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Joshua 8:14

AiArabah

12 Now Joshua had taken about five thousand men and set up an ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city.

13 So the forces were stationed with the main camp to the north of the city and the rear guard to the west of the city. And that night Joshua went into the valley.

When the king of Ai saw the Israelites, he hurried out early in the morning with the men of the city to engage them in battle at an appointed place overlooking the Arabah. But he did not know that an ambush had been set up against him behind the city.

15 Joshua and all Israel let themselves be beaten back before them, and they fled toward the wilderness.

16 Then all the men of Ai were summoned to pursue them, and they followed Joshua and were drawn away from the city.

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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
When the king of Ai saw the Israelites, he hurried out early in the morning with the men of the city to engage them in battle at an appointed place overlooking the Arabah. But he did not know that an ambush had been set up against him behind the city.
KJV
And it came to pass, when the king of Ai saw it, that they hasted and rose up early, and the men of the city went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at a time appointed, before the plain; but he wist not that there were liers in ambush against him behind the city.
WEB
When the king of Ai saw it, they hurried and rose up early, and the men of the city went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at the time appointed, before the Arabah; but he didn’t know that there was an ambush against him behind the city.
ASV
And it came to pass, when the king of Ai saw it, that they hasted and rose up early, and the men of the city went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at the time appointed, before the Arabah; but he knew not that there was an ambush against him behind the city.
DARBY
And it came to pass when the king of Ai saw it, that the men of the city hasted and rose early, and went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at the appointed place before the plain. But he knew not that there was an ambush against him behind the city.
BLB
And it came to pass, when the king of Ai saw [it], that they hurried and rose early and went out—the men of the city—against Israel into battle, he and all his people, at an appointed place before the face of the plain. And he did not know that an ambush [was] against him behind the city.
ÅB
Da kongen i Ai så dette, skyndte byens menn seg, han selv og hele hans folk, og dro tidlig om morgenen ut til strid mot Israel, til det fastsatte sted foran ødemarken; men han visste ikke at det lå et bakhold mot ham vestenfor byen.
OTB
Da kongen av Ai så dette, skyndte han og alle hans menn fra byen seg tidlig ut for å møte Israel i kamp på det bestemte stedet foran ørkensletten, men han visste ikke at det var et bakhold mot ham bak byen.
B1930
Da kongen i Ai så dette, skyndte byens menn sig, han selv og hele hans folk, og drog tidlig om morgenen ut til strid mot Israel, til det fastsatte sted foran ødemarken; men han visste ikke at det lå et bakhold mot ham vestenfor byen.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Matthew 24:39

    And they were oblivious, until the flood came and swept them all away. So will it be at the coming of the Son of Man.

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  • Isaiah 19:13

    The princes of Zoan have become fools; the princes of Memphis are deceived. The cornerstones of her tribes have led Egypt astray.

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  • Joshua 8:16

    Then all the men of Ai were summoned to pursue them, and they followed Joshua and were drawn away from the city.

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  • Isaiah 19:11

    The princes of Zoan are mere fools; Pharaoh’s wise counselors give senseless advice. How can you say to Pharaoh, “I am one of the wise, a son of eastern kings”?

    Read in context

  • 2 Peter 2:3

    In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep.

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  • Ecclesiastes 9:12

    For surely no man knows his time: Like fish caught in a cruel net or birds trapped in a snare, so men are ensnared in an evil time that suddenly falls upon them.

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  • Joshua 8:5

    Then I and all the troops with me will advance on the city. When they come out against us as they did the first time, we will flee from them.

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  • Daniel 4:31

    While the words were still in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven: “It is decreed to you, King Nebuchadnezzar, that the kingdom has departed from you.

    Read in context