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Joshua 7:4

Ai
Fear

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.

3 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.”

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.

6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown before the ark of the LORD until evening, as did the elders of Israel; and they all sprinkled dust on their heads.

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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
So about three thousand men went up, but they fled before the men of Ai.
KJV
So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai.
WEB
So about three thousand men of the people went up there, and they fled before the men of Ai.
ASV
So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai.
DARBY
And there went up thither of the people about three thousand men, but they fled before the men of Ai.
BLB
And the people went up from there, about three thousand men, and they fled before the face of the men of Ai.
ÅB
Så dro omkring tre tusen mann av folket der opp; men de flyktet for mennene i Ai.
OTB
Omtrent tre tusen menn dro opp, men de ble drevet på flukt av mennene fra Ai.
B1930
Så drog omkring tre tusen mann av folket der op; men de flyktet for mennene i Ai.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Deuteronomy 28:25

    The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies. You will march out against them in one direction but flee from them in seven. You will be an object of horror to all the kingdoms of the earth.

    Read in context

  • Leviticus 26:17

    And I will set My face against you, so that you will be defeated by your enemies. Those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee when no one pursues you.

    Read in context

  • Isaiah 59:2

    But your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear.

    Read in context

  • Isaiah 30:17

    A thousand will flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five you will all flee, until you are left alone like a pole on a mountaintop, like a banner on a hill.

    Read in context

  • Deuteronomy 32:30

    How could one man pursue a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the LORD had given them up?

    Read in context