Bible Commentaries
Joshua 8

Verse 1

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 .

said. See note on Joshua 3:7 .

see. Figure of speech Asterienios ( App-6 ).

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ) emphasising each particular.

Verse 2

Jericho. Compare Joshua 6:21 .

the cattle. Compare Deuteronomy 20:14 .

Verse 4

Behold. Figure of speech Asteriaaeos. App-6 .

Verse 7

God. Hebrew. Elohim . App-4 .

hand. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause) for the power which is in it ( App-6 ). Compare Joshua 8:20 , where it is rendered "power.

Verse 8

See. Figure of speech Aeteriemos. App-6 .

Verse 9

between Beth-el and Ai. The place of Abraham's altar, Genesis 12:8 : so that the place where the promise of the Land was made, is the place where it began to be fulfilled. Abraham had come down from Sichem: Joshua goes up to Sichem, and builds his altar on the same spot where Abraham had built his. Compare Genesis 12:6-8 with Joshua 8:30-35 and Deuteronomy 11:30 .

Verse 10

numbered = inspected or mustered.

Verse 12

of the city. Another school of Massorites read "of Ai", with many codices and Aramaic.

Verse 13

went. Some codices, with three early printed editions, read "lodged in".

Verse 14

men. Hebrew, plural of ish or 'enosh . App-14 .

wist not = knew not. Anglo-Saxon witan , to know,

Verse 15

made as if they were beaten. The only form of the verb in the Hebrew Bible.

Verse 16

in Ai. Some codices read "in the city",

Verse 17

man. Hebrew. ish . App-14 .

Verse 19

spear = a short javelin. First occurrence of Hebrew. kidon.

Verse 20

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

power. Hebrew hands. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause). for the power put forth by them ( App-6 ).

pursuers = the pursuing force (singular)

Verse 22

let none. Compare Deuteronomy 7:2 .

of them. One Massoretic reading is remain "to him"

Verse 24

consumed = spent.

Verse 26

destroyed = devoted.

Verse 27

the cattle. Compare Numbers 31:22-28 .

commanded Joshua. Compare Joshua 8:2 .

Verse 28

heap. Its only name to-day is "Tell" = the Heap.

Verse 29

as soon as. Compare Deuteronomy 21:22 , Deuteronomy 21:23 and Joshua 10:27 , that remaineth. Figure of speech Parenthesis (relative). App-6 .

Verse 31

Moses the servant of the LORD. See note on Deuteronomy 34:5 .

children = sons.

as = according as.

Book of the Law. See note on Exodus 17:14 ; Exodus 24:4 ; and App-47 . So that Joshua had a copy of Deuteronomy.

whole stones . Compare Exodus 20:25 .Deuteronomy 27:5 .

Verse 32

he wrote. See note on Exodus 17:14 .

a copy = duplicate.

Verse 33

and officers . Some codices, with Aramaean and Syriac, read "and their officers".

before = at the first.

Verse 35

the congregation = assembly (as mustered).

were conversant . Hebrew walked.