For Joshua drew not his hand back wherewith he stretched out his spear ,.... But continued it, and that stretched out: until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai ; just as the hand of Moses was held up, and kept held up until Amalek was discomfited by Joshua, Exodus 17:12 . read more
Only the cattle, and the spoil of the city, Israel took for a prey unto themselves ,.... Even all their substance, as besides their cattle, also their gold, silver, household goods, merchandise, &c.; according unto the word of the Lord which he commanded Joshua , Joshua 8:2 . read more
And Joshua burnt Ai ,.... The whole city, fire being only set before to a few houses, to make a smoke as a signal; he did with it as he had done with Jericho, for so he was ordered, Joshua 8:2 , and made it an heap for ever ; that is, for a long time, for it appears to have been rebuilt, and to have been inhabited by the Jews, after their return from their Babylonish captivity, Nehemiah 11:31 , even a desolation unto this day ; to the time of the writing of this book; and by... read more
And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until eventide ,.... By way of terror to other kings in the land of Canaan, that should refuse to submit unto him: and as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his carcass down from the tree ; according to the law in Deuteronomy 21:23 ; and that the land might not be defiled: and cast it at the entering of the gate of the city ; this was done, according to Ben Gersom and Abarbinel, that it might be publicly known to... read more
Then Joshua built an altar unto the Lord God of Israel in Mount Ebal. As was commanded, Deuteronomy 27:5 . The Samaritan Chronicle says, it was built in Mount Gerizim; but there is a difficulty arises, when this was done by Joshua; it should seem by inserting the account here, that it was done immediately after the destruction of Ai; and Mercator endeavours to prove that Ebal was near to Ai, but what he has said does not give satisfaction; for certain it is, that Ebal and Gerizim were near... read more
As Moses the servant of the Lord commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses ,.... Deuteronomy 27:5 , an altar of whole stones, on which no man hath lift up any iron ; See Gill on Exodus 20:25 ; see Gill on Deuteronomy 27:5 , and; see Gill on Deuteronomy 27:6 , and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the Lord, and sacrificed peace offerings ; by way of thanksgiving for the good land they were introduced into, and this was what... read more
Stretch out the spear - It is very probable that Joshua had a flag or ensign at the end of his spear, which might be easily seen at a considerable distance; and that the unfurling or waving of this was the sign agreed on between him and the ambush. (see Joshua 8:13 , and the preceding observations on Joshua 8:1 ; (note), observation 6); and on seeing this flag or ensign unfurled, the men who lay in ambush arose and entered the city, making the fire previously agreed on. See Joshua... read more
Set the city on fire - See on Joshua 8:8 ; (note). read more
They had no power to flee this way or that way - They were in utter consternation; they saw that the city was taken, they found themselves in the midst of their foes; that their wives, children, and property, had fallen a prey to their enemies, in consequence of which they were so utterly panic-struck as to be incapable of making any resistance. read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 8:25
And so it was, that all that fell that day ,.... Partly in the city, and partly in the field, both by the ambush and the army: both of men and women: were twelve thousand, even all the men of Ai ; so that the city was not a very large one, and the numbers of inhabitants were comparatively but few, as in Joshua 7:3 . read more