Commentaries Dictionaries Concordances

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Joshua 8:18

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 the preceding observations on Joshua 8:1, observation 6;) and on seeing this flag or ensign unfurled, the men who lay in ambush arose and entered the city, making the fire previously agreed on. See Joshua 8:8.

Continues after advertising

See also Joshua 8:18 in other biblical comments:

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    No doubt Joshua had ascended the heights, most likely those to the north of the valley, so as to separate himself from the flying Israelites on the lower ground, and to be visible to the men in ambush...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    8. THE OVERTHROW OF AI CHAPTER 8 _ 1. The advance commanded (Joshua 8:1)_ 2. The strategy of Joshua (Joshua 8:3) 3. Ai's defeat (Joshua 8:14) 4. Joshua's obedience ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    CAPTURE OF AI. Here we have the second and the successful attempt to take Ai. That two accounts have been combined is obvious. In Joshua 8:3 Joshua sends 30,000 men as an ambuscade against the city; i...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _the spear_ Heb. _Cidôn_, a _dart_, or _javelin_which is hurled, lighter than the _Chanith_, or spear of the largest kind like that of Goliath, 1Sa 17:7; 1 Samuel 17:45, or king Saul, 1 Samuel 26:7-8....

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    _VER._ 18. _AND THE LORD SAID UNTO JOSHUA, STRETCH OUT THE SPEAR,_ &C.— The Hebrew word כידון _kidon, s_ignifies a _shield;_ and so several interpreters, particularly the Vulgate, render it. Bochart,...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    _The Conquest of Ai Joshua 8:9-29_ 9Joshua therefore sent them forth; and they went to lie in ambush, and abode behind Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai: but Joshua lodged that night among the pe...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _AND THE LORD SAID UNTO JOSHUA, STRETCH OUT THE SPEAR THAT IS IN THY HAND TOWARD AI; FOR I WILL GIVE IT INTO_ _ THINE HAND. AND JOSHUA STRETCHED OUT THE SPEAR THAT HE HAD IN HIS HAND TOWARD THE CITY._...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE CONQUEST OF AI. THE COVENANT CONFIRMED UPON MT. EBAL 1-29. The Taking of Ai. Edersheim explains that Joshua detailed a corps of 30,000 men, of whom 5,000 were placed W. of Ai in a wood. The 25,000...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    COME IN, AND RECEIVE GOD’S PROMISES! JOSHUA _BRIAN ROWLANDS_ Maps to help you to study this book are on the Internet at www.easyenglish.info. CHAPTER 8 V1 Then the *Lord spoke again. ‘Do not b...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    AND THE LORD SAID UNTO JOSHUA, STRETCH OUT THE SPEAR. — In the capture of Ai, as in that of Jericho, each stage of the process must be ordered by the Lord. In the former case the hand of Jehovah alone...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָ֜ה אֶל ־יְהֹושֻׁ֗עַ נְ֠טֵה ב

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER XVI. THE CAPTURE OF AI. Joshua 8:1. JOSHUA, having dealt faithfully with the case of Achan, whose sin had intercepted the favour of God, is again encouraged, and directed to renew, but more...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE ENEMY COMPLETELY DESTROYED Joshua 8:18 Joshua's preparations were skillfully made, and in that very place where Israel had been so disastrously defeated they scored a great victory and took larg...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    As the result of the severity of the discipline exercised in the case of Achan, the nation returned to obedience, and consequently Jehovah immediately uttered the word of reassurance to Joshua and the...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    PAUSING FOR GOD IN THE MIDDLE OF VICTORY Joshua 8:1-35 Often, man holds himself guilty long after God has already wiped away the sin. It seems this was the case after Achan's sin had been removed fr...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    And the LORD said unto Joshua, (h) Stretch out the spear that [is] in thy hand toward Ai; for I will give it into thine hand. And Joshua stretched out the spear that [he had] in his hand toward the ci...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Shield, as Moses lifted up his hands, Exodus xvii. 11. Some translate, "dart, spear," or "sword." (Septuagint; Ecclesiasticus xvi. 3.) (Calmet) --- The buckler might be suspended on a spear, (Menochi...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    I pass over, in a short remark, the mercy of the Lord vouchsafed Israel in this victory, to call the Reader's attention, to the manner in which the Lord was pleased to appoint the victory should be ob...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    The passing of the Jordan was a wondrous and significant event; but it was not everything. It sank deep into the consciences of the Canaanites on all sides; but there was more that was needed, and mor...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    18._And the Lord said unto Joshua, _etc This passage shows, that owing either to the strong fortifications of the city, or the valor of its inhabitants, or the trepidation of the Israelites, the victo...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Chapter 8 exhibits the return of Israel to their strength in God. If all the people were compromised by Achan's sin, it was needful that they should be sensibly restored to confidence, that they shoul...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND THE LORD SAID UNTO JOSHUA, STRETCH OUT THE SPEAR THAT [IS] IN THY HAND TOWARDS AI,.... On which was a flag, as Abarbinel and Ben Melech think; and which is not improbable, and served for a signal...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And the LORD said unto Joshua, Stretch out the spear that [is] in thy hand toward Ai; for I will give it into thine hand. And Joshua stretched out the spear that [he had] in his hand toward the city....

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Stretch out thy spear_ Probably a long spear, with a flag or streamer at the top of it, for a signal to the liers in wait, as well as for a sign to his host present to stop their flight, and make hea...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 God incourageth Ioshua. 3 The stratageme whereby Ai was taken. 29 The king thereof is hanged. 30 Ioshua buildeth an Altar, 32 writeth the Lawe on stones, 33 propoundeth blessings and cursings....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And the Lord said unto Joshua, Stretch out the spear that is in thy hand toward Ai; for I will give it into thine hand. Joshua was probably occupying some higher point from which he was easily visible...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    AI TAKEN AND DESTROYED...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    AI TOTALLY DESTROYED (vs.1-29) Now the Lord gives explicit instructions to Joshua as to attacking Ai. How different these were to the plans Joshua used at first! God tells Joshua not to be afraid, bu...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    3-22 Observe Joshua's conduct and prudence. Those that would maintain their spiritual conflicts must not love their ease. Probably he went into the valley alone, to pray to God for a blessing, and he...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    THE SPEAR, or, _thy banner_; or there might be some banner in the end of his spear. This was prescribed and practised, either, 1. For a sign to his host present with him, to stop their flight, and ma...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Joshua 8:18 LORD H3068 said H559 (H8799) Joshua H3091 out H5186 (H8798) spear H3591 hand H3027 Ai...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘ And YHWH said to Joshua, “Stretch out the spear in your hand towards Ai, for I will give it into your hand.” And Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand towards the city.' This was cl...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Conquest of Ai. The blessings and cursing of Ebal. CHARACTERS: God, Joshua, king of Ai. CONCLUSION: The believer, clad in the whole armor of God, meeting the enemy of God as God directs, w...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Joshua 8:4. _Ye shall lie in wait:_ la ruse du guerre. The craft of war is lawful, if war itself be lawful; and experience is often of more avail than strength. Joshua 8:25. _Twelve thousand._ Here is...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _So Joshua arose, and all the people of war._ ALL THE PEOPLE AT WORK FOR JESUS I. Consider the advice of the spies which led to such a shameful defeat (Joshua 7:3). 1. Here we shall have to deal wi...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    JOSHUA—NOTE ON JOSHUA 8:1__ Having been defeated in Ai (ch. Joshua 7:1), Israel now follows God’s instructions and is successful....

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    JOSHUA—NOTE ON JOSHUA 8:18 STRETCH OUT THE JAVELIN... TOWARD AI. Perhaps this served as a signal to the MEN IN THE AMBUSH to attack the city. This action symbolizes the Lord’s giving the city into Jos...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— Joshua 8:3. Thirty thousand … and sent them away] Probably 30,000 was the entire number chosen to operate against Ai, and of these 5000 were sent, as stated in Joshua 8:12, to form th...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION THE CAPTURE OF AI.— JOSHUA 8:1 FEAR NOT. Joshua was down cast at his former failure, and well he might. "Treacherous Israelites are to be dreaded more than malicious Canaanites" (Matthew...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Then they went back to Ai, now this time under the direction of the Lord. Joshua sent part of the army around the other side of the city to hide in ambush. And then he said, "We'll come to the city li...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Samuel 17:41; 1 Samuel 17:45; 1 Samuel 17:6; Exodus 17:11; Exodus 8:5

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    THE CONQUEST OF AI Joshua 8:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS 1. Christian conquest depends upon a clean heart. When the Children of Israel went against Ai the first time, they fled in dismay. The reason for the...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Stretch out the spear — This was, either, for a sign to his host present with him, to stop their flight, and make head against the pursuers: or, for a signal to the liers in wait, or, as a token of Go...

Continues after advertising