Bible Strands
Joshua 8:27
Israel took for themselves only the cattle and plunder of that city, as the LORD had commanded Joshua.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records Israel's post-battle actions immediately after Joshua's victory over Ai, noting their compliance with a prior divine command regarding spoils of war.
The words — The Hebrew term רַק (rak) translates literally as "only" or "except," functioning as a restrictive particle that limits the Israelites' seizure to livestock and plunder while excluding the city's inhabitants.
The thread — This limitation on spoils directly fulfills the command in Joshua 8:2 and aligns with the regulated seizure of livestock detailed in Numbers 31:22.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to distinguish between lawful military gain and the complete destruction commanded for the city, demonstrating that obedience to divine boundaries governs the use of victory.
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
Only the cattle and the spoil of that city Israel took for a prey unto themselves, according unto the word of the Lord which he commanded Joshua.
Cross-references
- Joshua 8:2 And you shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king, except that you may carry off their plunder and livestock for yourselves. Set up an ambush behind the city.”
- Numbers 31:22 Only the gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, and lead—
- Numbers 31:26 “You and Eleazar the priest and the family heads of the congregation are to take a count of what was captured, both of man and beast.
- Joshua 11:4 So these kings came out with all their armies, a multitude as numerous as the sand on the seashore, along with a great number of horses and chariots.
- Psalms 50:10 for every beast of the forest is Mine—the cattle on a thousand hills.
- Matthew 20:15 Do I not have the right to do as I please with what is mine? Or are you envious because I am generous?’