Home› Bible› Joshua› Chapter 8

Joshua 8

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 8 of 24

1 And Jehovah said to Joshua, Do not fear and not be afraid. Take all the people of war with you, and rise up, go up to Ai. Behold, I have given the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land into your hand.

2 And you shall do to Ai and to its king as you have done to Jericho and its king. Only, its spoil and its cattle you shall take for yourselves. Set yourself an ambush for the city behind it.

3 And Joshua rose up, and all the people of war, to go up to Ai. And Joshua chose thirty thousand men, mighty warriors and sent them away by night.

Read full chapter in the Bible Reader

Chapter Summary

Jehovah encourages Joshua. 3 The strategy to take Ai. 29 The king is hanged. 30 Joshua builds an altar.

Key Hebrew Words

אָרַב lie in ambush H693 · TWOT 156
חֶ֫רֶב sword H2719 · TWOT 732a
מִזְבֵּחַ altar H4196 · TWOT 525b
תּוֹרָה law H8451 · TWOT 910d
בְּרִית covenant H1285 · TWOT 282a
בְּרָכָה blessing H1293 · TWOT 285b

People & Context

Joshua

Leader of Israel who takes Ai by ambush, hangs its king, and builds an altar at Mount Ebal

Jehovah

God of Israel who commands the attack on Ai, gives the city into Joshua's hand, and grants the spoil

Moses

Servant of Jehovah whose Law Joshua copies on stones and reads to all Israel at Ebal and Gerizim

Timeline

Command to Attack Ai

Jehovah tells Joshua not to fear, to take all the men of war, and go up to Ai, instructing him to set an ambush and promising the spoil.

Joshua 8:1-2
30,000 Sent in Night Ambush

Joshua selects 30,000 mighty warriors and sends them by night to wait in ambush behind the city, west of Ai.

Joshua 8:3-9
Joshua Marches Main Army

Joshua rises early and marches with the elders and the rest of the army to camp on the north side of Ai, across a valley.

Joshua 8:10-11

Read Joshua 8 in the KJ3 Reader

Word-for-word literal translation with Hebrew interlinear, Strong's numbers, and audio.

Open in Bible Reader
Joshua 7JoshuaJoshua 9