Joshua 8:14

When the king of Ai saw this, he and his men made an early start. In the morning they rose and marched out to fight Israel at the expected place near the Arabah, not knowing that an ambush had been laid behind the town.

Open English Bible (US)

In The King James Version

And it came to pass, when the king of Ai saw it, that they hasted and rose up early, and the men of the city went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at a time appointed, before the plain; but he wist not that there were liers in ambush against him behind the city.

In Context

13The main army were thus stationed to the north of the town, with the ambush laid to the west. Joshua passed that night in the middle of the valley.

15They beat Joshua and all Israel, who fled in the direction of the desert.

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Cross References

Joshua 8:16All the townsmen of Ai were called out to pursue them. They allowed themselves to be drawn away from the town.

Matthew 24:50that servant’s master will come on a day when they do not expect him, and at an hour of which they are unaware,

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 →

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