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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 8:12 Now Joshua had taken about five thousand men and set up an ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/joshua/8-12.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/3/06_Jos_08_12.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Joshua 8:12 - The Conquest of Ai" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Now Joshua had taken about five thousand men and set up an ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city." /><script type="application/javascript" 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align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad12.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/8-11.htm" title="Joshua 8:11">◄</a> Joshua 8:12 <a href="/joshua/8-13.htm" title="Joshua 8:13">►</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 />Joshua had taken about five thousand men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/joshua/8.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />That night Joshua sent about 5,000 men to lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the town.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/joshua/8.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />He took about 5,000 men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/joshua/8.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now Joshua had taken about five thousand men and set up an ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/joshua/8.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/joshua/8.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />So he took about five thousand men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/joshua/8.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then he took about five thousand men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/joshua/8.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />And he took about 5,000 men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/joshua/8.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And he took about 5,000 men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/joshua/8.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And he took about 5,000 men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/joshua/8.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />And Joshua took about five thousand men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/joshua/8.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now Joshua had taken about five thousand men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/joshua/8.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now Joshua had taken about 5,000 men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/joshua/8.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And he took about five thousand men, and set them in ambush between Beth-el and Ai, on the west side of the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/joshua/8.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Joshua had already sent 5,000 soldiers to the west side of the town to hide and wait to attack. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/joshua/8.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And he took about five thousand men, and set them in ambush between Beth-el and Ai, on the west side of the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/joshua/8.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Joshua had taken about five thousand men and had them hide between Bethel and Ai, west of the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/joshua/8.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />He took about five thousand men and put them in hiding west of the city, between Ai and Bethel. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/joshua/8.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Taking about 5,000 men, he set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai to the west of the city, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/joshua/8.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now Joshua had taken about five thousand men and set up an ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/joshua/8.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />He took five thousand men and set an ambush west of the city between Bethel and Ai.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/joshua/8.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />He took about five thousand men, and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/joshua/8.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And he took about five thousand men; and set them to lie in ambush between Beth-el and Ai, on the west side of the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/joshua/8.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />He took about five thousand men, and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/joshua/8.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And he takes about five thousand men, and sets them [for] an ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west of the city;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/joshua/8.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And he taketh about five thousand men, and setteth them an ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west of the city;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/joshua/8.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And he will take about five thousand men and set them in ambush between the house of God and between Ai, from the sea, to the city.<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 had chosen five thousand men, and set them to lie in ambush between Bethel and Hai, on the west side of the same city: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/joshua/8.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Now he had chosen five thousand men, and he had positioned them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, at the western part of the same city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/joshua/8.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />He took about five thousand warriors and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, west of the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/joshua/8.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Taking about five thousand men, he set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city.<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 took five thousand men, and set them in ambush between Beth-el and Ai, on the west side of the city;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/joshua/8.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And Yeshua took five thousand men and set them in ambush between Bayth Eil and Ai from the west of the city<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/joshua/8.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And he took about five thousand men, and set them in ambush between Beth-el and Ai, on the west side of Ai.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/joshua/8.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And the ambuscade <i>was</i> on the west side of the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/joshua/8-12.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=1826" 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">11</span>Then all the troops who were with him marched up and approached the city. They arrived in front of Ai and camped to the north of it, with the valley between them and the city. <span class="reftext">12</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3947.htm" title="3947: way·yiq·qaḥ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To take. A primitive root; to take.">Now Joshua had taken</a> <a href="/hebrew/2568.htm" title="2568: ka·ḥă·mê·šeṯ (Prep-k, Art:: Number-msc) -- Five. Masculine chamishshah; a primitive numeral; five.">about five</a> <a href="/hebrew/505.htm" title="505: ’ă·lā·p̄îm (Number-mp) -- A thousand. Prop, the same as 'eleph; hence a thousand.">thousand</a> <a href="/hebrew/376.htm" title="376: ’îš (N-ms) -- Man. Contracted for 'enowsh; a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term.">men</a> <a href="/hebrew/7760.htm" title="7760: way·yā·śem (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To put, place, set. Or siym; a primitive root; to put.">and set up</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’ō·w·ṯām (DirObjM:: 3mp) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/693.htm" title="693: ’ō·rêḇ (V-Qal-Prtcpl-ms) -- To lie in wait. A primitive root; to lurk.">an ambush</a> <a href="/hebrew/996.htm" title="996: bên (Prep) -- An interval, space between. ">between</a> <a href="/hebrew/1008.htm" title="1008: bêṯ- (Prep) -- From bayith and 'el; house of God; Beth-El, a place in Palestine."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1008.htm" title="1008: ’êl (N-proper-fs) -- From bayith and 'el; house of God; Beth-El, a place in Palestine.">Bethel</a> <a href="/hebrew/996.htm" title="996: ū·ḇên (Conj-w:: Prep) -- An interval, space between. "></a> <a href="/hebrew/5857.htm" title="5857: hā·‘ay (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.">and Ai,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3220.htm" title="3220: mî·yām (Prep-m:: N-ms) -- A sea or large body of water; specifically, the Mediterranean Sea; sometimes a large river.">to the west</a> <a href="/hebrew/5892.htm" title="5892: lā·‘îr (Prep-l, Art:: N-fs) -- Excitement. Or par; or ayar; from uwr a city in the widest sense.">of the city.</a> </span><span class="reftext">13</span>So the forces were stationed with the main camp to the north of the city and the rear guard to the west of the city. And that night Joshua went into the valley.…<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="/joshua/6-2.htm">Joshua 6:2-5</a></span><br />And the LORD said to Joshua, “Behold, I have delivered Jericho into your hand, along with its king and its mighty men of valor. / March around the city with all the men of war, circling the city one time. Do this for six days. / Have seven priests carry seven rams’ horns in front of the ark. Then on the seventh day, march around the city seven times, while the priests blow the horns. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/20-29.htm">Judges 20:29-30</a></span><br />So Israel set up an ambush around Gibeah. / On the third day the Israelites went up against the Benjamites and arrayed themselves against Gibeah as they had done before.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/5-23.htm">2 Samuel 5:23-25</a></span><br />So David inquired of the LORD, who answered, “Do not march straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees. / As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because this will mean that the LORD has gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” / So David did as the LORD had commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/7-12.htm">2 Kings 7:12</a></span><br />So the king got up in the night and said to his servants, “Let me tell you what the Arameans have done to us. They know we are starving, so they have left the camp to hide in the field, thinking, ‘When they come out of the city, we will take them alive and enter the city.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/20-22.htm">2 Chronicles 20:22-24</a></span><br />The moment they began their shouts and praises, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who had come against Judah, and they were defeated. / The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction. And when they had finished off the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another. / When the men of Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked for the vast army, but there were only corpses lying on the ground; no one had escaped.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/14-14.htm">Genesis 14:14-15</a></span><br />And when Abram heard that his relative had been captured, he mobilized the 318 trained men born in his household, and they set out in pursuit as far as Dan. / During the night, Abram divided his forces and routed Chedorlaomer’s army, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/17-9.htm">Exodus 17:9-13</a></span><br />So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on the hilltop with the staff of God in my hand.” / Joshua did as Moses had instructed him and fought against the Amalekites, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. / As long as Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed; but when he lowered them, Amalek prevailed. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/31-3.htm">Numbers 31:3-5</a></span><br />So Moses told the people, “Arm some of your men for war, that they may go against the Midianites and execute the LORD’s vengeance on them. / Send into battle a thousand men from each tribe of Israel.” / So a thousand men were recruited from each tribe of Israel—twelve thousand armed for war.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/7-2.htm">Deuteronomy 7:2</a></span><br />and when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you to defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. Make no treaty with them and show them no mercy.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/15-3.htm">1 Samuel 15:3</a></span><br />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.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/20-29.htm">1 Kings 20:29-30</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/4-9.htm">Nehemiah 4:9</a></span><br />So we prayed to our God and posted a guard against them day and night.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/18-37.htm">Psalm 18:37-42</a></span><br />I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back until they were consumed. / I crushed them so they could not rise; they have fallen under my feet. / You have armed me with strength for battle; You have subdued my foes beneath me. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/8-9.htm">Isaiah 8:9-10</a></span><br />Huddle together, O peoples, and be shattered; pay attention, all you distant lands; prepare for battle, and be shattered; prepare for battle, and be shattered! / Devise a plan, but it will be thwarted; state a proposal, but it will not happen. For God is with us.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/21-8.htm">Jeremiah 21:8-10</a></span><br />Furthermore, you are to tell this people that this is what the LORD says: ‘Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death. / Whoever stays in this city will die by sword and famine and plague, but whoever goes out and surrenders to the Chaldeans who besiege you will live; he will retain his life like a spoil of war. / For I have set My face against this city to bring disaster and not good, declares the LORD. It will be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, who will destroy it with fire.’</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">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.</p><p class="hdg">five thousand</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/joshua/8-2.htm">Joshua 8:2,3</a></b></br> And thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou didst unto Jericho and her king: only the spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof, shall ye take for a prey unto yourselves: lay thee an ambush for the city behind it… </p><p class="hdg">of the city.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/joshua/8-11.htm">Ai</a> <a href="/joshua/8-9.htm">Ambush</a> <a href="/joshua/8-3.htm">Attack</a> <a href="/joshua/8-9.htm">Bethel</a> <a href="/joshua/8-9.htm">Beth-El</a> <a href="/joshua/8-11.htm">City</a> <a href="/joshua/8-10.htm">Joshua</a> <a href="/joshua/8-9.htm">Lie</a> <a href="/joshua/8-11.htm">Position</a> <a href="/joshua/8-11.htm">Side</a> <a href="/joshua/8-2.htm">Surprise</a> <a href="/joshua/8-3.htm">Thousand</a> <a href="/joshua/8-9.htm">West</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/joshua/8-14.htm">Ai</a> <a href="/joshua/8-13.htm">Ambush</a> <a href="/joshua/8-21.htm">Attack</a> <a href="/joshua/8-17.htm">Bethel</a> <a href="/joshua/8-17.htm">Beth-El</a> <a href="/joshua/8-13.htm">City</a> <a href="/joshua/8-13.htm">Joshua</a> <a href="/judges/9-32.htm">Lie</a> <a href="/joshua/8-19.htm">Position</a> <a href="/joshua/8-13.htm">Side</a> <a href="/joshua/8-21.htm">Surprise</a> <a href="/joshua/8-25.htm">Thousand</a> <a href="/joshua/8-13.htm">West</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>Now Joshua had taken about five thousand men</b><br>Joshua, the leader of Israel after Moses, strategically selects a contingent of five thousand men for a military maneuver. This number, while smaller than the entire Israelite army, is significant for a tactical ambush. The choice of five thousand reflects a calculated decision, emphasizing reliance on divine guidance rather than sheer numbers, reminiscent of Gideon's reduction of forces in <a href="/judges/7.htm">Judges 7</a>.<p><b>and set up an ambush</b><br>The ambush is a common military tactic in ancient warfare, designed to surprise and overwhelm the enemy. This strategy reflects Joshua's wisdom and military acumen, as well as his obedience to God's instructions. The use of an ambush here is a direct response to the previous defeat at Ai, demonstrating a shift from presumption to careful planning and reliance on God's guidance.<p><b>between Bethel and Ai</b><br>Geographically, Bethel and Ai are located in the central hill country of Canaan. Bethel, meaning "house of God," holds historical significance as a place where Abraham and Jacob encountered God (<a href="/genesis/12-8.htm">Genesis 12:8, 28</a>:19). Ai, meaning "ruin," is the site of a previous defeat due to Achan's sin (Joshua 7). The positioning between these two cities is strategic, cutting off potential reinforcements from Bethel and isolating Ai.<p><b>to the west of the city</b><br>The ambush is set to the west of Ai, indicating a strategic placement that takes advantage of the terrain and the element of surprise. This location would have been chosen to exploit the natural landscape, possibly using the hills and valleys to conceal the troops. The westward position also suggests a tactical approach to draw the forces of Ai out of the city, allowing the ambush to be more effective.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/joshua.htm">Joshua</a></b><br>The leader of the Israelites, successor to Moses, tasked with leading the people into the Promised Land. Known for his military strategy and faithfulness to God.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/f/five_thousand_men.htm">Five Thousand Men</a></b><br>A contingent of Israelite soldiers chosen by Joshua to execute a strategic ambush against the city of Ai.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/b/bethel.htm">Bethel</a></b><br>A nearby city to Ai, significant in Israelite history as a place where Abraham and Jacob had encounters with God.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/a/ai.htm">Ai</a></b><br>A Canaanite city targeted by the Israelites for conquest. Previously, the Israelites suffered a defeat here due to Achan's sin.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/a/ambush.htm">Ambush</a></b><br>A military tactic used by Joshua to capture Ai, demonstrating strategic planning and reliance on divine guidance.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/s/strategic_obedience.htm">Strategic Obedience</a></b><br>Joshua's use of an ambush reflects the importance of following God's guidance in our plans. We should seek divine wisdom in our strategies and decisions.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/learning_from_past_mistakes.htm">Learning from Past Mistakes</a></b><br>The Israelites' previous defeat at Ai taught them the necessity of obedience and repentance. We should learn from our past failures and seek God's forgiveness and direction.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/faith_and_action.htm">Faith and Action</a></b><br>Joshua's actions demonstrate a balance of faith in God and practical action. We are called to trust God while actively participating in His plans.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/community_and_leadership.htm">Community and Leadership</a></b><br>Joshua's leadership and the cooperation of the Israelite soldiers highlight the importance of unity and effective leadership in achieving God's purposes.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_in_battle.htm">God's Sovereignty in Battle</a></b><br>The victory at Ai underscores that success in our endeavors ultimately depends on God's sovereignty and blessing.<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/augustus_caesar's_biblical_role.htm">What is Ai's significance in the Bible?</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/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/how_to_verify_bethel's_historical_existence.htm">(Genesis 35:1) How can we verify historically or archeologically that Bethel existed as described here?</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>(12) <span class= "bld">And he took about five thousand men, and set them to lie in ambush . . .</span>--Is this a fresh body, or only a portion of the thirty thousand mentioned in <a href="/joshua/8-3.htm" title="So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against Ai: and Joshua chose out thirty thousand mighty men of valor, and sent them away by night.">Joshua 8:3</a>? It is, of course, <span class= "ital">possible </span>that the body of thirty thousand, having closed the communications between Bethel and Ai on the first night, and finding that they were more numerous than was necessary, had rejoined Joshua when he came up, and that a small body of five thousand was told off for the service on the next day. But after carefully studying the natural features of the position by the Ordnance map (of which I have been able to enjoy the advantage at this point of my work), I am inclined to think that both forces were employed--the thirty thousand and the five thousand--and for distinct services. There are <span class= "ital">two </span>ravines, which come to a head between Beitin (Bethel) and et-Tel (Ai). The body of men who were to fire the town of Ai were posted in the one nearer to Ai. The larger body, whose business was to prevent any interference from the side of Bethel, were posted in the ravine next to that city, where they had been from the first. If it be remembered, as was before observed, that Joshua was attacking a fortified town, which was protected in flank by another town, and that it was necessary to be prepared for all contingencies from the first, the meaning of his movements will be apparent.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/joshua/8.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 12.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And he took about five thousand men</span> (see above, ver. 3). We must translate <span class="accented">had taken.</span> The repetition is quite in the manner of the Hebrew writers. This passage is of course, according to the Jehovist and Elohist theory, "quite irreconeilable" with the rest of the narrative. So we are told that this is a Jehovistic interpolation (Knobel). <span class="cmt_word">Of the city.</span> The Masorites and LXX. prefer the reading <span class="accented">Ai</span> (<span class="accented">i.e.</span>, <span class="hebrew">עַי</span> for <span class="hebrew">עִיר</span>.), in the margin of our Bibles, to that in the text, which is followed by the Vulgate and Luther. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/joshua/8-12.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">Now Joshua had taken</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיִּקַּ֕ח</span> <span class="translit">(way·yiq·qaḥ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3947.htm">Strong's 3947: </a> </span><span class="str2">To take</span><br /><br /><span class="word">about five</span><br /><span class="heb">כַּחֲמֵ֥שֶׁת</span> <span class="translit">(ka·ḥă·mê·šeṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-k, Article | Number - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2568.htm">Strong's 2568: </a> </span><span class="str2">Five</span><br /><br /><span class="word">thousand</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲלָפִ֖ים</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·lā·p̄îm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_505.htm">Strong's 505: </a> </span><span class="str2">A thousand</span><br /><br /><span class="word">men</span><br /><span class="heb">אִ֑ישׁ</span> <span class="translit">(’îš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_376.htm">Strong's 376: </a> </span><span class="str2">A man as an individual, a male person</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and set</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיָּ֨שֶׂם</span> <span class="translit">(way·yā·śem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine 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">them</span><br /><span class="heb">אוֹתָ֜ם</span> <span class="translit">(’ō·w·ṯām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Direct object marker | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_853.htm">Strong's 853: </a> </span><span class="str2">Untranslatable mark of the accusative case</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in ambush</span><br /><span class="heb">אֹרֵ֗ב</span> <span class="translit">(’ō·rêḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_693.htm">Strong's 693: </a> </span><span class="str2">To lie in wait</span><br /><br /><span class="word">between</span><br /><span class="heb">בֵּ֧ין</span> <span class="translit">(bên)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_996.htm">Strong's 996: </a> </span><span class="str2">An interval, space between</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Bethel</span><br /><span class="heb">אֵ֛ל</span> <span class="translit">(’êl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1008.htm">Strong's 1008: </a> </span><span class="str2">Bethel -- 'house of God', a city in Ephraim, also a place in southern Judah</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and Ai,</span><br /><span class="heb">הָעַ֖י</span> <span class="translit">(hā·‘ay)</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">to the west</span><br /><span class="heb">מִיָּ֥ם</span> <span class="translit">(mî·yām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3220.htm">Strong's 3220: </a> </span><span class="str2">A sea, the Mediterranean Sea, large river, an artifical basin</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the city.</span><br /><span class="heb">לָעִֽיר׃</span> <span class="translit">(lā·‘îr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5892.htm">Strong's 5892: </a> </span><span class="str2">Excitement</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/joshua/8-12.htm">Joshua 8:12 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/joshua/8-12.htm">Joshua 8:12 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/joshua/8-12.htm">Joshua 8:12 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/joshua/8-12.htm">Joshua 8:12 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/joshua/8-12.htm">Joshua 8:12 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/joshua/8-12.htm">Joshua 8:12 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/joshua/8-12.htm">Joshua 8:12 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/joshua/8-12.htm">Joshua 8:12 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/joshua/8-12.htm">Joshua 8:12 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/joshua/8-12.htm">Joshua 8:12 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/joshua/8-12.htm">OT History: Joshua 8:12 He took about five thousand men (Josh. Jos)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/joshua/8-11.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Joshua 8:11"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Joshua 8:11" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/joshua/8-13.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Joshua 8:13"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Joshua 8:13" /></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>