Joshua 8:23

21 When Joshua and all Israel saw that the men in ambush had captured the city and that smoke was rising from it, they turned around and struck down the men of Ai.

22 Meanwhile, those in the ambush came out of the city against them, and the men of Ai were trapped between the Israelite forces on both sides. So Israel struck them down until no survivor or fugitive remained.

But they took the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua.

24 When Israel had finished killing all the men of Ai who had pursued them into the field and wilderness, and when every last one of them had fallen by the sword, all the Israelites returned to Ai and put it to the sword as well.

25 A total of twelve thousand men and women fell that day—all the people 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
But they took the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua.
KJV
And the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.
WEB
They captured the king of Ai alive, and brought him to Joshua.
ASV
And the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.
DARBY
And the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.
BLB
And the king of Ai they took alive, and they brought him to Joshua.
ÅB
Men kongen i Ai ble tatt levende og ført til Josva.
OTB
Men de tok kongen av Ai levende og førte ham til Josva.
B1930
Men kongen i Ai blev tatt levende og ført til Josva.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 1 Samuel 15:8

    He captured Agag king of Amalek alive, but devoted all the others to destruction with the sword.

    Read in context
  • Revelation 19:20

    But the beast was captured along with the false prophet, who on its behalf had performed signs deceiving those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. Both the beast and the false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.

    Read in context
  • Joshua 10:17

    And Joshua was informed: “The five kings have been found; they are hiding in the cave at Makkedah.”

    Read in context
  • Joshua 8:29

    He hung the king of Ai on a tree until evening, and at sunset Joshua commanded that they take down the body from the tree and throw it down at the entrance of the city gate. And over it they raised a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day.

    Read in context