Bible Strands
Joshua 7:2
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Joshua dispatches scouts from Jericho to the nearby city of Ai, located east of Bethel near Beth-aven, ordering them to reconnoiter the territory.
The words — The Hebrew verb וַיִּשְלַח (va.yishlach) means he sent, and the place names הָעַי (ha-Ai) and בֵּית (beit) specify the exact geographic target of the mission.
The thread — The same locations reappear in Joshua 18:12 as territorial boundary markers and in 1 Samuel 14:23 as a battle site, tracing a continuous geographic line.
Why it lands — The text records a military reconnaissance order before combat begins, requiring the reader to note how tactical intelligence precedes engagement.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Joshua 18:12 On the north side their border began at the Jordan, went up past the northern slope of Jericho, headed west through the hill country, and came out at the wilderness of Beth-aven.
- 1 Samuel 13:5 Now the Philistines assembled to fight against Israel with three thousand chariots, six thousand horsemen, and troops as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Michmash, east of Beth-aven.
- 1 Samuel 14:23 So the LORD saved Israel that day, and the battle moved on beyond Beth-aven.
- Hosea 4:15 Though you prostitute yourself, O Israel, may Judah avoid such guilt! Do not journey to Gilgal, do not go up to Beth-aven, and do not swear on oath, ‘As surely as the LORD lives!’
- Genesis 12:8 From there Abram moved on to the hill country east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. There he built an altar to the LORD, and he called on the name of the LORD.
- Proverbs 20:18 Set plans by consultation, and wage war under sound guidance.
- Proverbs 24:6 Only with sound guidance should you wage war, and victory lies in a multitude of counselors.
- Matthew 10:16 Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
- Genesis 28:19 and he called that place Bethel, though previously the city had been named Luz.
- Joshua 2:1 Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim, saying, “Go, inspect the land, especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.