Joshua 8:4
<< Joshua 8:4 >>
New International Version (©1984)
with these orders: "Listen carefully. You are to set an ambush behind the city. Don't go very far from it. All of you be on the alert.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
He commanded them, saying, "See, you are going to ambush the city from behind it. Do not go very far from the city, but all of you be ready.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
with these orders: "Set an ambush behind the city. Don't go very far away from the city. Everyone must be ready.

King James Bible
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:

American King James Version
And he commanded them, saying, Behold, you shall lie in wait against the city, even behind the city: go not very far from the city, but be you all ready:

American Standard Version
And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye shall lie in ambush against the city, behind the city; go not very far from the city, but be ye all ready:

Bible in Basic English
And he gave them their orders, saying, Go and take up your position secretly at the back of the town: do not go very far away, and let all of you be ready:

Douay-Rheims Bible
And commanded them, saying: Lay an ambush behind the city: and go not very far from it: and be ye all ready.

Darby Bible Translation
And he commanded them, saying, See, ye shall be in ambush against the city, behind the city: go not very far from the city, and be all of you ready.

English Revised Version
And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye shall lie in ambush against the city, behind the city: go not very far from the city, but be ye all ready:

Webster's Bible Translation
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:

World English Bible
He commanded them, saying, "Behold, you shall lie in ambush against the city, behind the city. Don't go very far from the city, but all of you be ready.

Young's Literal Translation
and commandeth them, saying, 'See, ye are liers in wait against the city, at the rear of the city, ye go not very far off from the city, and all of you have been prepared,

Geneva Study Bible

And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye {b} shall lie in wait against the city, even behind the city: go not very far from the city, but be ye all ready:

(b) God would not destroy Ai by a miracle, as Jericho, so that other nations would fear the power and policy of his people.

Wesley's Notes

8:4 Them - The same party last spoken of, even the five thousand mentioned ver.12, there are only two parties engaged in the taking of Ai, and but one ambush, as plainly appears by comparing ver.9, with ver.12, which speaks only of five thousand, who are justly supposed to be a part of those thirty thousand named, ver.3.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

4. behind the city-is rendered (Jos 8:9), "on the west side of Ai."

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

8:3-22 Observe Joshua's conduct and prudence. Those that would maintain their spiritual conflicts must not love their ease. Probably he went into the valley alone, to pray to God for a blessing, and he did not seek in vain. He never drew back till the work was done. Those that have stretched out their hands against their spiritual enemies, must never draw them back.


Judges 20:29 So Israel set men in ambush around Gibeah. (NASB ©1995)

Ambush Carefully City Commanded Commandeth Hold Lie Orders Position Prepared Readiness Ready Rear Secretly Wait Yourselves


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:

lie in wait Jos 8:16 Jud 9:25 20:29,33,36 1Sa 15:2,5 Ac 23:21

go not Ec 7:19 9:16

Bible Gateway: Joshua Chapter 8 Verse 4 NIV ESV NKJV NLT KJV Message Amplified

Alphabetical: alert All ambush an are be behind but carefully city commanded Do Don't far from go going He it Listen not of on orders ready saying See set the them these to very with You

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OT History: Joshua 8:4 He commanded them saying Behold you shall (Josh. Jos) Christian Bible Study Resources, Dictionary, Concordance and Search Tools

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