¶ Now it came to pass, when Adonizedek king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them;
Complete Jewish Bible:
When Adoni-Tzedek king of Yerushalayim heard how Y'hoshua had taken 'Ai and utterly destroyed it - he had done the same to 'Ai and its king as he had done to Yericho and its king - and how the inhabitants of Giv'on had made peace with Isra'el and were living among them,
Berean Standard Bible:
Now Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had captured Ai and devoted it to destruction—doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king—and that the people of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were living near them.
American Standard Version:
Now it came to pass, when Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it (as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king), and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them;
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.
For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, [and] that they might have no favour, but that he might destroy them, as the LORD commanded Moses.
And the other issued out of the city against them; so they were in the midst of Israel, some on this side, and some on that side: and they smote them, so that they let none of them remain or escape.
And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until eventide: and as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his carcase down from the tree, and cast it at the entering of the gate of the city, and raise thereon a great heap of stones, [that remaineth] unto this day.
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Commentary for Joshua 10:1
Joshua 10:1 sets the stage for a significant military campaign in the Israelite conquest of Canaan. The verse introduces Adonizedek, the king of Jerusalem, who has learned of Joshua's recent victories. Joshua, leading the Israelites, has successfully conquered and destroyed two key cities: Jericho and Ai. The destruction of these cities, including their kings, signifies the might and the divine favor that the Israelites believe they possess, as they attribute their victories to the guidance and power of their God.
The historical context of this verse is rooted in the broader narrative of the Israelites' entry into the Promised Land after their exodus from Egypt. The defeat of Jericho and Ai are pivotal moments that demonstrate the Israelites' emerging dominance in Canaan. The mention of Gibeon's peace treaty with Israel is also crucial; it reflects a strategic decision by the Gibeonites to ally with the Israelites rather than face destruction, which has implications for the ensuing conflict.
The themes present in this verse include the fear of surrounding nations in response to Israel's military successes, the fulfillment of divine promises to the Israelites, and the political and military strategies employed in the ancient world. The verse also hints at the theme of divine intervention in warfare, as the Israelites interpret their victories as a sign of God's favor and assistance. Adonizedek's reaction to these events is one of concern and readiness to confront the emerging threat, which sets the scene for the impending battle in the following chapters.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
Strong's Number: H139 There are 177 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: אֲדֹנִי־צֶדֶק Transliteration: ʼĂdônîy-Tsedeq Pronunciation: ad-o''-nee-tseh'-dek Description: from אָדוֹן and צֶדֶק; lord of justice; Adoni-Tsedek, a Canaanitish king; Adonizedec.
Strong's Number: H4428 There are 1922 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: מֶלֶךְ Transliteration: melek Pronunciation: meh'-lek Description: from מָלַךְ; a king; king, royal.
Strong's Number: H3389 There are 600 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם Transliteration: Yᵉrûwshâlaim Pronunciation: yer-oo-shaw-lah'-im Description: rarely יְרוּשָׁלַיִם; a dual (in allusion to its two main hills (the true pointing, at least of the former reading, seems to be that of יְרוּשָׁלֵם)); probably from (the passive participle of) יָרָה and שָׁלַם; founded peaceful; Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine; Jerusalem.
Strong's Number: H8085 There are 1072 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: שָׁמַע Transliteration: shâmaʻ Pronunciation: shaw-mah' Description: a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.); [idiom] attentively, call (gather) together, [idiom] carefully, [idiom] certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, [idiom] diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), [idiom] indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, [idiom] surely, tell, understand, whosoever (heareth), witness.
Strong's Number: H3588 There are 43 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: כִּי Transliteration: kîy Pronunciation: kee Description: a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed; and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + till, truly, + until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet.
Strong's Number: H3091 There are 199 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: יְהוֹשׁוּעַ Transliteration: Yᵉhôwshûwaʻ Pronunciation: yeh-ho-shoo'-ah Description: or יְהוֹשֻׁעַ; from יְהֹוָה and יָשַׁע; Jehovah-saved; Jehoshua (i.e. Joshua), the Jewish leader; Jehoshua, Jehoshuah, Joshua. Compare הוֹשֵׁעַ, יֵשׁוּעַ.
Strong's Number: H3920 There are 112 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: לָכַד Transliteration: lâkad Pronunciation: law-kad' Description: a primitive root; to catch (in a net, trap or pit); generally, to capture or occupy; also to choose (by lot); figuratively, to cohere; [idiom] at all, catch (self), be frozen, be holden, stick together, take.
Strong's Number: H5857 There are 34 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: עַי Transliteration: ʻAy Pronunciation: ah'ee Description: or (feminine) עַיָּא; (Nehemiah 11:31), or עַיָּת; (Isaiah 10:28), for עִי; Ai, Aja or Ajath, a place in Palestine; Ai, Aija, Aijath, Hai.
Strong's Number: H2763 There are 48 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: חָרַם Transliteration: châram Pronunciation: khaw-ram' Description: a primitive root; to seclude; specifically (by a ban) to devote to religious uses (especially destruction); physical and reflexive, to be blunt as to the nose; make accursed, consecrate, (utterly) destroy, devote, forfeit, have a flat nose, utterly (slay, make away).
Strong's Number: H6213 There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: עָשָׂה Transliteration: ʻâsâh Pronunciation: aw-saw' Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.
Strong's Number: H3405 There are 53 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: יְרִיחוֹ Transliteration: Yᵉrîychôw Pronunciation: yer-ee-kho' Description: or יְרֵחוֹ; or variation (1 Kings 16:34) יְרִיחֹה; perhaps from יָרֵחַ; its month; or else from רוּחַ; fragrant; Jericho or Jerecho, a place in Palestine; Jericho.
Strong's Number: H3427 There are 980 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: יָשַׁב Transliteration: yâshab Pronunciation: yaw-shab' Description: a primitive root; properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. 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), ease self, endure, establish, [idiom] fail, habitation, haunt, (make to) inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, [idiom] marry(-ing), (bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set(-tle), (down-) sit(-down, still, -ting down, -ting (place) -uate), take, tarry.
Strong's Number: H1391 There are 35 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: גִּבְעוֹן Transliteration: Gibʻôwn Pronunciation: ghib-ohn' Description: from the same as גֶּבַע; hilly; Gibon, a place in Palestine; Gibeon.
Strong's Number: H7999 There are 107 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: שָׁלַם Transliteration: shâlam Pronunciation: shaw-lam' Description: a primitive root; to be safe (in mind, body or estate); figuratively, to be (causatively, make) completed; by implication, to be friendly; by extension, to reciprocate (in various applications); make amends, (make an) end, finish, full, give again, make good, (re-) pay (again), (make) (to) (be at) peace(-able), that is perfect, perform, (make) prosper(-ous), recompense, render, requite, make restitution, restore, reward, [idiom] surely.
Strong's Number: H3478 There are 2229 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: יִשְׂרָאֵל Transliteration: Yisrâʼêl Pronunciation: yis-raw-ale' Description: from שָׂרָה and אֵל; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity; Israel.
Strong's Number: H7130 There are 220 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: קֶרֶב Transliteration: qereb Pronunciation: keh'-reb Description: from קָרַב; properly, the nearest part, i.e. the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial (especially with preposition); [idiom] among, [idiom] before, bowels, [idiom] unto charge, [phrase] eat (up), [idiom] heart, [idiom] him, [idiom] in, inward ([idiom] -ly, part, -s, thought), midst, [phrase] out of, purtenance, [idiom] therein, [idiom] through, [idiom] within self.