Joshua 8:15-29
by the way Josh 18:12 called together Judg 20:36-39 drawn away Josh 8:5-6; Judg 20:31; Ps 9:16; Ezek 38:11-22; Rev 16:14, Rev 19:19-21 a man Josh 8:3, Josh 8:24-25, Josh 11:20; Deut 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 Josh 8:7, Josh 8:26; Exod 8:5, Exod 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 γαισον, which Suidas says, signifies a kind of weapon, οιον δορατος, 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. 1Sam 17:6, 1Sam 17:41, 1Sam 17:45; Job 39:23; Joshua 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. Josh 8:6-8 the smoke Gen 19:28; Isa 34:10; Rev 18:9, Rev 19:3 and they had Job 11:20; Ps 48:5-6, Ps 76:5; Amos 2:14-16; Rev 6:15-17 power Heb. hand let none Josh 6:21, Josh 10:28, Josh 11:11-12; Deut 7:2; Job 20:5; Luke 17:26-30; 1Thess 5:3 Josh 8:29, Josh 10:17; 1Sam 15:8; Rev 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 (Josh 8:16). Josh 10:30-41, Josh 11:10-14; Num 21:24 Joshua Joshua seems to have been not only the general but the standard-bearer of the army (Josh 8:18), 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 Josh 8:18; Exod 17:11-12 the cattle Josh 8:2, Josh 11:4; Num 31:22, Num 31:26; Ps 50:10; Matt 20:15 he commanded Josh 8:2 an heap Deut 13:16; 2Kgs 19:25; Isa 17:1, Isa 25:2; Jer 9:11, Jer 49:2, Jer 50:26; Mic 3:12 unto this day Josh 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. Josh 10:26-28, Josh 10:30, Josh 10:33; Deut 21:22-23; Esth 7:10; Ps 107:40, Ps 110:5; Acts 12:23; Rev 19:17-18 as soon Josh 10:27 a great heap Josh 7:26; 2Sam 18:17
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