And 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: lay thee an ambush for the city behind it.
JOSHUA 8:2KJVWhat does Joshua 8:2 mean?
Joshua 8:2 records God telling Joshua to treat the city of Ai and its king as he did Jericho, but this time the Israelites are allowed to keep the livestock and goods from Ai for themselves. God also instructs Joshua to set up an ambush behind the city as part of the attack plan.
In this verse, God is speaking directly to Joshua, the leader of Israel, after their earlier defeat at Ai. The instruction marks a change from the battle of Jericho, where everything was to be destroyed or devoted to God. Here, the people are permitted to take spoils, and God gives a specific military strategy—an ambush—to ensure victory.
The Hebrew behind Joshua 8:2
- "Spoil" (שָׁלָל, shalal, H7998) refers to goods or valuables taken in war. Unlike Jericho, where the spoil was forbidden, here God allows the Israelites to keep it, showing a shift in what is permitted.
- "Ambush" (אֹרֵב, orev, H693) means a hidden group waiting to attack. The use of this word highlights that God is giving Joshua a tactical plan, not just a command to attack directly.
- "Prey" (בַּז, baz, H962) is another word for plunder or loot, reinforcing that the Israelites can take possessions from Ai for themselves.
Why Joshua 8:2 matters
- Joshua 8:2 clarifies that God’s instructions can change depending on the situation; what was forbidden at Jericho is now allowed at Ai.
- The verse emphasizes God’s direct involvement in Israel’s battles, including giving specific military tactics rather than leaving strategy to human leaders alone.
- This instruction sets up the events of the chapter, where obedience to God’s new command leads to victory, contrasting with the earlier defeat caused by disobedience.