Joshua 7:3

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.

2 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.

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.

5 And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.

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

Cross references