Topical Bible: Ambush

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Topical Encyclopedia

In biblical terms, an ambush refers to a surprise attack by people lying in wait in a concealed position. The concept of ambush is frequently mentioned in the Bible, often in the context of military strategy, divine judgment, or moral lessons. The use of ambushes is depicted both as a tactic employed by God's people and as a method used by their enemies.

Old Testament Instances

One of the earliest mentions of an ambush in the Bible is found in the Book of Joshua. After the initial defeat at Ai, God instructs Joshua to set an ambush behind the city. Joshua 8:2 states, "And you shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king, except that you may carry off their plunder and livestock for yourselves. Set an ambush behind the city." This strategic move leads to a decisive victory for the Israelites, demonstrating the effectiveness of divine guidance in military tactics.

Another significant instance is found in Judges 20, where the Israelites set an ambush against the tribe of Benjamin. Judges 20:29 records, "So Israel set men in ambush around Gibeah." This ambush was part of a larger strategy that ultimately led to the defeat of the Benjamites, illustrating the use of ambush as a means of achieving justice and restoring order among the tribes of Israel.

Moral and Spiritual Lessons

The concept of ambush is also used metaphorically in the Bible to describe the actions of the wicked. In Psalm 10:8-9 , the psalmist describes the wicked as lying in wait to ambush the innocent: "He lies in wait near the villages; in ambush he slays the innocent; his eyes watch in stealth for the helpless. He lies in wait like a lion in a thicket; he lurks to seize the oppressed; he catches the oppressed when he draws him into his net." This imagery serves as a warning against deceit and treachery, emphasizing the moral depravity of those who prey on the vulnerable.

Proverbs also uses the imagery of ambush to caution against the enticements of sinners. Proverbs 1:11-12 warns, "If they say, 'Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause; let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those descending into the Pit.'" This passage advises the reader to avoid the path of violence and to seek wisdom and righteousness instead.

Divine Ambush

In some instances, God Himself is depicted as setting an ambush against His enemies. In 2 Chronicles 20:22 , during the reign of King Jehoshaphat, God sets ambushes against the enemies of Judah: "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." This event underscores the belief in divine intervention and the power of God to protect His people through unexpected means.

Conclusion

The theme of ambush in the Bible serves multiple purposes: as a military tactic, a metaphor for wickedness, and a demonstration of divine intervention. Whether used by God's people or their adversaries, the ambush is a powerful tool that reflects the broader themes of justice, morality, and divine sovereignty found throughout Scripture.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Joshua at the capture of Ai lay in ambush, and so deceived the inhabitants that he gained an easy victory (Joshua 8:4-26). Shechem was taken in this manner (Judges 9:30-45. Comp. Jeremiah 51:12).

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) The act of lying in wait, for the purpose of attacking by surprise.

2. (n.) A concealed station, where troops or enemies lie in wait to attack by surprise.

3. (n.) The troops posted in a concealed place, for attacking by surprise; liers in wait.

4. (v. t.) To station in ambush with a view to surprise an enemy.

5. (v. t.) To attack by ambush; to waylay.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

AMBUSH

am'-boosh ('arabh, "to set an ambush"; ma'arabh, "an ambush"): A military stratagem in which a body of men are placed in concealment to surprise an enemy unawares, or to attack a point when temporarily undefended. This stratagem was employed successfully by Joshua at Ai (Joshua 8). Jeremiah calls upon the Medes to "set up a standard against the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set the watchmen, prepare the ambushes" (Jeremiah 51:12).

Greek

1747. enedra -- a lying in wait, an ambush
... a lying in wait, an ambush. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: enedra
Phonetic Spelling: (en-ed'-rah) Short Definition: an ambush, plot, treachery ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1747.htm - 6k

1749. enedron -- lying in wait.
... lying in wait. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: enedron Phonetic Spelling:
(en'-ed-ron) Short Definition: ambush Definition: ambush. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1749.htm - 6k

1748. enedreuo -- to lie in wait for, to plot
... enedreuo Phonetic Spelling: (en-ed-ryoo'-o) Short Definition: I lie in wait for,
seek to entrap, defraud, deceive Definition: I lie in wait (ambush) for, seek ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1748.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

3993. maarab -- an ambush
... 3992, 3993. maarab. 3994 . an ambush. Transliteration: maarab Phonetic
Spelling: (mah-ar-awb') Short Definition: ambush. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/3993.htm - 6k

1009. Beth Arebel -- "house of God's ambush," a place in Palestine
... Beth Arebel. 1010 . "house of God's ambush," a place in Palestine. Transliteration:
Beth Arebel Phonetic Spelling: (bayth ar-bale') Short Definition: Beth-arbel ...
/hebrew/1009.htm - 6k

693. arab -- to lie in wait
... 692, 693. arab. 694 . to lie in wait. Transliteration: arab Phonetic Spelling:
(aw-rab') Short Definition: ambush. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/693.htm - 6k

696. oreb -- an ambuscade
... 695, 696. oreb. 697 . an ambuscade. Transliteration: oreb Phonetic Spelling:
(o'-reb) Short Definition: ambush. Word Origin from ...
/hebrew/696.htm - 6k

4204. mazor -- perhaps a net
... 4203, 4204. mazor. 4205 . perhaps a net. Transliteration: mazor Phonetic
Spelling: (maw-zore') Short Definition: ambush. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/4204.htm - 6k

3427. yashab -- to sit, remain, dwell
... In ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle,
to marry -- (make to) abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing ...
/hebrew/3427.htm - 7k

4679. metsad -- fastness, a stronghold
... Or mtsad {mets-awd'}; or (feminine) mtsadah {mets-aw-daw'}; from tsuwd; a fastness
(as a covert of ambush) -- castle, fort, (strong) hold, munition. ...
/hebrew/4679.htm - 6k

6845. tsaphan -- to hide, treasure up
... root Definition to hide, treasure up NASB Word Usage ambush (2), authority (1),
conceal (1), concealed (2), hid (1), hidden (1), hide (2), keep them secretly (1 ...
/hebrew/6845.htm - 6k

694. Arab -- a city in Palestine
... NASB Word Usage Arab (1). Arab, a place in Palestine. From 'arab; ambush; Arab,
a place in Palestine -- Arab. see HEBREW 'arab. 693, 694. Arab. 695 . ...
/hebrew/694.htm - 6k

Library

The Kinds and Degrees of Error
... sort of thing happened to us once, when we mistook the way at a crossroads and did
not go by the place where an armed gang of Donatists lay in wait to ambush us ...
/.../augustine/handbook on faith hope and love/chapter v the kinds and.htm

As Soon as I had Gotten Intelligence of This...
... But on the next day, when I had laid an ambush in a certain valley, not far from
the banks, I provoked those that belonged to the king to come to a battle, and ...
/.../josephus/the life of flavius josephus/section 72 as soon as.htm

When Sylla and his Party were Informed what Happened to Me...
... me, they took courage again; and understanding that the watch was negligently kept
in our camp, they by night placed a body of horsemen in ambush beyond Jordan ...
/.../josephus/the life of flavius josephus/section 73 when sylla and.htm

That Sadness is Almost Always Useless, Yea Contrary to the Service ...
... toad, surnamed the sea-devil, which stirring and spreading the mud troubles the
water round about it so as to hide itself therein as in an ambush, from whence ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xxi that sadness is.htm

Antigonus Besieges those that were in Masada, whom Herod Frees ...
... After which, therefore, they made an irruption upon Antigonus's party, and slew
a great many of them, some in open battles, and some in private ambush; nor had ...
/.../chapter 15 antigonus besieges those.htm

Victory of Theodosius the Emperor Over Eugenius.
... a plain before him covered with infantry and cavalry, and became at the same time
aware that some of the enemy's troops were lying in ambush behind him, among ...
/.../chapter xxiv victory of theodosius the.htm

Jehoram Succeeds Jehoshaphat; How Joram, his Namesake, King of ...
... 3. Elisha also sent a hasty message to Joram, [8] and exhorted him to take care
of that place, for that therein were some Syrians lying in ambush to kill him. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 4 jehoram succeeds jehoshaphat.htm

How Jonathan Took the Government after his Brother Judas; And
... And the sons of Ambri laid an ambush for John from the city Medaba, and seized upon
him, and upon those that were with him, and plundered all that they had ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 1 how jonathan took.htm

Psalm x.
... 6. "He lieth in ambush with the rich" (ver.8). What rich, but those whom
he will load with this world's gifts? And he is therefore ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm x.htm

How Herod Sailed Out of Italy to Judea, and Fought with Antigonus ...
... Antigonus was sensible of this, and sent presently over the country such as might
restrain and lie in ambush for those that went out for provisions. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 15 how herod sailed.htm

Thesaurus

Ambush (39 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Joshua at the capture of Ai lay in ambush, and so deceived
the inhabitants that he gained an easy victory (Joshua 8:4-26). ...AMBUSH. ...
/a/ambush.htm - 19k

Gib'e-ah (45 Occurrences)
... men who drew the sword. (DBY RSV). Judges 20:29 So Israel set men in ambush
round about Gib'e-ah. (DBY RSV). Judges 20:30 And the ...
/g/gib'e-ah.htm - 19k

Ai (32 Occurrences)
... Set an ambush for the city behind it." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV
NIV). Joshua 8:3 So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up to Ai. ...
/a/ai.htm - 21k

Rear (46 Occurrences)
... done to Ai and to her king as thou hast done to Jericho and to her king; only, its
spoil and its cattle ye spoil for yourselves; set for thee an ambush for the ...
/r/rear.htm - 21k

Rushed (24 Occurrences)
... Joshua 8:19 The ambush arose quickly out of their place, and they ran as soon as
he had stretched out his hand, and entered into the city, and took it. ...
/r/rushed.htm - 14k

Push (23 Occurrences)
... Judges 20:37 and the ambush have hasted, and push against Gibeah, and the ambush
draweth itself out, and smiteth the whole of the city by the mouth of the sword ...
/p/push.htm - 14k

Breaketh (49 Occurrences)
... Judges 16:9 And the ambush is abiding with her in an inner chamber, and she saith
unto him, 'Philistines 'are' upon thee, Samson;' and he breaketh the withs as ...
/b/breaketh.htm - 21k

Await (12 Occurrences)
... 6. (vi) To wait (on or upon). 7. (vi) To wait; to stay in waiting. 8. (n.) A waiting
for; ambush; watch; watching; heed. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. AWAIT ...
/a/await.htm - 10k

Arab (5 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Ambush, a city in the mountains of Judah (Joshua
15:52), now Er-Rabiyeh. Noah Webster's Dictionary. (n.) One ...
/a/arab.htm - 8k

Signal (18 Occurrences)
... Judges 20:38 Now the appointed signal between the men of Israel and the men in ambush
was that when they made a great cloud of smoke rise up out of the city ...
/s/signal.htm - 12k

Resources

What does the Bible say about confidentiality? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Porcius Festus? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Achan in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Ambush: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Ambush (39 Occurrences)

Acts 23:16
But Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, and he came and entered into the barracks and told Paul.
(See NAS RSV)

Acts 23:21
Therefore don't yield to them, for more than forty men lie in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse neither to eat nor to drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, looking for the promise from you."
(See RSV NIV)

Acts 25:3
asking it as a favour, to Paul's prejudice--to have him brought to Jerusalem. They were planning an ambush to kill him on the way.
(WEY YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Romans 7:21
I find therefore the law of my nature to be that when I desire to do what is right, evil is lying in ambush for me.
(WEY)

Joshua 8:2
You shall do to Ai and her king as you did to Jericho and her king, except its spoil and its livestock, you shall take for a plunder for yourselves. Set an ambush for the city behind it."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Joshua 8:4
He commanded them, saying, "Behold, you shall lie in ambush against the city, behind the city. Don't go very far from the city, but all of you be ready.
(WEB JPS ASV DBY NAS RSV NIV)

Joshua 8:7
and you shall rise up from the ambush, and take possession of the city; for Yahweh your God will deliver it into your hand.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Joshua 8:9
Joshua sent them out; and they went to set up the ambush, and stayed between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai; but Joshua stayed among the people that night.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Joshua 8:12
He took about five thousand men, and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Joshua 8:13
So they set the people, even all the army who was on the north of the city, and their ambush on the west of the city; and Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley.
(WEB DBY NIV)

Joshua 8:14
It happened, when the king of Ai saw it, that they hurried and rose up early, and the men of the city went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at the time appointed, before the Arabah; but he didn't know that there was an ambush against him behind the city.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Joshua 8:19
The ambush arose quickly out of their place, and they ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand, and entered into the city, and took it. They hurried and set the city on fire.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Joshua 8:21
When Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city, and that the smoke of the city ascended, then they turned again, and killed the men of Ai.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 9:25
The men of Shechem set an ambush for him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all who came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech.
(WEB DBY YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 9:35
Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people who were with him, from the ambush.
(WEB JPS ASV DBY YLT NAS RSV)

Judges 9:43
He took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field; and he looked, and behold, the people came forth out of the city; He rose up against them, and struck them.
(See NIV)

Judges 16:9
Now she had an ambush waiting in the inner chamber. She said to him, "The Philistines are on you, Samson!" He broke the cords, as a string of tow is broken when it touches the fire. So his strength was not known.
(WEB YLT)

Judges 16:12
So Delilah took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and said to him, "The Philistines are on you, Samson!" The ambush was waiting in the inner chamber. He broke them off his arms like a thread.
(WEB YLT)

Judges 20:29
Israel set ambushes all around Gibeah.
(Root in WEB DBY NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 20:33
All the men of Israel rose up out of their place, and set themselves in array at Baal Tamar: and the ambushers of Israel broke forth out of their place, even out of Maareh Geba.
(Root in WEB DBY YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 20:36
So the children of Benjamin saw that they were struck; for the men of Israel gave place to Benjamin, because they trusted the ambushers whom they had set against Gibeah.
(Root in WEB DBY YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 20:37
The ambushers hurried, and rushed on Gibeah; and the ambushers drew themselves along, and struck all the city with the edge of the sword.
(Root in WEB DBY YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 20:38
Now the appointed sign between the men of Israel and the ambushers was that they should make a great cloud of smoke rise up out of the city.
(Root in WEB DBY YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 15:5
And Saul came to the city of the Amalekites, and set an ambush in the valley.
(DBY NAS NIV)

1 Samuel 22:13
Saul said to him, "Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread, and a sword, and have inquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?"
(See NAS)

2 Chronicles 13:13
But Jeroboam caused an ambush to come about behind them: so they were before Judah, and the ambush was behind them.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 20:22
When they began to sing and to praise, Yahweh set ambushers against the children of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were struck.
(Root in WEB KJV WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 10:8
He lies in wait near the villages. From ambushes, he murders the innocent. His eyes are secretly set against the helpless.
(Root in WEB YLT RSV NIV)

Psalms 10:9
He lurks in secret as a lion in his ambush. He lies in wait to catch the helpless. He catches the helpless, when he draws him in his net.
(WEB)

Psalms 17:12
He is like a lion that is greedy of his prey, as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.
(See RSV)

Psalms 59:3
For, behold, they lie in wait for my soul. The mighty gather themselves together against me, not for my disobedience, nor for my sin, Yahweh.
(See NAS)

Psalms 64:4
to shoot innocent men from ambushes. They shoot at him suddenly and fearlessly.
(Root in WEB RSV NIV)

Proverbs 1:11
If they say, Come with us; let us make designs against the good, waiting secretly for the upright, without cause;
(See NAS RSV)

Proverbs 1:18
And they are secretly waiting for their blood and making ready destruction for themselves.
(See NAS RSV)

Jeremiah 9:8
Their tongue is a murderous arrow; it speaketh deceit. A man speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in his heart he layeth his ambush.
(DBY YLT NAS RSV)

Jeremiah 51:12
Set up a standard against the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set the watchmen, prepare the ambushes; for Yahweh has both purposed and done that which he spoke concerning the inhabitants of Babylon.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Lamentations 4:19
Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the sky: They chased us on the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness.
(See NAS)

Hosea 6:9
As gangs of robbers wait to ambush a man, so the company of priests murder in the way toward Shechem, committing shameful crimes.
(WEB NIV)

Obadiah 1:7
All the men of your alliance have brought you on your way, even to the border. The men who were at peace with you have deceived you, and prevailed against you. Friends who eat your bread lay a snare under you. There is no understanding in him."
(See NAS)

Subtopics

Ambush

Ambush by Jehoshaphat

Ambush: Near Zemaraim

Related Terms

Gib'e-ah (45 Occurrences)

Ai (32 Occurrences)

Rear (46 Occurrences)