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Joshua 8:5

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Joshua 8:5 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “and I, and all the people that are with me, will approach unto the city. And it shall come to pass, when they come out against us, as at the first, that we will flee before them;” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

and I, and all the people that are with me, will approach unto the city. And it shall come to pass, when they come out against us, as at the first, that we will flee before them;
Joshua 8:5 — American Standard Version

Context — Joshua 8

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
2And thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou didst unto Jericho and her king: only the spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof, shall ye take for a prey unto yourselves: set thee an ambush for the city behind it.
3So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up to Ai: and Joshua chose out thirty thousand men, the mighty men of valor, and sent them forth by night.
4And 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:
5and I, and all the people that are with me, will approach unto the city. And it shall come to pass, when they come out against us, as at the first, that we will flee before them;
6and they will come out after us, till we have drawn them away from the city; for they will say, They flee before us, as at the first: so we will flee before them;
7and ye shall rise up from the ambush, and take possession of the city: for Jehovah your God will deliver it into your hand.
8And it shall be, when ye have seized upon the city, that ye shall set the city on fire; according to the word of Jehovah shall ye do: see, I have commanded you.
← Joshua 8:4Joshua 8:6 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And I and all the people that [are] with me will approach unto the city, etc.] That is, Joshua with the main body of the army would march up to the city the next morning, in order to draw out the inhabitants of it to fight them: and it shall come to pass, when they come out against us, as at the first; as they had done before, when the three thousand were sent against them, (<060704>Joshua 7:4,5); that we will flee before them; as the three thousand did, which would animate them to pursue them with the greater eagerness, and to a distance from their city.”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“That are - Or, that shall be: for at present he sent them away, Jos 8:9, but the next morning followed, and joined himself with them, Jos 8:10-11. That we - I and the twenty five thousand with me. Joshua 8:9”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“as at: Jos 7:5 that we will: Jdg 20:31-33; Mat 10:16 Joshua 8:6”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification