The 1599 Geneva Study Bible

Joshua 8


(a) Meaning on the west side, as in (Joshua 8:9).
8:4 And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye b shall lie in wait against the city, [even] behind the city: go not very far from the city, but be ye all ready:
8:9 Joshua therefore sent them forth: and they went to lie in ambush, and abode between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai: but Joshua lodged that night c among the people.
(c) With the rest of the army.
8:10 And Joshua rose up early in the morning, and d numbered the people, and went up, he and the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai.
8:12 And he took about five thousand men, e and set them to lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city.
8:13 And when they had set the people, [even] all the host that [was] on the north of the city, and their liers in wait on the west of the city, Joshua went that night into the f midst of the valley.
8:15 And Joshua and all Israel g made as if they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness.
(g) As they who pretended to flee for fear.
8:18 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 city.
(i) Who came out of the ambush.
8:24 And it came to pass, when Israel had made an end of slaying all the inhabitants of Ai in the field, in the wilderness wherein they chased them, and when they were all fallen on the edge of the sword, until they were consumed, that all the Israelites returned unto Ai, and k smote it with the edge of the sword.
8:28 And Joshua burnt Ai, and made it an heap for l ever, [even] a desolation unto this day.
(l) That it could never be built again.
8:29 And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until eventide: and as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded m that they should take his carcase down from the tree, and cast it at the entering of the gate of the city, and raise thereon a great heap of stones, [that remaineth] unto this day.

(m) According as it was commanded, (Deuteronomy 21:23).
8:32 And he wrote there upon the stones a n copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel.
8:35 There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the o women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them.


Copyright Statement
These files are public domain and are freely copyable.

Bibliography Information
Beza, Theodore. "Commentary on Joshua 8". "The 1599 Geneva Study Bible". <http://classic.studylight.org/com/gsb/view.cgi?book=jos&chapter=008>. 1599-1645.