Joshua 8:20

And when the inhabitants of Ai looked round behind them, then they saw the smoke going up out of the city to heaven, and they were no longer able to flee this way or that way.

Updated Brenton Septuagint

In The King James Version

And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and, behold, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that way: and the people that fled to the wilderness turned back upon the pursuers.

In Context

19And Joshua stretched out his hand and his spear toward the city, and the ambuscade rose up quickly out of their place; and they came forth when he stretched out his hand; and they entered into the city, and took it; and they hastened and burned the city with fire.

21And Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambuscade had taken the city, and that the smoke of the city went up to heaven; and they turned and smote the men of Ai.

Read all of Joshua 8

Cross References

Genesis 19:28And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward the surrounding country, and saw, and behold a flame went up from the earth, as the smoke of a furnace.

Judges 20:41And the men of Israel turned back, and the men of Benjamin hastened, because they saw that evil had come upon them.

Psalms 48:5I will incline mine ear to a parable: 1 I will open my riddle on the harp. 1

Isaiah 34:10and it shall never be quenched, and her smoke shall go up: it shall be made desolate throughout her generations,

Matthew Henry on Joshua 8:4-23

3 So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against Ai: and Joshua chose out thirty thousand mighty men of valour, and sent them away by night. 4 And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye shall lie in wait against the city, even behind the city: go not very far from the city, but be ye all ready: 5 And I, and all the people that are 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, 6 (For they will come out… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Joshua 8:20