Bible Strands
Joshua 8:9
So Joshua sent them out, and they went to the place of ambush and lay in wait between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai. But Joshua spent that night among the people.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Joshua directs a contingent to execute a tactical deployment immediately after receiving orders to capture and burn Ai, while he remains overnight with the main encampment.
The words — The Hebrew verb וַ/יִּשְׁלָחֵ֣/ם (va/i.yish.la.Che/m) records the dispatch of the men, and הַ/מַּאְרָ֔ב (ha./ma'.Rav) identifies their destination as the designated ambush position.
The thread — The geographical marker between Bethel and Ai reappears in Genesis 12:8, and the overnight encampment motif parallels the narrative structure of Genesis 32:21.
Why it lands — The verse documents a sequential military maneuver and Joshua’s physical presence with the troops, requiring the reader to observe how the command is executed through precise positioning rather than immediate combat.
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
Joshua therefore sent them forth: and they went to lie in ambush, and abode between Beth–el and Ai, on the west side of Ai: but Joshua lodged that night among the people.
Cross-references
- 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.
- Genesis 32:21 So Jacob’s gifts went on before him, while he spent the night in the camp.
- 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.
- Joshua 8:12 Now Joshua had taken about five thousand men and set up an ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city.
- Ezra 2:28 the men of Bethel and Ai, 223;
- Nehemiah 7:32 the men of Bethel and Ai, 123;