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
Joshua drew not his hand back - He was not only the general, but the standard-bearer or ensign of his own army, and continued in this employment during the whole of the battle. See on Joshua 8:18 ; (note). Some commentators understand this and Joshua 8:18 ; figuratively, as if they implied that Joshua continued in prayer to God for the success of his troops; nor did he cease till the armies of Ai were annihilated, and the city taken and destroyed. The Hebrew word כידון kidon... read more
Only the cattle and the spoil - In the case of Jericho these were all consigned to destruction, and therefore it was criminal to take any thing pertaining to the city, as we have already seen; but in the case before us the cattle and spoils were expressly given to the conquerors by the order of God. See Joshua 8:2 . read more
Unto this day - This last clause was probably added by a later hand. read more
Verse 26 26.For Joshua drew not his hand back, etc As by raising the spear he gave sign and pledge of hope as it were from heaven, he did not cease to keep the minds of his followers fixed upon it until they were masters of the city. By thus persevering he sufficiently proved how far removed he was from ambition; how free from doing anything in the way of vain ostentation. For it was just as if he had resigned the office of leader, and transferred the whole praise of the victory to God. How... read more
Renewed effort after disaster. The Christian warfare, whether from an individual or from a general point of view, is no record of invariable success. The career of each Christian, as of the Christian Church, is a chequered course. It has its periods of triumph and its moments of disaster. We learn here many valuable lessons as to our conduct under adverse circumstances. I. WE ARE NOT TO INDULGE DESPONDENCY . II. WE MUST GIVE HONOUR WHERE HONOUR IS DUE .... read more
Utterly destroyed. Hebrew, הֶחֶרִים (see note on Joshua 6:17 ). read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 8:23-29
We have here an account of the improvement which the Israelites made of their victory over Ai. 1. They put all to the sword, not only in the field, but in the city, man, woman, and child, none of them remained, Josh. 8:24. God, the righteous Judge, had passed this sentence upon them for their wickedness, so that the Israelites were only the ministers of his justice and the executioners of his doom. Once in this story, and but once, mention is made of the men of Beth-el, as confederates with... read more