8:1 God encourages Joshua;
8:3 The stratagem whereby Ai was taken;
8:29 The king thereof is hanged;
8:30 Joshua builds an altar;
8:32 writes the law on stones;
8:33 and pronounces the blessings and curses. Verse 1Fear notJoshua 1:9, 7:6, 7:7, 7:9; Deuteronomy 1:21, 7:18, 31:8; Psalm 27:1, 46:11; Isaiah 12:2, 41:10-16; 43:2; Jeremiah 46:27; Matthew 8:26 take allIt would seem, from this verse, that all that were capable of bearing arms were to march out of the camp on this occasion: 30,000 formed an ambuscade in one place; and 5,000 were placed in another, who all gained their positions in the night. With the rest of the army, Joshua appeared the next morning before Ai, which the men of that city would naturally suppose was the whole of the Israelitish force and, consequently, be the more emboldened to come out and attack them. Some, however, think that 30,000 men were the whole that were employed on this occasion, 5,000 of whom were placed in ambush on the west of the city, between Bethel and Ai - Joshua 8:12
and, with the rest, Joshua appeared before the city in the morning. The king, seeing but about 25,000 coming against him, though he had but 12,000 persons in the whole city - 8:25
determined to risk a battle, issued out, and was defeated by stratagem.I have6:2; Psalm 44:3; Daniel 2:21, 2:37, 2:38, 4:25, 4:35ReciprocalJoshua 8:7 - for the Lord; 8:11 - General; 9:3 - Jericho; 10:8 - General; 12:9 - Ai; 1 Kings 8:44 - whithersoever; 2 Chronicles 6:34 - by the way; Ecclesiastes 3:8 - a time of war; Haggai 2:5 - fear Verse 2do to AiJoshua 8:24, 8:28, 8:29. See note on 6:21, see note on 10:1, see note on 10:28, and see note on Deuteronomy 3:2. only the spoilJoshua 8:27; Deuteronomy 20:14; Job 27:16, 27:17; Psalm 39:6; Proverbs 13:22, 28:20; Jeremiah 17:11; Luke 12:20, 12:21 lay theeJoshua 8:7, 8:9, 8:12, 8:14, 8:19; Judges 20:29-33; 2 Chronicles 13:13, 20:22; Jeremiah 51:12ReciprocalNumbers 31:11 - General; Joshua 10:29 - Libnah; 10:40 - as the Lord; 2 Samuel 5:23 - fetch; 15:34 - return; 1 Kings 8:44 - whithersoever; 1 Chronicles 14:14 - turn away Verse 3by nightMatthew 24:39, 24:50, 25:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10ReciprocalGenesis 12:8 - Hai; Joshua 8:12 - five thousand; 8:17 - a man Verse 4lie in waitJoshua 8:16; Judges 9:25, 20:29, 20:33, 20:36; 1 Samuel 15:2, 15:5; Acts 23:21 go notEcclesiastes 7:19, 9:16ReciprocalJoshua 8:13 - liers in wait; 2 Chronicles 13:13 - an ambushment Verse 5as atJoshua 7:5 that we willJudges 20:31-33; Matthew 10:16ReciprocalJoshua 8:14 - Ai saw it; 8:16 - drawn away Verse 6drawnHeb. pulled, Joshua 8:16 They fleeExodus 14:3, 15:9; Judges 20:32; Ecclesiastes 8:11, 9:12ReciprocalJoshua 8:19 - General; 2 Samuel 17:9 - some Verse 7for the LordJoshua 8:1; 2 Kings 5:1; Proverbs 21:30, 21:31ReciprocalExodus 23:31 - deliver the; Numbers 21:34 - for I have; Joshua 8:2 - lay thee; 8:18 - Stretch; Judges 4:7 - deliver; 1 Samuel 23:4 - for I will; 2 Samuel 5:23 - fetch Verse 8set the cityJoshua 8:28, 6:24 I have1:9, 1:16; Judges 4:6; 2 Samuel 13:28ReciprocalJoshua 8:13 - on the west; 11:12 - as Moses Verse 9betweenJoshua 8:12, 7:2; Genesis 12:8, Hai, Ezra 2:28; Nehemiah 7:32 lodgedGenesis 32:21ReciprocalJoshua 8:2 - lay thee; Nehemiah 11:31 - Aija Verse 10rose upJoshua 3:1, 6:12, 7:16; Psalm 119:60Reciprocal2 Samuel 18:1 - numbered Verse 11Joshua 8:1-5

Verse 12five thousandJoshua 8:2, 8:3 of the cityor, of AiReciprocal8:1 - take all; 8:9 - between; 8:13 - on the west; Judges 9:25 - General Verse 13liers in waitHeb. lying in wait, Joshua 8:4 on the west8:8, 8:12ReciprocalJudges 9:25 - General Verse 14Ai saw itJoshua 8:5, 8:16 he wist notJudges 20:34-36; Ecclesiastes 9:12; Isaiah 19:11, 19:13; Daniel 4:31; Matthew 24:39, 24:50; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3; 2 Peter 2:3ReciprocalExodus 34:29 - wist; Joshua 8:2 - lay thee; Judges 20:31 - drawn; Jeremiah 51:12 - ambushes Verse 15by the wayJoshua 18:12Reciprocal16:1 - the water; Judges 20:32 - Let us flee; 20:36 - for the men Verse 16called togetherJudges 20:36-39 drawn awayJoshua 8:5, 8:6; Judges 20:31; Psalm 9:16; Ezekiel 38:11-22; Revelation 16:14, 19:19-21ReciprocalJoshua 8:4 - lie in wait; 8:14 - Ai saw it; 8:24 - returned unto Ai; Judges 20:32 - Let us flee Verse 17a manJoshua 8:3, 8:24, 8:25, 11:20; Deuteronomy 2:30; Job 5:13; Isaiah 19:11-13 BethelBethel is not mentioned in the Greek version, and some, with Houbigant and Pilkington, think it was not originally in the Hebrew; because, had the men of Bethel pursued, as well as those of Ai, it would have been said that they left the cities, and not the city, open. The principal strength of Bethel might have been previously taken into Ai, as the strongest place to make a stand in; Bethel being but about three miles westward from Ai.ReciprocalGenesis 12:8 - of Bethel; Joshua 12:9 - Ai; 12:16 - Bethel; Ezra 2:28 - Ai; Nehemiah 7:32 - Bethel Verse 18StretchJoshua 8:7, 8:26; Exodus 8:5, 17:11; Job 15:25 the spearThe word keedon is rendered clypeum, a shield or buckler, by the Vulgate but the LXX translate it γαισον, which Suidas says, signifies a kind of weapon, οιον δορατος, like a spear. It may denote a short spear, javelin, or lance; for it is evident that it signifies neither the larger spear nor the shield, because it is distinguished from both. 1 Samuel 17:6, 17:41, 17:45; Job 39:23
Joshua may have had a flag or ensign at the end of the spear, which might be seen at a considerable distance when extended, which was the sign agreed upon by him and the ambush.ReciprocalExodus 23:31 - deliver the; Judges 20:33 - rose up Verse 19Joshua 8:6-8Reciprocal8:2 - lay thee; Judges 20:37 - the liers in wait hasted Verse 20the smokeGenesis 19:28; Isaiah 34:10; Revelation 18:9, 19:3 and they hadJob 11:20; Psalm 48:5, 48:6, 76:5; Amos 2:14-16; Revelation 6:15-17 powerHeb. handReciprocalJudges 20:40 - looked; 20:43 - enclosed; 1 Samuel 13:6 - in a strait; 2 Kings 3:24 - smote the; 2 Chronicles 13:14 - looked back; Daniel 8:7 - and there was no; Joel 2:30 - pillars; 1 Thessalonians 5:3 - then Verse 21Reciprocal2 Samuel 10:9 - General Verse 22let noneJoshua 6:21, 10:28, 11:11, 11:12; Deuteronomy 7:2; Job 20:5; Luke 17:26-30; 1 Thessalonians 5:3ReciprocalDeuteronomy 28:7 - flee before; Joshua 10:1 - as he had; 2 Samuel 10:9 - General; 1 Chronicles 19:10 - set against Verse 23Joshua 8:29, 10:17; 1 Samuel 15:8; Revelation 19:20

Verse 24returned unto AiThis must refer to the women, children, and old persons left behind; for it seems that all the effective men had sallied out when they imagined the Israelites had fled - Joshua 8:16. 10:30-41, 11:10-14; Numbers 21:24ReciprocalGenesis 14:10 - fell; Deuteronomy 7:2 - utterly; Joshua 8:2 - do to Ai; 8:17 - a man; 10:20 - had made; John 11:54 - Ephraim Verse 25ReciprocalNumbers 31:15 - General; Deuteronomy 2:34 - utterly destroyed; Joshua 8:1 - take all; 8:17 - a man Verse 26JoshuaJoshua seems to have been not only the general but the standard-bearer of the army - Joshua 8:18
and continued in this employment, by holding up or extending his spear, during the whole of the battle; and did not slacken from the pursuit till the forces of Ai were utterly discomfited. Some commentators, however, understand this action in a figurative sense, like the holding up of Moses' hands, as if it implied that Joshua continued in prayer for the success of his troops, nor ceased till the armies of Ai were annihilated, and the city taken and destroyed.drew not8:18; Exodus 17:11, 17:12ReciprocalDeuteronomy 2:34 - utterly destroyed Verse 27the cattleJoshua 8:2, 11:4; Numbers 31:22, 31:26; Psalm 50:10; Matthew 20:15 he commandedJoshua 8:2ReciprocalDeuteronomy 2:35 - General; 3:7 - General; Joshua 10:40 - as the Lord; 11:14 - the spoil Verse 28an heapDeuteronomy 13:16; 2 Kings 19:25; Isaiah 17:1, 25:2; Jeremiah 9:11, 49:2, 50:26; Micah 3:12 unto this dayJoshua 4:9Reciprocal6:24 - burnt; 8:2 - do to Ai; 8:8 - set the city Verse 29the kingThe kings of Canaan lay under the same curse as their subjects and probably were more deeply criminal. The reserving of the king of Ai for a solemn execution, would tend to strike terror into the other kings, contribute to the success of Israel, and give their proceedings the stamp of a judicial process, and of executing the vengeance of God upon his enemies. Joshua 10:26-28, 10:30, 10:33; Deuteronomy 21:22, 21:23; Esther 7:10; Psalm 107:40, 110:5; Acts 12:23; Revelation 19:17, 19:18 as soonJoshua 10:27 a great heap7:26; 2 Samuel 18:17ReciprocalGenesis 40:19 - hang thee; Joshua 8:2 - do to Ai; 8:23 - General; 10:29 - Libnah; 12:9 - Ai; 2 Samuel 21:6 - hang; Esther 2:23 - hanged Verse 30built an altarGenesis 8:20, 12:7, 12:8 in mount EbalMoses himself had twice given express orders for this solemnity; once Deuteronomy 11:29, 11:30, in which he pointed out the very place where it was to be performed; and again, at the 27:1, there is a renewal of the instructions to Joshua, with special reference to minute particulars. It was a federal transaction: the covenant was now renewed between God and Israel upon their taking possession of the land of promise, that they might be encouraged in the conquest of it, and might know upon what terms they held it, and come under fresh obligations to obedience. Joshua 8:33ReciprocalDeuteronomy 27:4 - in mount Ebal; 27:5 - And there Verse 31as it isJoshua 8:34, 8:35, 1:8; 2 Kings 14:6, 22:8; 2 Chronicles 25:4, 35:12; Ezra 6:18; Nehemiah 13:1; Matthew 12:26 altarExodus 20:24, 20:25; Deuteronomy 27:5, 27:6; 1 Kings 18:31, 18:32 and they offeredExodus 18:12, 24:5; Deuteronomy 27:6, 27:7ReciprocalJoshua 11:12 - as Moses; Habakkuk 3:5 - as Verse 32Deuteronomy 27:2, 27:3, 27:8

Verse 33all IsraelJoshua 23:2, 24:1; Deuteronomy 27:12, 27:13, 29:10, 29:11 priestsJoshua 3:3, 3:6, 3:14, 4:10, 4:18, 6:6; Deuteronomy 31:9, 31:25; 1 Chronicles 15:11-15 strangerExodus 12:49; Leviticus 24:22; Numbers 15:16, 15:29; Deuteronomy 31:12 MosesJoshua 8:30-32; Deuteronomy 11:29, 27:12ReciprocalExodus 5:6 - officers; Numbers 6:23 - General; Deuteronomy 27:14 - General; Joshua 8:35 - strangers; Judges 9:7 - mount Gerizim; John 4:20 - fathers; Habakkuk 3:5 - as Verse 34he readDeuteronomy 31:10-12; Nehemiah 8:2, 8:3, 9:3, 13:1 blessingsLeviticus 26:1-46; Deuteronomy 27:14-26, 28:1-68, 29:20, 29:21, 30:15-20Reciprocal27:12 - upon mount Gerizim; 31:11 - shalt read; Joshua 8:31 - as it is Verse 35was notDeuteronomy 4:2; Jeremiah 26:2; Acts 20:27 womenDeuteronomy 29:11, 31:12; Ezra 10:1; Nehemiah 8:2; Joel 2:16; Mark 10:14; Acts 21:5 strangersJoshua 8:33 wereHeb. walkedconversantThe word conversant, from the Latin conversor, is here used in the classical sense of having intercourse with.ReciprocalDeuteronomy 31:11 - shalt read; Joshua 8:31 - as it is