Joshua 8:29

“And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until eventide, etc.] By way of terror to other kings in the land of Canaan, that should refuse to submit unto him: and as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his carcass down from the tree; according to the law in (<052123>Deuteronomy 21:23); and that the land might not be defiled: and cast it at the entering of the gate of the city; this was done, according to Ben Gersom and Abarbinel, that it might be publicly known to the rest of the kings of the nations, that they might be afraid to fight with Israel: and raise thereon a great heap of stones, [that remaineth] unto this day; as a sepulchral monument, showing that there…”

“THE KING HANGED. (Jos 8:29) The king of Ai he hanged on a tree until eventide--that is, gibbeted. In ancient, and particularly Oriental wars, the chiefs, when taken prisoners, were usually executed. The Israelites were obliged, by the divine law, to put them to death. The execution of the king of Ai would tend to facilitate the conquest of the land, by striking terror into the other chiefs, and making it appear a judicial process, in which they were inflicting the vengeance of God upon His enemies. take his carcass down . . . and raise thereon a great heap of stones--It was taken down at sunset, according to the divine command (Deu 21:23), and cast into a pit dug "at the entering of the…”

“Compare Deuteronomy 21:22-23 notes. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Hanged on a tree - He dealt more severely with the kings of Canaan than with the people, because the abominable wickedness of that people was not restrained and punished (as it should have been) but countenanced and encouraged by their evil examples; and because they were the principal authors of the destruction of their own people, by engaging them in an obstinate opposition against the Israelites. Down from the tree - According to God's command in that case, Deu 21:22. The gate of the city - Which place he chose either as most commodious, now especially when all the city within the gate was already turned in to an heap of stones and rubbish; or because this was the usual place of judgment;…”

“8:29 The public executions of the kings (see also 10:26; 11:10, 12) emphasized that Israel was God’s agent in the judgment of the leaders and people of Canaan for their wickedness. • At sunset: See Deut 21:22-23. • that can still be seen today: See Joshua Book Introduction, “Author and Date.””

“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. Jos 10:26-28, Jos 10:30, Jos 10:33; Deu 21:22, Deu 21:23; Est 7:10; Psa 107:40, Psa 110:5; Act 12:23; Rev 19:17, Rev 19:18 as soon: Jos 10:27 a great heap: Jos 7:26; Sa2 18:17 Joshua 8:30”