CHAPTER VIII _The Lord encourages Joshua, and promises to deliver_ Ai _into his_ _hands, and instructs him how he is to proceed against it_, 1, 2. _Joshua takes thirty thousand of his best troops, and gives_ _them instructions concerning his intention of taking_ Ai _by_ _stratagem_, 3-8. _The... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 8:8. _YE SHALL SET THE CITY ON FIRE_] Probably this means no more than that they should kindle a fire in the city, the smoke of which should be an indication that they had taken it. For as the spoils of the city were to be divided among the people, had they at this time set fire to the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 8:10. _NUMBERED THE PEOPLE_] ויפקד את העם _vaiyiphkod eth haam,_ _he visited the people _- inspected their ranks to see whether every thing was in perfect readiness, that in case they should be needed they might be led on to the attack. There is no doubt that Joshua had left the rest o... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 8:17. _THERE WAS NOT A MAN LEFT IN AI OR BETH-EL_] It is very likely that the principal strength of _Beth-el_ had been previously brought into _Ai_, as the strongest place to make a stand in; Beth-el being but about three miles distant from Ai, and probably not greatly fortified. There... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 8:18. _STRETCH OUT THE SPEAR_] It is very probable that Joshua had a _flag_ or _ensign_ at the end of his spear, which might be easily seen at a considerable distance; and that the _unfurling_ or _waving_ of this was the _sign_ agreed on between him and the ambush. (see Joshua 8:13, and... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 8:19. _SET THE CITY ON FIRE._] Joshua 8:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 8:20. _THEY HAD NO POWER TO FLEE THIS WAY OR THAT WAY_] They were in utter consternation; they saw that the city was taken, they found themselves in the midst of their foes; that their wives, children, and property, had fallen a prey to their enemies, in consequence of which they were s... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 8:24. _RETURNED UNTO AI, AND SMOTE IT WITH THE EDGE OF THE_ _SWORD._] This must refer to the women, children, and old persons, left behind; for it is likely that all the effective men had sallied out when they imagined the Israelites had fled. See Joshua 8:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 26. _JOSHUA DREW NOT HIS HAND BACK_] He was not only the _general_, but the _standard-bearer_ or _ensign_ of his own army, and continued in this employment during the whole of the battle. See on Joshua 8:18. Some commentators understand this and Joshua 8:18 _figuratively_, as if they implied... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 27. _ONLY THE CATTLE AND THE SPOIL_] In the case of Jericho these were all consigned to destruction, and therefore it was criminal to take any thing pertaining to the city, as we have already seen; but in the case before us the cattle and spoils were expressly given to the conquerors by the or... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 28. _UNTO THIS DAY._] This last clause was probably _added_ by a later hand.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 29. _THE KING OF AI HE HANGED ON A TREE_] He had gone out at the head of his men, and had been taken prisoner, Joshua 8:23; and the battle being over, he was ordered to be hanged, probably after having been _strangled_, or in some way deprived of life, as in the case mentioned Joshua 10:26, fo... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 8:30. _THEN JOSHUA BUILT AN ALTAR_] This was done in obedience to the express command of God, Deuteronomy 27:4. See the notes there.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 8:32. _A COPY OF THE LAW OF MOSES_] משנה תורת _mishneh torath_, the _repetition_ of the _law_; that is, a _copy_ of the _blessings_ and _curses_, as commanded by Moses; not a copy of the _Decalogue_, as some imagine, nor of the book of Deuteronomy, as others think; much less of the whol... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 8:33. _HALF OF THEM OVER AGAINST MOUNT GERIZIM_] See the arrangement of the whole of this business in the note and observations on Deuteronomy 27:26. And see also the notes on Deuteronomy 28:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 8:35. _WITH THE WOMEN AND THE LITTLE ONES_] It was necessary that _all_ should know that they were under the same obligations to obey; even the _women_ are brought forward, not only because of their personal responsibility, but because to them was principally intrusted the education of... [ Continue Reading ]