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.

◄ Joshua 8:9 ►

New International Version
Then Joshua sent them off, 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 with the people.

New Living Translation
So they left and went to the place of ambush between Bethel and the west side of Ai. But Joshua remained among the people in the camp that night.

English Standard Version
So Joshua sent them out. And they went to the place of ambush and lay between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai, but Joshua spent that night among the people.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

King James Bible
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 among the people.

New King James Version
Joshua therefore sent them out; and they went to lie in ambush, and stayed between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai; but Joshua lodged that night among the people.

New American Standard Bible
So Joshua sent them away, and they went to the place of ambush and remained between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai; but Joshua spent that night among the people.

NASB 1995
So Joshua sent them away, and they went to the place of ambush and remained between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai; but Joshua spent that night among the people.

NASB 1977
So Joshua sent them away, and they went to the place of ambush and remained between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai; but Joshua spent that night among the people.

Legacy Standard Bible
So Joshua sent them away, and they went to the place of ambush and remained between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai; but Joshua spent that night among the people.

Amplified Bible
So Joshua sent them off, and they went to the place for the ambush and stayed [hidden] between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai; but Joshua spent that night among the people [in Gilgal].

Christian Standard Bible
So Joshua sent them out, and they went to the ambush site and waited between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai. But he spent that night with the troops.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So Joshua sent them out, and they went to the ambush site and waited between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai. But he spent that night with the troops.

American Standard Version
And Joshua sent them forth; and they went to the ambushment, and abode between Beth-el and Ai, on the west side of Ai: but Joshua lodged that night among the people.

Contemporary English Version
now go! The 30,000 soldiers went to a place on the west side of Ai, between Ai and Bethel, where they could hide and wait to attack. That night, Joshua stayed in camp with the rest of the army.

English Revised Version
And Joshua sent them forth: and they went to the ambushment, and abode between Beth-el and Ai, on the west side of Ai: but Joshua lodged that night among the people.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So Joshua sent them out, and they hid. They took their position west of Ai, between Bethel and Ai. Joshua spent the night with the troops.

Good News Translation
So Joshua sent them out, and they went to their hiding place and waited there, west of Ai, between Ai and Bethel. Joshua spent the night in camp.

International Standard Version
So Joshua sent them out, and they set up an ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai. Joshua spent that night in the camp among the army.

Majority Standard Bible
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.

NET Bible
Joshua sent them away and they went to their hiding place west of Ai, between Bethel and Ai. Joshua spent that night with the army.

New Heart English Bible
Joshua sent them out; and they went to set up the ambush, and stayed between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai; but Joshua stayed among the people that night.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
Joshua sent them out; and they went to set up the ambush, and stayed between Bethel and Ai on the west side of Ai; but Joshua stayed among the people that night.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And Joshua sends them away, and they go to the ambush, and abide between Bethel and Ai, on the west of Ai; and Joshua lodges on that night in the midst of the people.

Young's Literal Translation
And Joshua sendeth them away, and they go unto the ambush, and abide between Bethel and Ai, on the west of Ai; and Joshua lodgeth on that night in the midst of the people.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Joshua will send them away; and they will go to the ambush, and they will dwell between the house of God and between Ai, from the sea to Ai: and Joshua will remain in that night in the midst of the people.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And he sent them away, and they went on to the place of the ambush, and abode between Bethel and Hai, on the west side of the city of Hai. But Josue stayed that night in the midst of the people,

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he sent them away, and they traveled to the place of the ambush, and they settled between Bethel and Ai, toward the western region of the city of Ai. But Joshua remained for that night in the midst of the people.

New American Bible
Then Joshua sent them away. They went to the place of ambush, taking up their position to the west of Ai, toward Bethel. Joshua, however, spent that night with the army.

New Revised Standard Version
So Joshua sent them out; and they went to the place of ambush, and lay between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai; but Joshua spent that night in the camp.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
So Joshua sent them forth; and they went to the place of ambush, and lay between Beth-el and Ai, on the west side of Ai; but Joshua spent that night among the people.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Yeshua sent and they went to the place of ambush and they stayed between Bayth Eil and Ai from the west of the city and Yeshua spent that night among the people

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And Joshua sent them forth; and they went to the ambushment, and abode between Beth-el and Ai, on the west side of Ai; but Joshua lodged that night among the people.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Joshua sent them, and they went to lie in ambush; and they lay between Baethel and Gai, westward of Gai.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Conquest of Ai
…8And when you have taken the city, set it on fire. Do as the LORD has commanded! See, I have given you orders.” 9So 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. 10Joshua got up early the next morning and mobilized his men, and he and the elders of Israel marched before them up to Ai.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Deuteronomy 31:7-8
Then Moses called for Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you will go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their fathers to give them, and you shall give it to them as an inheritance. / The LORD Himself goes before you; He will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.”

Psalm 27:14
Wait patiently for the LORD; be strong and courageous. Wait patiently for the LORD!

1 Samuel 15:3
Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction all that belongs to them. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”

2 Chronicles 20:17
You need not fight this battle. Take up your positions, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out and face them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you.’”

Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Exodus 14:13-14
But Moses told the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the LORD’s salvation, which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. / The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Judges 7:16-22
And he divided the three hundred men into three companies and gave each man a ram’s horn in one hand and a large jar in the other, containing a torch. / “Watch me and do as I do,” Gideon said. “When I come to the outskirts of the camp, do exactly as I do. / When I and all who are with me blow our horns, then you are also to blow your horns from all around the camp and shout, ‘For the LORD and for Gideon!’” ...

1 Kings 20:29-30
For seven days the armies camped opposite each other, and on the seventh day the battle ensued, and the Israelites struck down the Arameans—a hundred thousand foot soldiers in one day. / The rest of them fled into the city of Aphek, where the wall fell on twenty-seven thousand of the remaining men. Ben-hadad also fled to the city and hid in an inner room.

2 Kings 6:8-12
Now the king of Aram was at war against Israel. After consulting with his servants, he said, “My camp will be in such and such a place.” / Then the man of God sent word to the king of Israel: “Be careful not to pass by this place, for the Arameans are going down there.” / So the king of Israel sent word to the place the man of God had pointed out. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places. ...

Nehemiah 4:9
So we prayed to our God and posted a guard against them day and night.

Matthew 28:20
and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Romans 8:31
What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

1 Corinthians 15:57
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

Ephesians 6:10-11
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. / Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes.

Treasury of Scripture

Joshua therefore sent them forth: and they went to lie in ambush, and stayed between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai: but Joshua lodged that night among the people.

between

Joshua 8:12
And he took about five thousand men, and set them to lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city.

Joshua 7:2
And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east side of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai.

Genesis 12:8
And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.

Hai

Ezra 2:28
The men of Bethel and Ai, two hundred twenty and three.

Nehemiah 7:32
The men of Bethel and Ai, an hundred twenty and three.

lodged

Genesis 32:21
So went the present over before him: and himself lodged that night in the company.

Jump to Previous

Abide Abode Ai Ambush Ambushment Bethel Beth-El Joshua Kept Lie Lodgeth Midst Night Position Secret Side Spent Wait West

Jump to Next

Abide Abode Ai Ambush Ambushment Bethel Beth-El Joshua Kept Lie Lodgeth Midst Night Position Secret Side Spent Wait West

Joshua 8

1. God encourages Joshua
3. The plan whereby Ai was taken
29. The king thereof is hanged
30. Joshua builds an altar
32. writes the law on stones
33. and pronounces the blessings and curses

Berean Study Bible

So Joshua sent them out
The phrase indicates a decisive action taken by Joshua, the leader of Israel. The Hebrew root for "sent" is שָׁלַח (shalach), which often implies a commissioning or dispatching with authority. Joshua, as the appointed leader, acts under divine guidance, demonstrating obedience and strategic wisdom. This action reflects the importance of leadership in executing God's plans, emphasizing the need for leaders to be both obedient to God and proactive in their duties.

and they went to the ambush site
The term "ambush" in Hebrew is מַאֲרָב (ma'arav), which denotes a hidden or secretive military tactic. This strategy was divinely inspired, as God had instructed Joshua on how to conquer Ai. The use of an ambush highlights the necessity of divine wisdom in overcoming challenges. It also underscores the theme of God’s sovereignty in battle, where human effort is combined with divine strategy to achieve victory.

and lay in wait
"Laying in wait" suggests patience and readiness, qualities essential for the success of the ambush. The Hebrew word אָרַב (arab) implies a deliberate and strategic positioning. This reflects the spiritual discipline of waiting on God's timing, a recurring biblical theme. It teaches believers the importance of preparation and trust in God’s perfect timing for the fulfillment of His promises.

between Bethel and Ai
This geographical reference is significant. Bethel, meaning "house of God," and Ai, meaning "ruin," symbolize spiritual contrasts. The ambush site between these locations can be seen as a metaphor for the spiritual journey of believers, who often find themselves between divine promise and worldly challenges. Historically, this area was central to the early narratives of the patriarchs, adding layers of covenantal significance to the conquest.

to the west of Ai
The specific mention of "west" provides a tactical detail, indicating the strategic positioning of the ambush. In biblical symbolism, directions often carry meaning; the west can represent the setting of the sun, or the end of a day, symbolizing the conclusion of a period of waiting and the onset of action. This detail underscores the precision and care in God’s plans, reminding believers of His attention to detail in their lives.

But Joshua spent that night with the people
This phrase highlights Joshua's leadership style. By staying with the people, Joshua demonstrates solidarity and encouragement. The Hebrew word for "spent" is לִין (lin), which can mean to lodge or remain. This act of staying with the people reflects Christ-like leadership, where the leader is present with the followers, sharing in their experiences and providing reassurance. It emphasizes the importance of community and unity in facing challenges, a principle that resonates throughout Scripture.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(9) They went to lie in ambush.--Or, they went to the lurking-place; and remained between Bethel and Ai. The ambush itself (Joshua 8:2; Joshua 8:7; Joshua 8:19; Joshua 8:21) is described by a slightly different word.

Among the people--i.e., at Gilgal.

10) Joshua . . . numbered.--Or, rather, mustered the people.

He then went up with the elders of Israel at the head of the main body, and made an imposing demonstration with a large force in front of the town. . . .

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 9. - Between Bethel and Ai. (see above, Joshua 7:2).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

So Joshua
יְהוֹשֻׁ֗עַ (yə·hō·wō·šu·a‘)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3091: Joshua -- 'the LORD is salvation', Moses' successor, also the name of a number of Israelites

sent them out,
וַיִּשְׁלָחֵ֣ם (way·yiš·lā·ḥêm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

and they went
וַיֵּֽלְכוּ֙ (way·yê·lə·ḵū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the place of ambush
הַמַּאְרָ֔ב (ham·ma’·rāḇ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3993: An ambuscade

and lay in wait
וַיֵּשְׁב֗וּ (way·yê·šə·ḇū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

between
בֵּ֧ין (bên)
Preposition
Strong's 996: An interval, space between

Bethel
אֵ֛ל (’êl)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1008: Bethel -- 'house of God', a city in Ephraim, also a place in southern Judah

and Ai,
הָעַ֖י (hā·‘ay)
Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 5857: Ai -- a Canaanite city

to the west
מִיָּ֣ם (mî·yām)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3220: A sea, the Mediterranean Sea, large river, an artifical basin

of Ai.
לָעָ֑י (lā·‘āy)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 5857: Ai -- a Canaanite city

But [Joshua]
יְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַ (yə·hō·wō·šu·a‘)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3091: Joshua -- 'the LORD is salvation', Moses' successor, also the name of a number of Israelites

spent
וַיָּ֧לֶן (way·yā·len)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3885: To stop, to stay permanently, to be obstinate

that
הַה֖וּא (ha·hū)
Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

night
בַּלַּ֥יְלָה (bal·lay·lāh)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3915: A twist, night, adversity

among
בְּת֥וֹךְ (bə·ṯō·wḵ)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8432: A bisection, the centre

the people.
הָעָֽם׃ (hā·‘ām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

Links

Joshua 8:9 NIV
Joshua 8:9 NLT
Joshua 8:9 ESV
Joshua 8:9 NASB
Joshua 8:9 KJV

Joshua 8:9 BibleApps.com
Joshua 8:9 Biblia Paralela
Joshua 8:9 Chinese Bible
Joshua 8:9 French Bible
Joshua 8:9 Catholic Bible

OT History: Joshua 8:9 Joshua sent them out (Josh. Jos)