King James Version
Joshua 8:12 in the King James Version says “And he took about five thousand men, and set them to lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city ....” — study this verse from Joshua chapter 8 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.
“And he took about five thousand men, and set them to lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city . of: or, of Ai”
Joshua 8:12 · KJV
And Joshua rose up early in the morning, and numbered the people, and went up, he and the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai.
And all the people, even the people of war that were with him, went up, and drew nigh, and came before the city, and pitched on the north side of Ai: now there was a valley between them and Ai.
And he took about five thousand men, and set them to lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city . of: or, of Ai
And when they had set the people, even all the host that was on the north of the city, and their liers in wait on the west of the city, Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley. liers: Heb. lying in wait
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.
KJV Study — Public Domain
“thousand”
H505hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
“men”
H376a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
“and set”
H7760to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...or
between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...or
“on the west side”
H3220a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the mediterranean sea; sometimes a large river, or an artif
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
This verse is found in the book of Joshua. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.
Joshua 8:12 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.
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