Joshua 8:29

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 8:29

And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until eventide ,.... By way of terror to other kings in the land of Canaan, that should refuse to submit unto him: and as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his carcass down from the tree ; according to the law in Deuteronomy 21:23 ; and that the land might not be defiled: and cast it at the entering of the gate of the city ; this was done, according to Ben Gersom and Abarbinel, that it might be publicly known to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 8:29

The king of Ai he hanged on a tree - He had gone out at the head of his men, and had been taken prisoner, Joshua 8:23 ; and the battle being over, he was ordered to be hanged, probably after having been strangled, or in some way deprived of life, as in the case mentioned Joshua 10:26 , for in those times it was not customary to hang people alive. As soon as the sun was down - It was not lawful to let the bodies remain all night upon the tree. See the note... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 8:29

Verse 29 29.And the king of Ai he hanged, etc Though he seems to have treated the king with great severity in order to satisfy the hatred of the people, I cannot doubt that he studied faithfully to execute the divine judgment. Conquerors, indeed, are wont to spare captive kings, because their rank seems to carry something venerable along with it, but the condition of kings was different among those nations in which God wished particularly to show how greatly he detested the wickedness which he... 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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Joshua 8:29

Compare Deuteronomy 21:22-23 notes. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Joshua 8:29

Joshua 8:29. The king of Ai he hanged on a tree He dealt more severely with the kings of Canaan than with the people, because the abominable wickedness of that people was not restrained and punished, (as it ought to have been,) but countenanced and encouraged by their evil examples; and because they were the principal authors of the destruction of their own people, by engaging them in an obstinate opposition against the Israelites. Down from the tree According to God’s command in that... 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 8:29

as soon as. Compare Deuteronomy 21:22 , Deuteronomy 21:23 and Joshua 10:27 , that remaineth. Figure of speech Parenthesis (relative). App-6 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Joshua 8:29

Ver. 29. And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree— An end worthy of a prince who, doubtless, had by his example encouraged his subjects to resist the commands of God, and so to fill up the measure of their guilt. Until even-tide— See the law, Deuteronomy 21:22-23. The king of Ai alone survived the general slaughter, and he was only spared to meet a more ignominious doom. He is hanged in terrorem, that the kings of Canaan may hear and tremble; and on his corpse a monument is raised in the gate of... read more

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