Joshua 8:2

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Joshua 8:2

King. There was this difference, that the king of Hai was to be gibbeted, and his corpse stoned, while the city was to be plundered by the Israelites. --- It. This mode of warfare is equally just, as if the enemy was attacked in the open field. Dolus an virtus quis in hoste requirat? (Virgil) --- God was pleased to authorize it on this occasion, that his people might be less exposed, being under some apprehensions on account of the former defeat. Some nations have preferred to encounter the... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 8:1-2

1,2 When we have faithfully put away sin, that accursed thing which separates between us and God, then, and not till then, we may look to hear from God to our comfort; and God's directing us how to go on in our Christian work and warfare, is a good evidence of his being reconciled to us. God encouraged Joshua to proceed. At Ai the spoil was not to be destroyed as at Jericho, therefore there was no danger of the people's committing such a trespass. Achan, who caught at forbidden spoil, lost... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Joshua 8:1-13

Preparations for the Taking Of Ai v. 1. And the Lord, having restored His favor to Israel by the expiation of Achan's death, said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed, cast down and filled with apprehension. Take all the people of war with thee, the entire army, and arise, go up to Ai; see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land, the territory of which Ai was capital; v. 2. and thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou didst unto... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - Joshua 8:1-35

3. Capture and Destruction of AiJoshua 8:1-29a. Joshua’s Stratagem against AiJoshua 8:1-131And the Lord [Jehovah] said unto Joshua: Fear not, neither be thou dismayed, [Joshua 1:9]: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land: 2And thou shalt do unto Ai and her king as thou didst unto Jericho and her king: only the spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof, shall ye take for a prey unto... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - Joshua 8:1-17

Ai Again Attacked Joshua 8:1-17 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: “Arise, go up.” Though he was thus secure of victory, Joshua adopted such measures as his soldier-training suggested. Notice the place which our preparations should occupy. Not to shut God out, but to make the pathway along which His help may travel. The restrictions as to the spoil which had been... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - Joshua 8:1-35

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 campaign moved victoriously forward. The story of the taking of Ai is one of brilliant military strategy. Thus again the fact was brought into prominence that in prosecuting the work of Jehovah there must ever be a recognition of the value and use of the best in human reason. Strategy without... read more

Robert Neighbour

Wells of Living Water Commentary - Joshua 8:1-21

The Conquest of Ai Joshua 8:1-21 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 their defeat was that they did not sanctify themselves. Let Christians remember this lesson. It is. not so much gifted men, cultured women, and wealthy patrons that God needs, as it is clean hearts. No amount of education, of preparation, or of culture can take the place of purity. We may have... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 8:2

Joshua 8:2 a ‘And you will do to Ai and her king what you did to Jericho and her king. Only its spoil and its cattle you shall take for a prey for yourselves.’ The assurance was that it would be total victory. And the added assurance was that they could now begin to accumulate wealth from the land. YHWH had received His portion at Jericho, a token of what they owed to Him as their overlord. Now they could retain spoils for themselves. Compare on this verse Deuteronomy 2:35; Deuteronomy 3:6 on.... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 8:1-29

Joshua 8:1-Joel : . 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; in Joshua 8:12, he sends 5000 men. No doubt 30,000 is an error for 3000. The writer of 20, who tells us that the whole population of Ai was 12,000, is also the writer of Joshua 8:3. We may take it that he was far more likely to write 3000 than 30,000. In Joshua 8:17 the words... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Joshua 8:2

To Ai, i.e. the city and people of Ai. As thou didst unto Jericho and her king, i.e. overcome and destroy them. This was enjoined, partly to chastise their last insolence, and the triumphs and blasphemies which doubtless their success produced; and partly to revive the dread and terror which had been impressed upon the Canaanites by Jericho’s ruin, and had been much abated by the late success of Ai, and their confidence and expectation of further and greater success much raised. read more