Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version So Joshua burned Ai and made it a permanent heap of ruins, a desolate place to this day. New Living Translation So Joshua burned the town of Ai, and it became a permanent mound of ruins, desolate to this very day. English Standard Version So Joshua burned Ai and made it forever a heap of ruins, as it is to this day. Berean Standard Bible So Joshua burned Ai and made it a permanent heap of ruins, a desolation to this day. King James Bible And Joshua burnt Ai, and made it an heap for ever, even a desolation unto this day. New King James Version So Joshua burned Ai and made it a heap forever, a desolation to this day. New American Standard Bible So Joshua burned Ai and made it a refuse heap forever, a desolation until this day. NASB 1995 So Joshua burned Ai and made it a heap forever, a desolation until this day. NASB 1977 So Joshua burned Ai and made it a heap forever, a desolation until this day. Legacy Standard Bible So Joshua burned Ai and made it a heap forever, a desolation until this day. Amplified Bible So Joshua burned Ai and made it a rubbish heap forever, a desolation until this day. Christian Standard Bible Joshua burned Ai and left it a permanent ruin, still desolate today. Holman Christian Standard Bible Joshua burned Ai and left it a permanent ruin, desolate to this day. American Standard Version So Joshua burnt Ai, and made it a heap for ever, even a desolation, unto this day. English Revised Version So Joshua burnt Ai, and made it an heap for ever, even a desolation, unto this day. GOD'S WORD® Translation So Joshua burned Ai and made it a deserted mound of ruins. It is still in ruins today. Good News Translation Joshua burned Ai and left it in ruins. It is still like that today. International Standard Version Joshua burned Ai, turning it into a permanent mound of ruins, and it remains so to this day. NET Bible Joshua burned Ai and made it a permanently uninhabited mound (it remains that way to this very day). New Heart English Bible So Joshua burnt Ai, and made it a heap forever, even a desolation, to this day. Webster's Bible Translation And Joshua burnt Ai, and made it a heap for ever, even a desolation to this day. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleSo Joshua burned Ai and made it a permanent heap of ruins, a desolation to this day. World English Bible So Joshua burned Ai and made it a heap forever, even a desolation, to this day. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd Joshua burns Ai, and makes it a continuous heap—a desolation to this day; Young's Literal Translation And Joshua burneth Ai, and maketh it a heap age-during -- a desolation unto this day; Smith's Literal Translation And Joshua will burn Ai and set it a heap forever, a waste even to this day. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd he burned the city, and made it a heap for ever: Catholic Public Domain Version And he set fire to the city, and he caused it to be a perpetual tomb. New American Bible Then Joshua destroyed Ai by fire, reducing it to an everlasting mound of ruins, as it remains today. New Revised Standard Version So Joshua burned Ai, and made it forever a heap of ruins, as it is to this day. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd Joshua burned Ai, and made it a heap of ruins for ever to this day. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And Yeshua burned Ai and he made it a heap, a desolation for eternity, until today OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917So Joshua burnt Ai, and made it a heap for ever, even a desolation, unto this day. Brenton Septuagint Translation And Joshua burnt the city with fire: he made it an uninhabited heap for ever, even to this day. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Conquest of Ai…27Israel took for themselves only the cattle and plunder of that city, as the LORD had commanded Joshua. 28So Joshua burned Ai and made it a permanent heap of ruins, a desolation to this day. 29He hung the king of Ai on a tree until evening, and at sunset Joshua commanded that they take down the body from the tree and throw it down at the entrance of the city gate. And over it they raised a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day.… Cross References Deuteronomy 13:16 And you are to gather all its plunder in the middle of the public square, and completely burn the city and all its plunder as a whole burnt offering to the LORD your God. The city must remain a mound of ruins forever, never to be rebuilt. 2 Kings 19:25 Have you not heard? Long ago I ordained it; in days of old I planned it. Now I have brought it to pass, that you should crush fortified cities into piles of rubble. Isaiah 37:26 Have you not heard? Long ago I ordained it; in days of old I planned it. Now I have brought it to pass, that you should crush fortified cities into piles of rubble. Jeremiah 49:2 Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will sound the battle cry against Rabbah of the Ammonites. It will become a heap of ruins, and its villages will be burned. Then Israel will drive out their dispossessors, says the LORD. Amos 1:14 So I will kindle a fire in the walls of Rabbah to consume its citadels amid war cries on the day of battle and a violent wind on the day of tempest. 2 Samuel 12:31 David brought out the people who were there and put them to work with saws, iron picks, and axes, and he made them work at the brick kilns. He did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all his troops returned to Jerusalem. 1 Kings 9:16 Pharaoh king of Egypt had attacked and captured Gezer. He had set it on fire, killed the Canaanites who lived in the city, and given it as a dowry to his daughter, Solomon’s wife. Jeremiah 50:40 As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah along with their neighbors,” declares the LORD, “no one will dwell there; no man will abide there. Ezekiel 26:4 They will destroy the walls of Tyre and demolish her towers. I will scrape the soil from her and make her a bare rock. Ezekiel 30:7 They will be desolate among desolate lands, and their cities will lie among ruined cities. Matthew 11:23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. Luke 10:15 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades! Revelation 18:21 Then a mighty angel picked up a stone the size of a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying: “With such violence the great city of Babylon will be cast down, never to be seen again. Revelation 18:8 Therefore her plagues will come in one day—death and grief and famine—and she will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.” Revelation 18:19 Then they will throw dust on their heads as they weep and mourn and cry out: “Woe, woe to the great city, where all who had ships on the sea were enriched by her wealth! For in a single hour she has been destroyed.” Treasury of Scripture And Joshua burnt Ai, and made it an heap for ever, even a desolation to this day. an heap Deuteronomy 13:16 And thou shalt gather all the spoil of it into the midst of the street thereof, and shalt burn with fire the city, and all the spoil thereof every whit, for the LORD thy God: and it shall be an heap for ever; it shall not be built again. 2 Kings 19:25 Hast thou not heard long ago how I have done it, and of ancient times that I have formed it? now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay waste fenced cities into ruinous heaps. Isaiah 17:1 The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap. unto this day Joshua 4:9 And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day. Jump to Previous Age-During Ai Burned Burneth Burnt Desolate Desolation Everlasting Heap Joshua Maketh Mass Permanent Ruins Stones WasteJump to Next Age-During Ai Burned Burneth Burnt Desolate Desolation Everlasting Heap Joshua Maketh Mass Permanent Ruins Stones WasteJoshua 8 1. God encourages Joshua3. The plan whereby Ai was taken 29. The king thereof is hanged 30. Joshua builds an altar 32. writes the law on stones 33. and pronounces the blessings and curses So Joshua burned Ai Joshua's destruction of Ai follows the divine command and strategy given by God. This act of burning the city signifies total conquest and judgment, similar to the destruction of Jericho. The burning of Ai represents God's judgment against sin and idolatry, as Ai was a Canaanite city opposed to God's people. This event is a reminder of the seriousness of sin and the holiness required by God. and made it a permanent heap of ruins a desolation to this day Persons / Places / Events 1. JoshuaThe leader of the Israelites after Moses, tasked with leading the people into the Promised Land. He is a central figure in the conquest of Canaan. 2. Ai A Canaanite city that was the site of a significant battle between the Israelites and the inhabitants of the land. Its destruction was a pivotal moment in Israel's conquest of Canaan. 3. The Burning of Ai This event marks the complete destruction of the city, symbolizing God's judgment and the fulfillment of His promise to give the land to Israel. Teaching Points God's Judgment and JusticeThe destruction of Ai serves as a reminder of God's righteous judgment against sin and rebellion. It underscores the seriousness with which God views disobedience and idolatry. The Fulfillment of God's Promises The event demonstrates God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to Israel. Despite previous setbacks, God ensures victory for His people when they align with His will. The Consequences of Sin Ai's destruction is a stark reminder of the consequences of sin. It calls believers to examine their lives and repent of any disobedience to avoid similar spiritual desolation. The Importance of Obedience Joshua's leadership and obedience to God's commands were crucial in the victory over Ai. This teaches the importance of following God's guidance in our own lives. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Joshua 8:28?2. How does Joshua 8:28 demonstrate God's judgment and justice on Ai's sin? 3. What lessons can we learn from Ai's destruction about obedience to God? 4. How does Joshua 8:28 connect with God's promises in Deuteronomy 9:3? 5. How can we apply the principle of divine justice in our daily lives? 6. What does the "heap of ruins" symbolize about the consequences of disobedience to God? 7. Why did Joshua burn Ai and make it a permanent heap of ruins? 8. How does Joshua 8:28 reflect God's justice and mercy? 9. What archaeological evidence supports the destruction of Ai as described in Joshua 8:28? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Joshua 8? 11. Where is the archaeological evidence supporting the complete destruction of Ai (Joshua 8:28)? 12. Why do battles in the Book of Joshua (e.g., Ai’s destruction) not match the archaeological record? 13. If Ai was truly annihilated, why does it not appear in later references to the region’s cities in the Old Testament? 14. Why does the ambush strategy described in Joshua 8:2-22 differ from other accounts of Israelite conquests? What Does Joshua 8:28 Mean So Joshua burned Ai• The act of burning was not merely a military tactic; it was an act of obedience to the Lord’s explicit command (Joshua 8:2). • Israel had learned from Jericho that total destruction under God’s ban was required when a city was devoted to judgment (Joshua 6:24; Deuteronomy 7:2: “you must devote them to complete destruction”). • Fire symbolizes God’s purifying judgment (Hebrews 12:29) and His zeal to eradicate idolatry (Exodus 32:20). • By executing the Lord’s sentence, Joshua affirmed that victory comes by trusting and obeying God’s Word, not human strength (Proverbs 21:31; Psalm 20:7). and made it a permanent heap of ruins • The language of permanence underscores the finality of God’s judgment. There would be no rebuilding or revival of this stronghold of sin (Jeremiah 51:37: “Babylon will become a heap of rubble”). • Such ruins served as a visible reminder to Israel—and to future generations—of the cost of rebellion and the certainty of divine justice (Genesis 19:28; Psalm 37:10). • The destruction also safeguarded Israel’s spiritual purity by removing a center of pagan worship (Deuteronomy 12:2–3). • Even today, archaeological surveys identify multiple tells in the region that fit an early Iron Age destruction layer, witnessing to Scripture’s historical reliability. a desolation to this day • The phrase “to this day” marks eyewitness testimony, indicating that at the time of writing the ruins were still plainly visible—a subtle but strong claim to historical accuracy (Joshua 4:9). • The desolation conveys the lasting consequences of sin. What once was a fortified city became a barren memorial of unbelief (Deuteronomy 29:23: “All its land is a burning waste, of salt and sulfur… like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah”). • For Israel, the ruins warned against repeating Ai’s arrogance; for believers now, they remind us that unrepented sin still reaps devastation (Galatians 6:7). • Yet the same God who judges also restores the humble (Isaiah 61:3), pointing us to the gospel hope that ruins can become testimonies of grace when surrendered to Him. summary Joshua 8:28 records a real event with enduring lessons: God’s commands are to be taken seriously, His judgments are decisive, and obedience brings lasting victory. The smoldering heap that once was Ai stands as a monument to divine holiness and as a call for us to walk in faithful, uncompromising obedience to the Lord who both judges sin and offers redemption. (28) An heap for ever.--Heb., Tel-olam; modern name, Et-tel.Verse 28. - And Joshua burnt Ai. He continued the work of destruction which the ambush had begun, until the city was entirely destroyed. The word in ver. 19 (שׂרפ) has rather the sense of kindling a fire; the word here (יצת), more the sense of destruction by fire. A heap forever. טֵל־עולָם a heap of eternity; i.e., a heap forever, at least up to the time of our writer. But the Ai mentioned in Ezra 2:28 may have been a city built, not on precisely the same spot, but near enough to it to take its name. And if Ai signifies ruins, and Dean Stanley be right in regarding it as referring to ruins in the days of the Philistines, the name would be particularly suitable to this particular city. Travellers have identified the place with Tel-el. Hajar, immediately to the south of the Wady Mutyah. But see note on ch. 7:2 for Robinson's conclusion, which is confirmed by Canon Tristram, from the belief that Tel-el-Hajar does not answer to the description of Ai in the Scripture narrative. Hanged on a tree. Literally, "on the tree." Perhaps after his death, But see Genesis 40:22; Deuteronomy 21:22. Until eventide. We find here a remarkable coincidence with the precept in Deuteronomy 21:23. The fact that no notice is here taken of that passage is conclusive against its having been inserted with a view to that precept in later times, and this affords a strong presumption against the Elohist and Jehovist theory. Heap. Here גַּל, an expression usually applied to a heap of stones, a cairn, though not always in precisely this sense (see Jeremiah 9:10). CHAPTER 8:30-35. THE COPY OF THE LAW. - Hebrew So Joshuaיְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ (yə·hō·wō·šu·a‘) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3091: Joshua -- 'the LORD is salvation', Moses' successor, also the name of a number of Israelites burned וַיִּשְׂרֹ֥ף (way·yiś·rōp̄) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 8313: To be, on fire Ai הָעָ֑י (hā·‘āy) Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 5857: Ai -- a Canaanite city and made it וַיְשִׂימֶ֤הָ (way·śî·me·hā) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set a permanent עוֹלָם֙ (‘ō·w·lām) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5769: Concealed, eternity, frequentatively, always heap of ruins, תֵּל־ (têl-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 8510: A mound a desolation שְׁמָמָ֔ה (šə·mā·māh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 8077: Devastation, astonishment to עַ֖ד (‘aḏ) Preposition Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while this הַזֶּֽה׃ (haz·zeh) Article | Pronoun - masculine singular Strong's 2088: This, that day. הַיּ֥וֹם (hay·yō·wm) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3117: A day Links Joshua 8:28 NIVJoshua 8:28 NLT Joshua 8:28 ESV Joshua 8:28 NASB Joshua 8:28 KJV Joshua 8:28 BibleApps.com Joshua 8:28 Biblia Paralela Joshua 8:28 Chinese Bible Joshua 8:28 French Bible Joshua 8:28 Catholic Bible OT History: Joshua 8:28 So Joshua burnt Ai and made it (Josh. 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