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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 7:1-5

The story of this chapter begins with a but. The Lord was with Joshua, and his fame was noised through all that country, so the foregoing chapter ends, and it left no room to doubt but that he would go on as he had begun conquering and to conquer. He did right, and observed his orders in every thing. But the children of Israel committed a trespass, and so set God against them; and then even Joshua's name and fame, his wisdom and courage, could do them no service. If we lose our God, we lose... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 7:2

And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai ,.... Which was the next city of importance, though not so large as Jericho, and was, as the Jews say F12 Shemoth Rabba, sect. 32. fol. 185. 2. , three miles distant from it; Abarbinel says F13 In Josh. xx. fol. 34. 1. four miles, and so Bunting F14 Travels Of the Patriarchs, &c.; p. 95. ; Jerom F15 De loc. Heb. fol. 87. E. says, that in his times very few ruins of it appeared, only the place was shown where it stood: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 7:3

And they returned unto Joshua, and said unto him, let not all the people go up ,.... After they had reconnoitred the place, they came back to their general, and gave it as their opinion, that there was no need for the whole army to go up against the city: but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai ; such a number they judged were sufficient to take it: and make not all the people to labour thither ; carrying their tents, bearing their armour, and going up hill: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 7:4

So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men ,.... Joshua detached from the army the largest number proposed, that there might be strength enough to take the place; and those he sent under proper officers to Ai, who went up to the very gate of the city, as appears from Joshua 7:5 , and they fled before the men of Ai ; for upon their appearing at the gate of their city, they came out with all their forces against them, and as soon as they did, the children of Israel... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 7:5

And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men ,.... In the pursuit of them, which were but few, but a sufficient rebuke of Providence; their loss was but small, but their shame and disgrace great: for they chased them from before the gate ; the gate of the city of Ai: even unto Shebarim ; not that there was a place of this name before, but it was so called from hence, because there they were broken, as Kimchi observes; and the Targum and Jarchi render it,"until they... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 7:2

Sent men from Jericho to Ai - This is the place called Hai, Genesis 12:8 . It was in the east of Beth-el, north of Jericho, from which it was distant about ten or twelve miles. From Joshua 7:4 , Joshua 7:5 ; it appears to have been situated upon a hill, and belonged to the Amorites, as we learn from Joshua 7:7 . It is very likely that it was a strong place, as it chose to risk a siege, notwithstanding the extraordinary destruction of Jericho which it had lately witnessed. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 7:4

About three thousand men - The spies sent to reconnoitre the place ( Joshua 7:3 ;) reported that the town was meanly garrisoned, and that two or three thousand men would be sufficient to take it. These were accordingly sent up, and were repulsed by the Amorites. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 7:5

They chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim - They seem to have presumed that the men of Ai would have immediately opened their gates to them, and therefore they marched up with confidence; but the enemy appearing, they were put to flight, their ranks utterly broken, and thirty-six of them killed. שברים Shebarim signifies breaches or broken places, and may here apply to the ranks of the Israelites, which were broken by the men of Ai; for the people were... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 7:2

Verse 2 2.And Joshua sent men from Jericho, etc To examine the site of the city and reconnoiter all its approaches was an act of prudence, that they might not, by hurrying on at random through unknown places, fall into an ambuscade. But when it would be necessary shortly after to advance with all the forces, to send forward a small band with the view of taking the city, seems to betray a want of military skill. Hence it would not have been strange that two or three thousand men, on a sudden... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 7:1-5

The sin. One of the most valuable uses of the historical portions of the Old Testament is the valuable moral lessons they convey. "The Old Testament is not contrary to the New." Both come from God, and the offences God denounces and punishes under the old dispensation will be equally denounced and punished by Him under the new. Let no sinner flatter himself that he will escape because his doctrine is sound, or because he belongs to an orthodox body of Christians, or because he feels... read more

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