Joshua 8:17 NIV

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 8:17

And there was not a man left in Ai or Bethel that went not out after Israel ,.... For as these two places were very near to each other, but a mile apart, they were in confederacy, and acted together, and could easily be called to the help of each other when required: though there is a difficulty how the men of Bethel could join those of Ai, when the ambush lay between them both, Joshua 8:12 ; they either went another way, or the ambush purposely let them pass, for fear of a discovery by a... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 8:17

There was not a man left in Ai or Beth-el - It is very likely that the principal strength of Beth-el had been previously brought into Ai, as the strongest place to make a stand in; Beth-el being but about three miles distant from Ai, and probably not greatly fortified. Therefore Ai contained on this occasion all the men of Beth-el - all the warriors of that city, as well as its own troops and inhabitants. Others think that the Beth-elites, seeing the Israelites fly, sallied... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 8:17

Verse 17 17.And there was not a man left in Ai, etc It will be clear from the context that some were taken in the city and slain, and therefore we must hold that the sally was not by all universally, and that the old men and women and many others unfit for war, did not rush forth into the fields; the meaning simply is, that no garrison was left to defend the city. The same thing is said of Bethel, and hence we may easily conjecture that Bethel, as it was a small unimportant town, belonged to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 8:1-29

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 8:17

Or Bethel. These words are not in the LXX ; and they may possibly have been a marginal gloss, for the intervention of the people of Bethel in this battle is very unintelligible. See note on Joshua 7:2 . On the other hand, it is quite possible that the difficulty involved in their retention may have caused their omission from the LXX ; and it may perhaps be thought possible that, on the capture of Ai, the Bethelites returned with all speed to their city, and that Joshua postponed its... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Joshua 8:17

Or Bethel - See the Joshua 8:1 note. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Joshua 8:15-17

Joshua 8:15-17. All Israel made as if they were beaten That is, they fled from them, as it were for fear of a second blow. The wilderness Which lay between Ai and Jericho, whither they now seemed to flee. All the people that were in Ai Namely, all that were able to bear arms, for old men and children were unfit for the pursuit or fight; and that they were yet left, appears from Joshua 8:24-25. Not a man Namely, fit for war. Bethel Which, being a neighbouring city, and encouraged... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Joshua 8:1-35

Victory in central Canaan (8:1-9:27)Now that the Israelites had removed the cause of their defeat, God promised Joshua victory over Ai. He added that on this occasion the Israelites could keep the plunder for themselves (8:1-2).Even with God’s assurance of victory, Joshua planned the attack thoroughly. One company of soldiers was to draw the men of Ai out of the city to fight, then a second company would come out of hiding to attack Ai from the rear (3-9). The plan worked perfectly. When the... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Joshua 8:17

man. Hebrew. ish . App-14 . read more