Joshua 7:2

1 But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.

And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth-aven, on the east side of Beth-el, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai.

3 And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few.

4 So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Meanwhile, Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven to the east of Bethel, and told them, “Go up and spy out the land.” So the men went up and spied out Ai.
KJV
And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth-aven, on the east side of Beth-el, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai.
WEB
Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth Aven, on the east side of Bethel, and spoke to them, saying, “Go up and spy out the land.” The men went up and spied out Ai.
ASV
And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth-aven, on the east side of Beth-el, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and spy out the land. And the men went up and spied out Ai.
DARBY
And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth-Aven, on the east side of Bethel, and spoke to them, saying, Go up and spy out the country. And the men went up and spied out Ai.
BLB
And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai—which [is] near Beth-aven on the east side of Bethel—and spoke to them, saying, “Go up and spy out the land.” And the men went up and spied out Ai.
ÅB
Fra Jeriko sendte Josva noen menn til Ai, som ligger ved Bet-Aven, østenfor Betel, og sa til dem: Dra opp og utspeid landet! Så dro mennene opp og utspeidet Ai.
OTB
Josva sendte menn fra Jeriko til Ai, som ligger nær Bet-aven, øst for Betel, og instruerte dem: “Gå opp og speid ut landet.” Så mennene gikk opp og utforsket Ai.
B1930
Fra Jeriko sendte Josva nogen menn til Ai, som ligger ved Bet-Aven, østenfor Betel, og sa til dem: Dra op og utspeid landet! Så drog mennene op og utspeidet Ai.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Joshua 18:12

    And their border on the north side was from Jordan; and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north side, and went up through the mountains westward; and the goings out thereof were at the wilderness of Beth-aven.

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 14:23

    So the LORD saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Beth-aven.

    Read in context
  • Hosea 4:15

    Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Beth-aven, nor swear, The LORD liveth.

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 13:5

    And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Beth-aven.

    Read in context
  • Genesis 12:8

    And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Beth-el, and pitched his tent, having Beth-el on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.

    Read in context
  • Proverbs 20:18

    Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.

    Read in context
  • Matthew 10:16

    Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

    Read in context
  • Proverbs 24:6

    For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.

    Read in context