Joshua 8:5

Verse

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.

American Standard Version (1901)

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;

Bible in Basic English

And I and all the people with me will come near the town, and when they come out against us as they did before, we will go in flight from them;

Free Bible Version

When I and the rest of the men with me approach the town, the defenders will run out to attack us just like before, and we'll run away from them.

Geneva Bible 1599

And I and all the people that are with me, will approche vnto the citie: and when they shall come out against vs, as they did at the first time, then will we flee before them.

King James (Authorized) 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,

Translation for Translators

I and the men who are with me will march toward the city in the morning. The men in the city will come out to fight us, like they did before. Then we will turn around and start to run away from them.

Unlocked Literal Bible

I and all the men with me will approach the city, and when they come out to attack us, we will run away from them just as before.

Noah Webster Bible

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.

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,

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,

Summary

In Joshua 8:5, God instructs Joshua on a strategic military plan to take the city of Ai. The verse highlights the importance of following God's guidance and obeying His commands in achieving victory. It demonstrates the faithfulness of God in providing wisdom and direction to His people in times of conflict. By heeding God's instructions, Joshua and the Israelites were able to secure success in battle, showcasing the power of divine intervention in their military endeavors.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

And I and all the people that are with me will approach unto the city,.... 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, Jos 7:4, 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.