had established the best order he could in his camp, he... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Joshua 7:2

2. Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai—After the sacking of Jericho, the next step was to penetrate into the hills above. Accordingly, spies went up the mountain pass to view the country. The precise site of Ai, or Hai, is indicated with sufficient clearness (Genesis 12:8; Genesis 13:3) and has been recently discovered in an isolated tell, called by the natives Tell-el-Hajar, "the mount of stones," at two miles', or thirty-five minutes' distance, east southeast from Beth-el [VAN DE VELDE].... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Joshua 7:1-26

2. Defeat at Ai ch. 7At Jericho, Israel learned God’s strength. At Ai, she learned her own weakness. She could only conquer her enemies as she remained faithful to God’s covenant."We are never in greater danger than right after we have won a great victory." [Note: Henry Jacobsen, Claiming God’s Promises: Joshua, p. 62.] "The pinching of the [east-west] ridge route by Ai . . . makes it a natural first line of defense for the Hill Country around Bethel. Therefore, tactically speaking, the... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Joshua 7:2-5

The spies who reconnoitered Ai based their advice on the numbers of these Canaanites and the Israelites."East of Ai . . . one route descends due east to the pass across Wadi Makkuk. This pass affords the last crossing before the wadi deepens into a major canyon and obstacle. From there on, the unified stream bed of the wadi cuts a twisted path through the uplifted limestone resulting in rocky scarps of up to 200 meters or 660 feet before continuing east through the rough chalk wilderness. The... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 7:1-26

Repulse at Ai, due to Achan’s SinThe capture of Jericho is followed by an attempt upon Ai, a place of strategic importance, as commanding a main entrance into the interior of Canaan westward; the upper entrance into the valley of Aijalon being commanded by Ai and Bethel. This chapter has an interest of its own, as exhibiting Joshua in a new light, as the spiritual guide, drawing out, with the mingled sweetness and severity of a father (Joshua 7:19), the sinner’s detailed confession (see on... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Joshua 7:2

(2) Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai.—Why Ai should be the next town selected for attack after Jericho, is a question which perhaps we cannot answer with certainty. But we may observe that the next step after the capture of Ai, before the further conquest of the country, was to set up the Ten Commandments in Mount Ebal, in the heart of the country, and to pronounce there the blessing and the curse which are the sanction of the law of God. It may well be that the course of the first military... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Joshua 7:1-26

CHAPTER XIV.ACHAN’S TRESPASS.Joshua 7:1-26.A VESSEL in full sail scuds merrily over the waves. Everything betokens a successful and delightful voyage. The log has just been taken, marking an extraordinary run. The passengers are in the highest spirits, anticipating an early close of the voyage. Suddenly a shock is felt, and terror is seen on every face. The ship has struck on a rock. Not only is progress arrested, but it will be a mercy for crew and passengers if they can escape with their... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Joshua 7:1-26

7. Achan’s Sin and Israel’s Defeat CHAPTER 7 1. The defeat of Israel (Joshua 7:1-5 ) 2. The source of the defeat revealed (Joshua 7:6-15 ) 3. The transgressor found out (Joshua 7:16-23 ) 4. The judgment of Achan (Joshua 7:24-26 ) The insignificant place Ai brings defeat. Joshua sent men to view Ai. What authority was given to him to do so? There was no need to send spies once more, for the Lord had said, that the whole land was given to them. They report Ai a place without walls and... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Joshua 7:2

7:2 And Joshua sent men from Jericho to {b} Ai, which [is] beside Bethaven, on the east side of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai.(b) This was a city of the Amorites: for there was another so called among the Amorites, Jeremiah 49:3. The first Ai is called Aiah, Isaiah 10:28. read more

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