Joshua 8:9 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 8:9

Joshua therefore sent them forth ,.... The thirty thousand chosen men: and they went to lie in ambush ; as they were ordered, Joshua 8:2 , and abode between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai ; for as Ai was on the east of Bethel, Joshua 7:2 . Bethel must be on the west of Ai, as Jarchi notes: but Joshua lodged that night among the people ; the main body of the army, to direct them in the affair of war, how they should behave the next day, when they came to fight; and 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 8:9

Between Bethel and Ai. (see above, Joshua 7:2 ). 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 8:9

between Beth-el and Ai. The place of Abraham's altar, Genesis 12:8 : so that the place where the promise of the Land was made, is the place where it began to be fulfilled. Abraham had come down from Sichem: Joshua goes up to Sichem, and builds his altar on the same spot where Abraham had built his. Compare Genesis 12:6-8 with Joshua 8:30-35 and Deuteronomy 11:30 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Joshua 8:3-9

Ver. 3-9. So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, &c.— Joshua first detached from his army thirty thousand men, and charged them to go in the night-time and lie in ambush on the west side of Ai, at a convenient distance; while, on his part, by break of day, he advanced with all his troops, and appeared before the town, in order to draw out from thence the garrison, which, doubtless, had no idea that the whole army followed. He then informed the officers who commanded the detachment,... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Joshua 8:9

9. between Beth-el and Ai—Beth-el, though lying quite near in the direction of west by north, cannot be seen from Tell-el-hajar; two rocky heights rise between both places, in the wady El-Murogede, just as the laying of an ambush to the west of Ai would require [VAN DE VELDE; ROBINSON]. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Joshua 8:1-29

3. Victory at Ai 8:1-29When the people had dealt with the sin of Achan as God commanded, Israel was ready to engage the enemy again. read more