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Joshua 7:3

JoshuaAi

1 The Israelites, however, acted unfaithfully regarding the things devoted to destruction. Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of what was set apart. So the anger of the LORD burned against the Israelites.

2 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.

On returning to Joshua, they reported, “There is no need to send all the people; two or three thousand men are enough to go up and attack Ai. Since the people of Ai are so few, you need not wear out all our people there.”

4 So about three thousand men went up, but they fled before the men of Ai.

5 And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of them, chasing them from the gate as far as the quarries and striking them down on the slopes. So the hearts of the people melted and became like water.

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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
On returning to Joshua, they reported, “There is no need to send all the people; two or three thousand men are enough to go up and attack Ai. Since the people of Ai are so few, you need not wear out all our people there.”
KJV
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.
WEB
They returned to Joshua, and said to him, “Don’t let all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and strike Ai. Don’t make all the people to toil there, for there are only a few of them.”
ASV
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; make not all the people to toil thither; for they are but few.
DARBY
And they returned to Joshua, and said to him, Let not all the people go up; let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; make not all the people to toil thither, for they are few.
BLB
And they returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not let all the people go up, but let about two thousand men or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not wear out all the people there, for they [are] few.”
ÅB
Og da de kom tilbake til Josva, sa de til ham: La ikke alt folket dra opp! Omkring to eller tre tusen mann kan dra opp og ta Ai; du trenger ikke å umake hele folket dit, for de er ikke mange.
OTB
Da de vendte tilbake til Josva, rapporterte de: “Ikke alle folkene trenger å gå opp; send omtrent to eller tre tusen menn for å angripe Ai. Ikke bry hele hæren, for innbyggerne er få.”
B1930
Og da de kom tilbake til Josva, sa de til ham: La ikke alt folket dra op! Omkring to eller tre tusen mann kan dra op og ta Ai; du trenger ikke å umake hele folket dit, for de er ikke mange.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

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