Jos 8:15-29 | TSK | STEP

Joshua 8:15-29

by the way.

18:12

called together.

Jud 20:36-39

drawn away.

5,6; Jud 20:31; Ps 9:16; Eze 38:11-22; Re 16:14; 19:19-21

a man.

3,24,25; 11:20; De 2:30; Job 5:13; Isa 19:11-13

Bethel.Bethel is not mentioned in the Greek version, and some, with Houbigant and Pilkington, think it was not originally in the Hebrew; because, had the men of Bethel pursued, as well as those of Ai, it would have been said that they left the cities, and not the city, open. The principal strength of Bethel might have been previously taken into Ai, as the strongest place to make a stand in; Bethel being but about three miles westward from Ai.

Stretch.

7,26; Ex 8:5; 17:11; Job 15:25

the spear.The word {keedon} is rendered {clypeum,} a shield or buckler, by the Vulgate but the LXX. translate it [gaison,] which Suidas says, signifies a kind of weapon, [hoion doratos,] like a spear. It may denote a short spear, javelin, or lance; for it is evident that it signifies neither the larger spear nor the shield, because it is distinguished from both.

1Sa 17:6,41,45; Job 39:23Joshua may have had a flag or ensign at the end of the spear, which might be seen at a considerable distance when extended, which was the sign agreed upon by him and the ambush.

6-8

the smoke.

Ge 19:28; Isa 34:10; Re 18:9; 19:3

and they had.

Job 11:20; Ps 48:5,6; 76:5; Am 2:14-16; Re 6:15-17

power. Heb. hand.

let none.

6:21; 10:28; 11:11,12; De 7:2; Job 20:5; Lu 17:26-30; 1Th 5:3

29; 10:17; 1Sa 15:8; Re 19:20

returned unto Ai.This must refer to the women, children, and old persons left behind; for it seems that all the effective men had sallied out when they imagined the Israelites had fled. (ver. 16.)

10:30-41; 11:10-14; Nu 21:24

Joshua.Joshua seems to have been not only the general but the standard-bearer of the army, (ver. 18,) and continued in this employment, by holding up or extending his spear, during the whole of the battle; and did not slacken from the pursuit till the forces of Ai were utterly discomfited. Some commentators, however, understand this action in a figurative sense, like the holding up of Moses' hands, as if it implied that Joshua continued in prayer for the success of his troops, nor ceased till the armies of Ai were annihilated, and the city taken and destroyed.

drew not.

18; Ex 17:11,12

the cattle.

2; 11:4; Nu 31:22,26; Ps 50:10; Mt 20:15

he commanded.

an heap.

De 13:16; 2Ki 19:25; Isa 17:1; 25:2; Jer 9:11; 49:2; 50:26; Mic 3:12

unto this day.

4:9

the king.The kings of Canaan lay under the same curse as their subjects and probably were more deeply criminal. The reserving of the king of Ai for a solemn execution, would tend to strike terror into the other kings, contribute to the success of Israel, and give their proceedings the stamp of a judicial process, and of executing the vengeance of God upon his enemies.

10:26-28,30,33; De 21:22,23; Es 7:10; Ps 107:40; 110:5; Ac 12:23

Re 19:17,18

as soon.

10:27

a great heap.

7:26; 2Sa 18:17