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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Joshua 8:28 So Joshua burned Ai and made it a permanent heap of ruins, a desolation to this day.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/joshua/8-28.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/1/06_Jos_08_28.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Joshua 8:28 - The Conquest of Ai" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="So Joshua burned Ai and made it a permanent heap of ruins, a desolation to this day." /><script type="application/javascript" 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align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad8.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/joshua/8-27.htm" title="Joshua 8:27">◄</a> Joshua 8:28 <a href="/joshua/8-29.htm" title="Joshua 8:29">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/joshua/8.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/joshua/8.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />So Joshua burned Ai and made it a permanent heap of ruins, a desolate place to this day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/joshua/8.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />So Joshua burned the town of Ai, and it became a permanent mound of ruins, desolate to this very day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/joshua/8.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />So Joshua burned Ai and made it forever a heap of ruins, as it is to this day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/joshua/8.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />So Joshua burned Ai and made it a permanent heap of ruins, a desolation to this day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/joshua/8.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And Joshua burnt Ai, and made it an heap for ever, <i>even</i> a desolation unto this day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/joshua/8.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />So Joshua burned Ai and made it a heap forever, a desolation to this day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/joshua/8.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />So Joshua burned Ai and made it a refuse heap forever, a desolation until this day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/joshua/8.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />So Joshua burned Ai and made it a heap forever, a desolation until this day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/joshua/8.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />So Joshua burned Ai and made it a heap forever, a desolation until this day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/joshua/8.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />So Joshua burned Ai and made it a heap forever, a desolation until this day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/joshua/8.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />So Joshua burned Ai and made it a rubbish heap forever, a desolation until this day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/joshua/8.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Joshua burned Ai and left it a permanent ruin, still desolate today.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/joshua/8.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Joshua burned Ai and left it a permanent ruin, desolate to this day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/joshua/8.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />So Joshua burnt Ai, and made it a heap for ever, even a desolation, unto this day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/joshua/8.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />So Joshua burnt Ai, and made it an heap for ever, even a desolation, unto this day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/joshua/8.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />So Joshua burned Ai and made it a deserted mound of ruins. It is still in ruins today. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/joshua/8.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Joshua burned Ai and left it in ruins. It is still like that today. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/joshua/8.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Joshua burned Ai, turning it into a permanent mound of ruins, and it remains so to this day. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/joshua/8.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />So Joshua burned Ai and made it a permanent heap of ruins, a desolation to this day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/joshua/8.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Joshua burned Ai and made it a permanently uninhabited mound (it remains that way to this very day).<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/joshua/8.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />So Joshua burnt Ai, and made it a heap forever, even a desolation, to this day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/joshua/8.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And Joshua burnt Ai, and made it a heap for ever, even a desolation to this day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/joshua/8.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />So Joshua burned Ai and made it a heap forever, even a desolation, to this day. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/joshua/8.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And Joshua burns Ai, and makes it a continuous heap—a desolation to this day;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/joshua/8.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And Joshua burneth Ai, and maketh it a heap age-during -- a desolation unto this day;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/joshua/8.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And Joshua will burn Ai and set it a heap forever, a waste even to this day.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/joshua/8.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And he burned the city, and made it a heap for ever: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/joshua/8.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And he set fire to the city, and he caused it to be a perpetual tomb.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/joshua/8.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Then Joshua destroyed Ai by fire, reducing it to an everlasting mound of ruins, as it remains today.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/joshua/8.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />So Joshua burned Ai, and made it forever a heap of ruins, as it is to this day.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/joshua/8.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And Joshua burned Ai, and made it a heap of ruins for ever to this day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/joshua/8.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And Yeshua burned Ai and he made it a heap, a desolation for eternity, until today<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/joshua/8.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />So Joshua burnt Ai, and made it a heap for ever, even a desolation, unto this day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/joshua/8.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And Joshua burnt the city with fire: he made it an uninhabited heap for ever, <i>even</i> to this day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/joshua/8-28.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/p91zXIGB0Rk?start=1999" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/joshua/8.htm">The Conquest of Ai</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">27</span>Israel took for themselves only the cattle and plunder of that city, as the LORD had commanded Joshua. <span class="reftext">28</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3091.htm" title="3091: yə·hō·wō·šu·a‘ (N-proper-ms) -- Or Yhowshua; from Yhovah and yasha'; Jehovah-saved; Jehoshua, the Jewish leader.">So Joshua</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/8313.htm" title="8313: way·yiś·rōp̄ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To burn. A primitive root; to be on fire.">burned</a> <a href="/hebrew/5857.htm" title="5857: hā·‘āy (Art:: N-proper-fs) -- A Canaanite city. Or uaya((Neh. 11:31); or eayath (Isaiah 10:28); for iy; Ai, Aja or Ajath, a place in Palestine.">Ai</a> <a href="/hebrew/7760.htm" title="7760: way·śî·me·hā (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms:: 3fs) -- To put, place, set. Or siym; a primitive root; to put.">and made it</a> <a href="/hebrew/5769.htm" title="5769: ‘ō·w·lām (N-ms) -- Long duration, antiquity, futurity. ">a permanent</a> <a href="/hebrew/8510.htm" title="8510: têl- (N-msc) -- A mound. By contraction from talal; a mound.">heap of ruins,</a> <a href="/hebrew/8077.htm" title="8077: šə·mā·māh (N-fs) -- Devastation, waste. Or shimamah; feminine of shamem; devastation; figuratively, astonishment.">a desolation</a> <a href="/hebrew/5704.htm" title="5704: ‘aḏ (Prep) -- As far as, even to, up to, until, while. Properly, the same as ad; as far as, whether of space or time or degree.">to</a> <a href="/hebrew/2088.htm" title="2088: haz·zeh (Art:: Pro-ms) -- This, here. A primitive word; the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that.">this</a> <a href="/hebrew/3117.htm" title="3117: hay·yō·wm (Art:: N-ms) -- Day. From an unused root meaning to be hot; a day, whether literal, or figurative.">day.</a> </span><span class="reftext">29</span>He hung the king of Ai on a tree until evening, and at sunset Joshua commanded that they take down the body from the tree and throw it down at the entrance of the city gate. And over it they raised a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/13-16.htm">Deuteronomy 13:16</a></span><br />And you are to gather all its plunder in the middle of the public square, and completely burn the city and all its plunder as a whole burnt offering to the LORD your God. The city must remain a mound of ruins forever, never to be rebuilt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/19-25.htm">2 Kings 19:25</a></span><br />Have you not heard? Long ago I ordained it; in days of old I planned it. Now I have brought it to pass, that you should crush fortified cities into piles of rubble.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/37-26.htm">Isaiah 37:26</a></span><br />Have you not heard? Long ago I ordained it; in days of old I planned it. Now I have brought it to pass, that you should crush fortified cities into piles of rubble.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/49-2.htm">Jeremiah 49:2</a></span><br />Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will sound the battle cry against Rabbah of the Ammonites. It will become a heap of ruins, and its villages will be burned. Then Israel will drive out their dispossessors, says the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/amos/1-14.htm">Amos 1:14</a></span><br />So I will kindle a fire in the walls of Rabbah to consume its citadels amid war cries on the day of battle and a violent wind on the day of tempest.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/12-31.htm">2 Samuel 12:31</a></span><br />David brought out the people who were there and put them to work with saws, iron picks, and axes, and he made them work at the brick kilns. He did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all his troops returned to Jerusalem.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/9-16.htm">1 Kings 9:16</a></span><br />Pharaoh king of Egypt had attacked and captured Gezer. He had set it on fire, killed the Canaanites who lived in the city, and given it as a dowry to his daughter, Solomon’s wife.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/50-40.htm">Jeremiah 50:40</a></span><br />As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah along with their neighbors,” declares the LORD, “no one will dwell there; no man will abide there.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/26-4.htm">Ezekiel 26:4</a></span><br />They will destroy the walls of Tyre and demolish her towers. I will scrape the soil from her and make her a bare rock.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/30-7.htm">Ezekiel 30:7</a></span><br />They will be desolate among desolate lands, and their cities will lie among ruined cities.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/11-23.htm">Matthew 11:23</a></span><br />And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/10-15.htm">Luke 10:15</a></span><br />And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/18-21.htm">Revelation 18:21</a></span><br />Then a mighty angel picked up a stone the size of a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying: “With such violence the great city of Babylon will be cast down, never to be seen again.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/18-8.htm">Revelation 18:8</a></span><br />Therefore her plagues will come in one day—death and grief and famine—and she will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/18-19.htm">Revelation 18:19</a></span><br />Then they will throw dust on their heads as they weep and mourn and cry out: “Woe, woe to the great city, where all who had ships on the sea were enriched by her wealth! For in a single hour she has been destroyed.”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And Joshua burnt Ai, and made it an heap for ever, even a desolation to this day.</p><p class="hdg">an heap</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/13-16.htm">Deuteronomy 13:16</a></b></br> And thou shalt gather all the spoil of it into the midst of the street thereof, and shalt burn with fire the city, and all the spoil thereof every whit, for the LORD thy God: and it shall be an heap for ever; it shall not be built again.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_kings/19-25.htm">2 Kings 19:25</a></b></br> Hast thou not heard long ago <i>how</i> I have done it, <i>and</i> of ancient times that I have formed it? now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay waste fenced cities <i>into</i> ruinous heaps.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/17-1.htm">Isaiah 17:1</a></b></br> The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from <i>being</i> a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.</p><p class="hdg">unto this day</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/joshua/4-9.htm">Joshua 4:9</a></b></br> And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/deuteronomy/33-27.htm">Age-During</a> <a href="/joshua/8-26.htm">Ai</a> <a href="/joshua/7-25.htm">Burned</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/32-22.htm">Burneth</a> <a href="/joshua/7-15.htm">Burnt</a> <a href="/numbers/21-30.htm">Desolate</a> <a href="/leviticus/26-35.htm">Desolation</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/33-27.htm">Everlasting</a> <a href="/joshua/7-26.htm">Heap</a> <a href="/joshua/8-27.htm">Joshua</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/32-43.htm">Maketh</a> <a href="/joshua/7-26.htm">Mass</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-46.htm">Permanent</a> <a href="/leviticus/26-33.htm">Ruins</a> <a href="/joshua/7-26.htm">Stones</a> <a href="/joshua/8-15.htm">Waste</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/1_samuel/27-12.htm">Age-During</a> <a href="/joshua/8-29.htm">Ai</a> <a href="/joshua/11-9.htm">Burned</a> <a href="/judges/2-14.htm">Burneth</a> <a href="/joshua/8-31.htm">Burnt</a> <a href="/1_samuel/5-6.htm">Desolate</a> <a href="/2_kings/22-19.htm">Desolation</a> <a href="/2_samuel/23-5.htm">Everlasting</a> <a href="/joshua/8-29.htm">Heap</a> <a href="/joshua/8-29.htm">Joshua</a> <a href="/joshua/9-15.htm">Maketh</a> <a href="/ruth/3-7.htm">Mass</a> <a href="/john/8-35.htm">Permanent</a> <a href="/1_kings/9-8.htm">Ruins</a> <a href="/joshua/8-29.htm">Stones</a> <a href="/joshua/15-1.htm">Waste</a><div class="vheading2">Joshua 8</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/joshua/8-1.htm">God encourages Joshua</a></span><br><span class="reftext">3. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/joshua/8-3.htm">The plan whereby Ai was taken</a></span><br><span class="reftext">29. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/joshua/8-29.htm">The king thereof is hanged</a></span><br><span class="reftext">30. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/joshua/8-30.htm">Joshua builds an altar</a></span><br><span class="reftext">32. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/joshua/8-32.htm">writes the law on stones</a></span><br><span class="reftext">33. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/joshua/8-33.htm">and pronounces the blessings and curses</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/joshua/8.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/joshua/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/joshua/8.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>So Joshua burned Ai</b><br>Joshua's destruction of Ai follows the divine command and strategy given by God. This act of burning the city signifies total conquest and judgment, similar to the destruction of Jericho. The burning of Ai represents God's judgment against sin and idolatry, as Ai was a Canaanite city opposed to God's people. This event is a reminder of the seriousness of sin and the holiness required by God.<p><b>and made it a permanent heap of ruins</b><br>The phrase "permanent heap of ruins" indicates the complete and irreversible destruction of Ai. Archaeological evidence suggests that Ai was indeed destroyed and left uninhabited for a significant period. This serves as a physical testament to God's power and the fulfillment of His promises to Israel. The ruins symbolize the fate of those who oppose God's will and serve as a warning to future generations.<p><b>a desolation to this day</b><br>The phrase "to this day" suggests that the text was written at a time when the ruins of Ai were still visible, serving as a historical marker for the Israelites. This enduring desolation underscores the lasting impact of God's judgment. It also serves as a reminder of the consequences of disobedience and the importance of faithfulness to God's commands. The desolation of Ai can be seen as a type of the final judgment, where those who reject God face eternal separation from Him.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/joshua.htm">Joshua</a></b><br>The leader of the Israelites after Moses, tasked with leading the people into the Promised Land. He is a central figure in the conquest of Canaan.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/a/ai.htm">Ai</a></b><br>A Canaanite city that was the site of a significant battle between the Israelites and the inhabitants of the land. Its destruction was a pivotal moment in Israel's conquest of Canaan.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_burning_of_ai.htm">The Burning of Ai</a></b><br>This event marks the complete destruction of the city, symbolizing God's judgment and the fulfillment of His promise to give the land to Israel.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_judgment_and_justice.htm">God's Judgment and Justice</a></b><br>The destruction of Ai serves as a reminder of God's righteous judgment against sin and rebellion. It underscores the seriousness with which God views disobedience and idolatry.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_fulfillment_of_god's_promises.htm">The Fulfillment of God's Promises</a></b><br>The event demonstrates God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to Israel. Despite previous setbacks, God ensures victory for His people when they align with His will.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_sin.htm">The Consequences of Sin</a></b><br>Ai's destruction is a stark reminder of the consequences of sin. It calls believers to examine their lives and repent of any disobedience to avoid similar spiritual desolation.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_obedience.htm">The Importance of Obedience</a></b><br>Joshua's leadership and obedience to God's commands were crucial in the victory over Ai. This teaches the importance of following God's guidance in our own lives.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_joshua_8.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Joshua 8</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/where's_the_evidence_of_ai's_destruction.htm">Where is the archaeological evidence supporting the complete destruction of Ai (Joshua 8:28)? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_don't_joshua's_battles_match_archaeology.htm">Why do battles in the Book of Joshua (e.g., Ai’s destruction) not match the archaeological record?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_isn't_ai_mentioned_later_in_the_bible.htm">If Ai was truly annihilated, why does it not appear in later references to the region’s cities in the Old Testament?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_is_joshua_8's_ambush_unique.htm">Why does the ambush strategy described in Joshua 8:2-22 differ from other accounts of Israelite conquests?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/joshua/8.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(28) <span class= "bld">An heap for ever.</span>--Heb., <span class= "ital">Tel-olam; </span>modern name, <span class= "ital">Et-tel.</span><p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/joshua/8.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 28.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And Joshua burnt Ai.</span> He continued the work of destruction which the ambush had begun, until the city was entirely destroyed. The word in ver. 19 (<span class="hebrew">שׂרפ</span>) has rather the sense of kindling a fire; the word here (<span class="hebrew">יצת</span>), more the sense of destruction by fire. <span class="cmt_word">A heap forever.</span> <span class="hebrew">טֵל־עולָם</span> a heap of eternity; <span class="accented">i.e.</span>, a heap forever, at least up to the time of our writer. But the Ai mentioned in <a href="/ezra/2-28.htm">Ezra 2:28</a> may have been a city built, not on precisely the same spot, but near enough to it to take its name. And if Ai signifies ruins, and Dean Stanley be right in regarding it as referring to ruins in the days of the Philistines, the name would be particularly suitable to this particular city. Travellers have identified the place with Tel-el. Hajar, immediately to the south of the Wady Mutyah. But see note on ch. 7:2 for Robinson's conclusion, which is confirmed by Canon Tristram, from the belief that Tel-el-Hajar does not answer to the description of Ai in the Scripture narrative. <span class="cmt_word">Hanged on a tree.</span> Literally, "on the tree." Perhaps after his death, But see <a href="/genesis/40-22.htm">Genesis 40:22</a>; <a href="/deuteronomy/21-22.htm">Deuteronomy 21:22</a>. <span class="cmt_word">Until eventide.</span> We find here a remarkable coincidence with the precept in <a href="/deuteronomy/21-23.htm">Deuteronomy 21:23</a>. The fact that no notice is here taken of that passage is conclusive against its having been inserted with a view to that precept in later times, and this affords a strong presumption against the Elohist and Jehovist theory. <span class="cmt_word">Heap.</span> Here <span class="hebrew">גַּל</span>, an expression usually applied to a heap of stones, a <span class="accented">cairn</span>, though not always in precisely this sense (see <a href="/jeremiah/9-10.htm">Jeremiah 9:10</a>). <p> CHAPTER 8:30-35. THE COPY OF THE LAW. - <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/joshua/8-28.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">So Joshua</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ</span> <span class="translit">(yə·hō·wō·šu·a‘)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3091.htm">Strong's 3091: </a> </span><span class="str2">Joshua -- 'the LORD is salvation', Moses' successor, also the name of a number of Israelites</span><br /><br /><span class="word">burned</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיִּשְׂרֹ֥ף</span> <span class="translit">(way·yiś·rōp̄)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8313.htm">Strong's 8313: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be, on fire</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Ai</span><br /><span class="heb">הָעָ֑י</span> <span class="translit">(hā·‘āy)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5857.htm">Strong's 5857: </a> </span><span class="str2">Ai -- a Canaanite city</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and made it</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיְשִׂימֶ֤הָ</span> <span class="translit">(way·śî·me·hā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7760.htm">Strong's 7760: </a> </span><span class="str2">Put -- to put, place, set</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a permanent</span><br /><span class="heb">עוֹלָם֙</span> <span class="translit">(‘ō·w·lām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5769.htm">Strong's 5769: </a> </span><span class="str2">Concealed, eternity, frequentatively, always</span><br /><br /><span class="word">heap of ruins,</span><br /><span class="heb">תֵּל־</span> <span class="translit">(têl-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8510.htm">Strong's 8510: </a> </span><span class="str2">A mound</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a desolation</span><br /><span class="heb">שְׁמָמָ֔ה</span> <span class="translit">(šə·mā·māh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8077.htm">Strong's 8077: </a> </span><span class="str2">Devastation, astonishment</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to</span><br /><span class="heb">עַ֖ד</span> <span class="translit">(‘aḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5704.htm">Strong's 5704: </a> </span><span class="str2">As far as, even to, up to, until, while</span><br /><br /><span class="word">this</span><br /><span class="heb">הַזֶּֽה׃</span> <span class="translit">(haz·zeh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Pronoun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2088.htm">Strong's 2088: </a> </span><span class="str2">This, that</span><br /><br /><span class="word">day.</span><br /><span class="heb">הַיּ֥וֹם</span> <span class="translit">(hay·yō·wm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3117.htm">Strong's 3117: </a> </span><span class="str2">A day</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/joshua/8-28.htm">Joshua 8:28 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/joshua/8-28.htm">Joshua 8:28 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/joshua/8-28.htm">Joshua 8:28 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/joshua/8-28.htm">Joshua 8:28 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/joshua/8-28.htm">Joshua 8:28 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/joshua/8-28.htm">Joshua 8:28 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/joshua/8-28.htm">Joshua 8:28 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/joshua/8-28.htm">Joshua 8:28 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/joshua/8-28.htm">Joshua 8:28 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/joshua/8-28.htm">Joshua 8:28 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/joshua/8-28.htm">OT History: Joshua 8:28 So Joshua burnt Ai and made it (Josh. Jos)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/joshua/8-27.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Joshua 8:27"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Joshua 8:27" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/joshua/8-29.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Joshua 8:29"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Joshua 8:29" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>