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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 8:16 Then all the men of Ai were summoned to pursue them, and they followed Joshua and were drawn away from the city.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/joshua/8-16.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/8/06_Jos_08_16.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Joshua 8:16 - The Conquest of Ai" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Then all the men of Ai were summoned to pursue them, and they followed Joshua and were drawn away from the city." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/joshua/8-16.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/joshua/8-16.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/joshua/">Joshua</a> > <a href="/joshua/8.htm">Chapter 8</a> > Verse 16</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad16.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/8-15.htm" title="Joshua 8:15">◄</a> Joshua 8:16 <a href="/joshua/8-17.htm" title="Joshua 8:17">►</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 />All the men of Ai were called to pursue them, and they pursued Joshua and were lured away from the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/joshua/8.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Then all the men in the town were called out to chase after them. In this way, they were lured away from the town.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/joshua/8.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />So all the people who were in the city were called together to pursue them, and as they pursued Joshua they were drawn away from the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/joshua/8.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then all the men of Ai were summoned to pursue them, and they followed Joshua and were drawn away from the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/joshua/8.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And all the people that <i>were</i> in Ai were called together to pursue after them: and they pursued after Joshua, and were drawn away from 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 all the people who <i>were</i> in Ai were called together to pursue them. And they pursued Joshua and were drawn away from the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/joshua/8.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />And all the people who were in the city were called together to pursue them, and they pursued Joshua and were lured away from the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/joshua/8.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />And all the people who were in the city were called together to pursue them, and they pursued Joshua and were drawn away from the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/joshua/8.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And all the people who were in the city were called together to pursue them, and they pursued Joshua, and were drawn away from the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/joshua/8.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And all the people who were in the city were called together to pursue them, and they pursued Joshua and were drawn away from the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/joshua/8.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Then all the people who were in the city were called together to pursue them, and they pursued Joshua and were lured away from the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/joshua/8.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then all the troops of Ai were summoned to pursue them, and they pursued Joshua and were drawn away from the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/joshua/8.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then all the troops of Ai were summoned to pursue them, and they pursued Joshua and were drawn away from the city. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/joshua/8.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And all the people that were in the city were called together to pursue after them: and they pursued after Joshua, and were drawn away from the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/joshua/8.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And all the people that were in the city were called together to pursue after them: and they pursued after Joshua, and were drawn away from the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/joshua/8.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />All the troops in the city were called out to chase them. As they chased Joshua, they were lured away from the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/joshua/8.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />All the men in the city had been called together to go after them, and as they pursued Joshua, they kept getting farther away from the city. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/joshua/8.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />everyone in the city followed after them. As they pursued Joshua, they were drawn away from the town. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/joshua/8.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then all the men of Ai were summoned to pursue them, and they followed Joshua and were drawn away from the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/joshua/8.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />All the reinforcements in Ai were ordered to chase them; they chased Joshua and were lured away from the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/joshua/8.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />All the people who were in the city were called together to pursue after them. They pursued Joshua, and were drawn away from 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 all the people that were in Ai were called together to pursue them: and they pursued Joshua, and were drawn away from the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/joshua/8.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />All the people who were in the city were called together to pursue after them. They pursued Joshua, and were drawn away from 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 all the people who [are] in the city are called to pursue after them, and they pursue after Joshua, and are drawn away out 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 all the people who are in the city are called to pursue after them, and they pursue after Joshua, and are drawn away out 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 all the people which are in the city will be called together to pursue after them, and they will pursue after Joshua, and be drawn away from 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 />But they shouting together, and encouraging one another, pursued them. And when they were come from the city, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/joshua/8.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And they pursued them, shouting together and encouraging one another. And when they had withdrawn from the city,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/joshua/8.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />until the last of the soldiers in the city had been called out to pursue them. Since they were drawn away from the city, with everyone pursuing Joshua,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/joshua/8.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />So all the people who were in the city were called together to pursue them, and as they pursued Joshua they were drawn away from 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 all the people of Ai shouted as they pursued them; and they followed Joshua, and were drawn out 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 all the people of Ai cried out to chase after them and they pursued after Yeshua and they poured out after them from 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 all the people that were in Ai were called together to pursue after them; and they pursued after Joshua, and were drawn away from the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/joshua/8.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And they pursued after the children of Israel, and they themselves went to a distance from the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/joshua/8-16.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=1871" 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">15</span>Joshua and all Israel let themselves be beaten back before them, and they fled toward the wilderness. <span class="reftext">16</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3605.htm" title="3605: kāl- (N-msc) -- The whole, all. Or kowl; from kalal; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every.">Then all</a> <a href="/hebrew/5971.htm" title="5971: hā·‘ām (Art:: N-ms) -- From amam; a people; specifically, a tribe; hence troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock.">the men</a> <a href="/hebrew/5892.htm" title="5892: bå̄·ʿīr (Prep-b, Art:: N-proper-fs) -- Excitement. Or par; or ayar; from uwr a city in the widest sense.">of Ai</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc."></a> <a href="/hebrew/2199.htm" title="2199: way·yiz·zā·‘ă·qū (Conj-w:: V-Nifal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To cry, cry out, call. A primitive root; to shriek; by analogy, to announce or convene publicly.">were summoned</a> <a href="/hebrew/7291.htm" title="7291: lir·dōp̄ (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To pursue, chase, persecute. A primitive root; to run after (of time) gone by).">to pursue them,</a> <a href="/hebrew/310.htm" title="310: ’a·ḥă·rê·hem (Prep:: 3mp) -- The hind or following part. From 'achar; properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after."></a> <a href="/hebrew/7291.htm" title="7291: way·yir·də·p̄ū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To pursue, chase, persecute. A primitive root; to run after (of time) gone by).">and they followed</a> <a href="/hebrew/310.htm" title="310: ’a·ḥă·rê (Prep) -- The hind or following part. From 'achar; properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after."></a> <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.">Joshua</a> <a href="/hebrew/5423.htm" title="5423: way·yin·nā·ṯə·qū (Conj-w:: V-Nifal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To pull, draw, or tear away, apart, or off. A primitive root; to tear off.">and were drawn away</a> <a href="/hebrew/4480.htm" title="4480: min- (Prep) -- From. Or minniy; or minney; for men; properly, a part of; hence, from or out of in many senses.">from</a> <a href="/hebrew/5892.htm" title="5892: hā·‘îr (Art:: N-fs) -- Excitement. Or par; or ayar; from uwr a city in the widest sense.">the city.</a> </span><span class="reftext">17</span>Not a man was left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel, leaving the city wide open while they pursued Israel.…<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/7-5.htm">Joshua 7:5</a></span><br />And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of them, chasing them from the gate as far as the quarries and striking them down on the slopes. So the hearts of the people melted and became like water.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/20-31.htm">Judges 20:31</a></span><br />The Benjamites came out against them and were drawn away from the city. They began to attack the people as before, killing about thirty men of Israel in the fields and on the roads, one of which led up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/10-9.htm">2 Samuel 10:9-10</a></span><br />When Joab saw the battle lines before him and behind him, he selected some of the best men of Israel and arrayed them against the Arameans. / And he placed the rest of the troops under the command of his brother Abishai, who arrayed them against the Ammonites.<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/13-13.htm">2 Chronicles 13:13-14</a></span><br />Now Jeroboam had sent troops around to ambush from the rear, so that while he was in front of Judah, the ambush was behind them. / When Judah turned and discovered that the battle was both before and behind them, they cried out to the LORD. Then the priests blew the trumpets,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/20-22.htm">2 Chronicles 20:22-23</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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/37-36.htm">Isaiah 37:36-37</a></span><br />Then the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies! / So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/21-9.htm">Jeremiah 21:9</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/37-10.htm">Jeremiah 37:10</a></span><br />Indeed, if you were to strike down the entire army of the Chaldeans that is fighting against you, and only wounded men remained in their tents, they would still get up and burn this city down.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/lamentations/4-19.htm">Lamentations 4:19</a></span><br />Those who chased us were swifter than the eagles in the sky; they pursued us over the mountains and ambushed us in the wilderness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/24-16.htm">Matthew 24:16</a></span><br />then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/13-14.htm">Mark 13:14</a></span><br />So when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/21-21.htm">Luke 21:21</a></span><br />Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country stay out of the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/14-19.htm">Acts 14:19</a></span><br />Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won over the crowds. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, presuming he was dead.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/23-12.htm">Acts 23:12-15</a></span><br />When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. / More than forty of them were involved in this plot. / They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul. ...</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And all the people that were in Ai were called together to pursue after them: and they pursued after Joshua, and were drawn away from the city.</p><p class="hdg">called together</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/judges/20-36.htm">Judges 20:36-39</a></b></br> So the children of Benjamin saw that they were smitten: for the men of Israel gave place to the Benjamites, because they trusted unto the liers in wait which they had set beside Gibeah… </p><p class="hdg">drawn away</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/joshua/8-5.htm">Joshua 8:5,6</a></b></br> And I, and all the people that <i>are</i> with me, will approach unto the city: and it shall come to pass, when they come out against us, as at the first, that we will flee before them, … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/judges/20-31.htm">Judges 20:31</a></b></br> And the children of Benjamin went out against the people, <i>and</i> were drawn away from the city; and they began to smite of the people, <i>and</i> kill, as at other times, in the highways, of which one goeth up to the house of God, and the other to Gibeah in the field, about thirty men of Israel.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/9-16.htm">Psalm 9:16</a></b></br> The LORD is known <i>by</i> the judgment <i>which</i> he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/joshua/8-14.htm">Ai</a> <a href="/joshua/8-14.htm">City</a> <a href="/joshua/8-6.htm">Drawn</a> <a href="/joshua/8-15.htm">Joshua</a> <a href="/joshua/8-6.htm">Lured</a> <a href="/joshua/3-1.htm">Moving</a> <a href="/joshua/8-6.htm">Pursue</a> <a href="/joshua/7-5.htm">Pursued</a> <a href="/joshua/4-4.htm">Together</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/joshua/8-17.htm">Ai</a> <a href="/joshua/8-17.htm">City</a> <a href="/joshua/15-9.htm">Drawn</a> <a href="/joshua/8-18.htm">Joshua</a> <a href="/joshua/8-6.htm">Lured</a> <a href="/judges/2-12.htm">Moving</a> <a href="/joshua/8-17.htm">Pursue</a> <a href="/joshua/8-17.htm">Pursued</a> <a href="/joshua/9-2.htm">Together</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>Then all the men of Ai were summoned to pursue them</b><br>This phrase indicates a strategic military maneuver. The men of Ai, confident from their previous victory over Israel, are summoned to pursue the Israelites. This reflects the ancient Near Eastern warfare tactics where cities would often defend themselves by sending out their fighting men. The summoning of all the men suggests a complete mobilization, leaving the city vulnerable. This is reminiscent of the overconfidence seen in other biblical narratives, such as the Philistines' underestimation of David (1 Samuel 17).<p><b>and they followed Joshua</b><br>Joshua, as the leader of Israel, is central to this narrative. His leadership is a type of Christ, leading his people to victory. The men of Ai following Joshua symbolizes the enemy's focus on the apparent threat, unaware of the larger divine strategy at play. This mirrors how Christ's adversaries were often unaware of the true nature of His mission (<a href="/john/1-10.htm">John 1:10-11</a>).<p><b>and were drawn away from the city</b><br>This phrase highlights the tactical brilliance of Joshua's plan, which was divinely inspired (<a href="/joshua/8.htm">Joshua 8:1-2</a>). By drawing the men away, the Israelites could execute a surprise attack on the now undefended city. This tactic of feigned retreat is seen in other historical battles and is a testament to the wisdom granted to Joshua. Theologically, it reflects how God can use apparent retreats or setbacks for ultimate victory, as seen in the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ (<a href="/colossians/2-15.htm">Colossians 2:15</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/joshua.htm">Joshua</a></b><br>The leader of Israel, successor to Moses, who is orchestrating the military strategy against Ai.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/m/men_of_ai.htm">Men of Ai</a></b><br>The inhabitants and soldiers of the city of Ai, who are drawn out of their city to pursue the Israelites.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/a/ai.htm">Ai</a></b><br>A Canaanite city that Israel is attempting to conquer after their initial defeat due to Achan's sin.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/i/israelites.htm">Israelites</a></b><br>The people of God, following Joshua's leadership, executing a divinely inspired military strategy.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_ambush.htm">The Ambush</a></b><br>The strategic military maneuver planned by Joshua to lure the men of Ai out of their city, allowing the Israelites to capture it.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/d/divine_strategy_and_human_obedience.htm">Divine Strategy and Human Obedience</a></b><br>God often uses human strategies to accomplish His purposes, but success requires obedience to His instructions.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/learning_from_past_mistakes.htm">Learning from Past Mistakes</a></b><br>The Israelites' initial failure at Ai teaches the importance of addressing sin and seeking God's guidance before moving forward.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_leadership.htm">The Importance of Leadership</a></b><br>Joshua's role as a leader is crucial; he listens to God and leads the people with courage and wisdom.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/trusting_god's_timing.htm">Trusting God's Timing</a></b><br>The Israelites had to wait for God's timing to attack Ai again, teaching us patience and trust in God's perfect plan.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/spiritual_warfare.htm">Spiritual Warfare</a></b><br>Just as the Israelites used strategy in physical warfare, Christians are called to be strategic in spiritual warfare, using the armor of God.<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/why_is_jericho_mentioned_in_joshua_16_1.htm">How can Jericho be mentioned again (Joshua 16:1) if Joshua 6 supposedly left the city in total ruins?</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><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_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><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/joshua/8.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 16.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Were called together.</span> So the Masorites. Perhaps it would be better to translate, <span class="accented">raised a cry</span> ("at illi vociferantes." Vulgate. "Da schrie das ganze Volk." Luther). This gives us the scene in all its picturesque detail. We hear the exultant shout of the men of Ai, as they thought the victory won. The LXX. appear to have read <span class="hebrew">חָזַק</span> for <span class="hebrew">זָעַק</span> for they translate <span class="greek">ἐνίσχυσε</span>. <span class="cmt_word">The city.</span> The Masorites correct here again into "Ai." But the LXX. and Vulgate render as the English translation. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/joshua/8-16.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">Then all</span><br /><span class="heb">כָּל־</span> <span class="translit">(kāl-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3605.htm">Strong's 3605: </a> </span><span class="str2">The whole, all, any, every</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the men [of Ai]</span><br /><span class="heb">הָעָם֙</span> <span class="translit">(hā·‘ām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5971.htm">Strong's 5971: </a> </span><span class="str2">A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock</span><br /><br /><span class="word">were summoned</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיִּזָּעֲק֗וּ</span> <span class="translit">(way·yiz·zā·‘ă·qū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2199.htm">Strong's 2199: </a> </span><span class="str2">To shriek, to announce, convene publicly</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to pursue them,</span><br /><span class="heb">לִרְדֹּ֖ף</span> <span class="translit">(lir·dōp̄)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7291.htm">Strong's 7291: </a> </span><span class="str2">To pursue, chase, persecute</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and they followed</span><br /><span class="heb">וַֽיִּרְדְּפוּ֙</span> <span class="translit">(way·yir·də·p̄ū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7291.htm">Strong's 7291: </a> </span><span class="str2">To pursue, chase, persecute</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Joshua</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ</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">and were drawn away</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיִּנָּתְק֖וּ</span> <span class="translit">(way·yin·nā·ṯə·qū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5423.htm">Strong's 5423: </a> </span><span class="str2">To pull, draw, or tear away, apart, or off</span><br /><br /><span class="word">from</span><br /><span class="heb">מִן־</span> <span class="translit">(min-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4480.htm">Strong's 4480: </a> </span><span class="str2">A part of, from, out of</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the city.</span><br /><span class="heb">בָּעַ֔י</span> <span class="translit">(bā·‘ay)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b, Article | Noun - proper - 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/8-16.htm">Joshua 8:16 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/joshua/8-16.htm">Joshua 8:16 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/joshua/8-16.htm">Joshua 8:16 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/joshua/8-16.htm">Joshua 8:16 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/joshua/8-16.htm">Joshua 8:16 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/joshua/8-16.htm">Joshua 8:16 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/joshua/8-16.htm">Joshua 8:16 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/joshua/8-16.htm">Joshua 8:16 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/joshua/8-16.htm">Joshua 8:16 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/joshua/8-16.htm">Joshua 8:16 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/joshua/8-16.htm">OT History: Joshua 8:16 All the people who were (Josh. Jos)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/joshua/8-15.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Joshua 8:15"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Joshua 8:15" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/joshua/8-17.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Joshua 8:17"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Joshua 8:17" /></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>