John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 8:7
Then ye shall rise up from the ambush ,.... When they should see a signal made, that in Joshua 8:18 ; and when their watch, they might set in a proper place, should see Israel flee, and the men of Ai at a distance from their city, pursuing, and give notice of it to the ambush: and seize upon the city ; enter into it, and take possession of it, its fortresses, and secure its passes: for the Lord your God will deliver it into your hand ; Joshua expresses himself with great... read more
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 8:3-22
We have here an account of the taking of Ai by stratagem. The stratagem here used, we are sure, was lawful and good; God himself appointed it, and we have no reason to think but that the like is lawful and good in other wars. Here was no league broken, no treaty of peace, that the advantage was gained; no, these are sacred things, and not to be jested with, nor used to serve a turn; truth, when once it is plighted, becomes a debt even to the enemy. But in this stratagem here was no untruth... read more