Joshua 8:5
New International Version
I and all those with me will advance on the city, and when the men come out against us, as they did before, we will flee from them.

New Living Translation
When our main army attacks, the men of Ai will come out to fight as they did before, and we will run away from them.

English Standard Version
And I and all the people who are with me will approach the city. And when they come out against us just as before, we shall flee before them.

Berean Standard Bible
Then I and all the troops with me will advance on the city. When they come out against us as they did the first time, we will flee from them.

King James Bible
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,

New King James Version
Then I and all the people who are with me will approach the city; and it will come about, when they come out against us as at the first, that we shall flee before them.

New American Standard Bible
Then I and all the people who are with me will approach the city. And when they come out to meet us as they did the first time, we will flee before them.

NASB 1995
“Then I and all the people who are with me will approach the city. And when they come out to meet us as at the first, we will flee before them.

NASB 1977
“Then I and all the people who are with me will approach the city. And it will come about when they come out to meet us as at the first, that we will flee before them.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then I and all the people who are with me will come near the city. And it will be that when they come out to meet us as at the first, we will flee before them.

Amplified Bible
Then I and all the people who are with me will approach the city. And when they come out to meet us [for battle] as [they did] the first time, we will run away from them.

Christian Standard Bible
Then I and all the people who are with me will approach the city. When they come out against us as they did the first time, we will flee from them.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then I and all the people who are with me will approach the city. When they come out against us as they did the first time, we will flee from them.

American Standard Version
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;

English Revised Version
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;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I'll approach the city with the rest of the troops. When they come out to attack us as they did the first time, we will run away from them.

Good News Translation
My men and I will approach the city. When the men of Ai come out against us, we will turn and run, just as we did the first time.

International Standard Version
I and all of the army with me will advance upon the city. When they come out after us like they did before, we'll run away from them.

Majority Standard Bible
Then I and all the troops with me will advance on the city. When they come out against us as they did the first time, we will flee from them.

NET Bible
I and all the troops who are with me will approach the city. When they come out to fight us like before, we will retreat from them.

New Heart English Bible
I, and all the people who are with me, will approach to the city. It shall happen, when they come out against us, as at the first, that we will flee before them.

Webster's Bible Translation
And I, and all the people that are with me, will approach to the city: and it shall come to pass when they come out against us, as at the first, that we will flee before them,

World English Bible
I and all the people who are with me will approach the city. It shall happen, when they come out against us, as at the first, that we will flee before them.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and I and all the people who [are] with me draw near to the city, and it has come to pass, when they come out to meet us as at the first, and we have fled before them,

Young's Literal Translation
and I and all the people who are with me draw near unto the city, and it hath come to pass when they come out to meet us as at the first, and we have fled before them,

Smith's Literal Translation
And I and all the people that are with me will draw near to the city: and it was when they shall come forth to our meeting as at the first, and we fled before them.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But I and the rest of the multitude which is with me; will approach on the contrary side against the city. And when they shall come out against us, we will flee, and turn our backs, as we did before:

Catholic Public Domain Version
But I and the remainder of the multitude that is with me will approach from the opposite side of the city. And when they come out against us, we will flee and turn our backs, just as we did before,

New American Bible
The rest of the people and I will come up to the city, and when they make a sortie against us as they did the last time, we will flee from them.

New Revised Standard Version
I and all the people who are with me will approach the city. When they come out against us, as before, we shall flee from them.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And I and the men that are with me will approach the city; and it shall come to pass, when they first come out against us, we will flee before them;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And I and people that is with me shall come to the city and when they have come out to meet us, as at the first, behold we flee from before them
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Land I and all with me will draw near to the city: and it shall come to pass when the inhabitants of Gai shall come forth to meet us, as before, that we will flee from before them.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Conquest of Ai
4with these orders: “Pay attention. You are to lie in ambush behind the city, not too far from it. All of you must be ready. 5Then I and all the troops with me will advance on the city. When they come out against us as they did the first time, we will flee from them. 6They will pursue us until we have drawn them away from the city, for they will say, ‘The Israelites are running away from us as they did before.’ So as we flee from them,…

Cross References
Joshua 6:2-5
And the LORD said to Joshua, “Behold, I have delivered Jericho into your hand, along with its king and its mighty men of valor. / March around the city with all the men of war, circling the city one time. Do this for six days. / Have seven priests carry seven rams’ horns in front of the ark. Then on the seventh day, march around the city seven times, while the priests blow the horns. ...

Judges 20:29-30
So Israel set up an ambush around Gibeah. / On the third day the Israelites went up against the Benjamites and arrayed themselves against Gibeah as they had done before.

2 Samuel 5:23-25
So David inquired of the LORD, who answered, “Do not march straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees. / As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because this will mean that the LORD has gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” / So David did as the LORD had commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.

2 Kings 7:12
So the king got up in the night and said to his servants, “Let me tell you what the Arameans have done to us. They know we are starving, so they have left the camp to hide in the field, thinking, ‘When they come out of the city, we will take them alive and enter the city.’”

2 Chronicles 20:22-23
The moment they began their shouts and praises, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who had come against Judah, and they were defeated. / The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction. And when they had finished off the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.

Exodus 17:9-13
So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on the hilltop with the staff of God in my hand.” / Joshua did as Moses had instructed him and fought against the Amalekites, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. / As long as Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed; but when he lowered them, Amalek prevailed. ...

Numbers 31:3-5
So Moses told the people, “Arm some of your men for war, that they may go against the Midianites and execute the LORD’s vengeance on them. / Send into battle a thousand men from each tribe of Israel.” / So a thousand men were recruited from each tribe of Israel—twelve thousand armed for war.

Deuteronomy 20:1-4
When you go out to war against your enemies and see horses, chariots, and an army larger than yours, do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you. / When you are about to go into battle, the priest is to come forward and address the army, / saying to them, “Hear, O Israel, today you are going into battle with your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be alarmed or terrified because of them. ...

1 Samuel 15:3
Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction all that belongs to them. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”

1 Kings 20:29-30
For seven days the armies camped opposite each other, and on the seventh day the battle ensued, and the Israelites struck down the Arameans—a hundred thousand foot soldiers in one day. / The rest of them fled into the city of Aphek, where the wall fell on twenty-seven thousand of the remaining men. Ben-hadad also fled to the city and hid in an inner room.

Matthew 10:16
Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

Luke 14:31-32
Or what king on his way to war with another king will not first sit down and consider whether he can engage with ten thousand men the one coming against him with twenty thousand? / And if he is unable, he will send a delegation while the other king is still far off, to ask for terms of peace.

Romans 8:37
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

2 Corinthians 10:3-4
For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh. / The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the flesh. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

Ephesians 6:10-11
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. / Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes.


Treasury of Scripture

And I, and all the people that are with me, will approach to the city: and it shall come to pass, when they come out against us, as at the first, that we will flee before them,

as at

Joshua 7:5
And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.

that we will

Judges 20:31-33
And the children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city; and they began to smite of the people, and kill, as at other times, in the highways, of which one goeth up to the house of God, and the other to Gibeah in the field, about thirty men of Israel…

Matthew 10:16
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

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Advance Approach City Draw Meet
Joshua 8
1. God encourages Joshua
3. 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














And I and all the troops with me
This phrase highlights the leadership and unity under Joshua's command. The Hebrew root for "troops" is "עַם" (am), which often refers to a people or nation. This indicates not just a military force but a collective identity of the Israelites, bound by covenant and purpose. Joshua's leadership is divinely appointed, and his role is to guide the people in fulfilling God's promises. The unity here is crucial, as it reflects the collective obedience and faith in God's plan.

will advance on the city
The strategic movement towards the city of Ai is a direct act of obedience to God's command. The Hebrew verb "קָרַב" (qarav) means to draw near or approach, suggesting a deliberate and confident action. This advance is not just a military maneuver but a spiritual act of reclaiming the land promised by God. It signifies the Israelites' trust in God's guidance and their readiness to act upon His instructions.

When the men come out against us
This anticipates the reaction of Ai's defenders, drawing from past experiences. The phrase suggests a tactical expectation based on previous encounters. Historically, cities like Ai were fortified, and their defenders would have been confident in their ability to repel invaders. The Israelites' strategy involves understanding and anticipating the enemy's actions, reflecting wisdom and discernment in their approach.

as they did before
This reference to past events underscores the importance of learning from history. The previous defeat at Ai (Joshua 7) was due to disobedience and sin within the camp. This time, the Israelites are prepared, having addressed their shortcomings. The phrase serves as a reminder of God's mercy and the opportunity for redemption and victory when His people align with His will.

we will flee from them
The tactic of feigned retreat is a clever military strategy, designed to draw the enemy out of their stronghold. The Hebrew root "נָסַע" (nasa) means to pull up or set out, often used in the context of journeying or moving camp. This movement is part of a larger divine strategy, illustrating that God's ways are higher than human understanding. It teaches that sometimes, apparent retreat or humility can lead to ultimate victory, as it aligns with God's greater plan.

Verse 5. - We will flee before them. A common expedient of a sagacious general when contending with undisciplined troops is a strong position. Many instances will occur to the student of history, and among others the celebrated feigned flight of William the Conqueror at Hastings. St. Augustine doubts whether this stratagem were lawful. Cajetan and the Jesuit commentators reply that it was so "quia mendacium non tam facile committitur factis, quam verbis" (Cornelius a Lapide).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then I
וַאֲנִ֗י (wa·’ă·nî)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

and all
וְכָל־ (wə·ḵāl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the troops
הָעָם֙ (hā·‘ām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

with me
אִתִּ֔י (’it·tî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among

will advance
נִקְרַ֖ב (niq·raḇ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural
Strong's 7126: To come near, approach

on the city.
הָעִ֑יר (hā·‘îr)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5892: Excitement

When
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

they come out
יֵצְא֤וּ (yê·ṣə·’ū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

against us
לִקְרָאתֵ֙נוּ֙ (liq·rā·ṯê·nū)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | first person common plural
Strong's 7125: Against he come, help, meet, seek, to, in the way

as
כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר (ka·’ă·šer)
Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

they did the first time,
בָּרִֽאשֹׁנָ֔ה (bā·ri·šō·nāh)
Preposition-b, Article | Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 7223: First, in place, time, rank

we will flee
וְנַ֖סְנוּ (wə·nas·nū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common plural
Strong's 5127: To flit, vanish away

from them.
לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃ (lip̄·nê·hem)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 6440: The face


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OT History: Joshua 8:5 I and all the people who (Josh. Jos)
Joshua 8:4
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