Joshua 8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 8

The embarrassment which Achan's sin gave to the affairs of Israel being over, we have them here in a very good posture again, the affairs both of war and religion. Here is, I. The glorious progress of their arms in the taking of Ai, before which they had lately suffered disgrace. 1. God encourages Joshua to attack it, with the assurance of success, and directs him what method to take, Josh. 8:1, 2. 2. Joshua gives orders accordingly to the men of war, Josh. 8:3-8. 3. The stratagem is managed... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 8:1-2

Israel were very happy in having such a commander as Joshua, but Joshua was more happy in having such a director as God himself; when any difficulty occurred, he needed not to call a council of war who had God so nigh unto him, not only to answer, but even to anticipate, his enquiries. It should seem, Joshua was now at a stand, had scarcely recovered the discomposure he was put into by the trouble Achan gave them, and could not think, without fear and trembling, of pushing forward, lest there... read more

Matthew Henry

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

Matthew Henry

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 8:30-35

This religious solemnity of which we have here an account comes in somewhat surprisingly in the midst of the history of the wars of Canaan. After the taking of Jericho and Ai, we should have expected that the next news would be of their taking possession of the country, the pushing on of their victories in other cities, and the carrying of the war into the bowels of the nation, now that they had made themselves masters of these frontier towns. But here a scene opens of quite another nature;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 8

INTRODUCTION TO JOSHUA 8 Joshua is encouraged to go up and take Ai, and is directed what method to make use of, Joshua 8:1 ; accordingly he set an ambush on the west side of it, and, he and the rest of the army went up before it, Joshua 8:3 ; which, when the king of Ai saw, he and all his forces came cut against them, and the Israelites making a feint as if they were beaten, drew on the men of Ai to pursue them, upon which the ambush arose and entered the city and set fire to it, ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 8:1

And the Lord said unto Joshua ,.... Immediately after the execution of Achan, the fierceness of his anger being turned away: fear not, neither be thou dismayed ; on account of the defeat of his troops he had sent to take Ai: take all the people of war with thee ; all above twenty years of age, which, with the forty thousand of the tribes on the other side Jordan he brought over with him, must make an arm, five hundred thousand men; these Joshua was to take with so much to animate and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 8:2

And thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou didst to Jericho and her king ,.... Burn the one and slay the other: only the spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof, shall ye take for a prey unto yourselves ; which they were not allowed to do at Jericho: lay thee an ambush for the city behind it ; at the west side of it: some have called in question the lawfulness of the ambush, but, as this was appointed by the Lord, there is no room for it. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 8:3

So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against Ai ,.... As the Lord had commanded him: and Joshua chose out thirty thousand mighty men of valour ; out of all the men of war; these were a select company, picked men, not the whole army, as some have thought, for he was ordered to take all the people of war, as he did: and sent them away by night ; from the main army, that they might pass the city and get behind it undiscovered, for they were sent for an ambush; and of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 8:4

And he commanded them, saying ,.... At the time he sent them away: behold, ye shall lie in wait against the city, even behind the city ; that is, on the west side of it, Joshua 8:9 , go not very far from the city, but be ye all ready ; to enter into it, as soon as the forces are drawn out eastward to meet the army of Israel. read more

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