Joshua 8:6

(For they will come out after us) till we have drawn them from the city; for they will say, They flee before us, as at the first: therefore we will flee before them.

(For they will come out {H3318} after {H310} us) till we have drawn {H5423} them from the city {H5892}; for they will say {H559}, They flee {H5127} before {H6440} us, as at the first {H7223}: therefore we will flee {H5127} before {H6440} them.

They will chase after us until we have drawn them away from the city; because they will say, 'They're running away from us, as they did before'; so we'll run away from them.

They 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,

and they will come out after us, till we have drawn them away from the city; for they will say, They flee before us, as at the first: so we will flee before them;

Commentary

Joshua 8:6 (KJV)

"(For they will come out after us) till we have drawn them from the city; for they will say, They flee before us, as at the first: therefore we will flee before them."

Context

This verse describes a crucial part of Israel's battle plan for their second attempt to conquer the city of Ai. After the devastating defeat in the first assault due to Achan's sin (Joshua 7:5), God gave Joshua a specific strategy involving an ambush. Joshua 8:6 details the decoy element: a portion of the Israelite army would feign retreat, luring the men of Ai out of their fortified city walls. The assumption by the people of Ai that Israel was fleeing "as at the first" is key to the success of this tactic.

Key Themes

  • Military Strategy: God provided a tactical plan that involved deception and coordinated movements, demonstrating that divine guidance often works through human planning and effort.
  • Learning from Failure: The verse directly references the previous defeat ("as at the first"), highlighting how past experiences informed both Israel's strategy and Ai's overconfidence.
  • The Decoy Tactic: The feigned retreat was designed to draw the enemy away from their defenses, making them vulnerable to the hidden ambush force.
  • Overconfidence of the Enemy: The men of Ai were expected to react based on their previous victory, underestimating Israel and leading them into a trap.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "as at the first" (Hebrew: ka-ba-ri'-sho-nah) is a direct reference back to the initial battle described in Joshua 7:4-5. This simple phrase encapsulates the memory of that defeat and the psychological element being exploited in the new strategy. The purpose is explicitly stated: "till we have drawn them from the city," emphasizing the strategic goal of emptying Ai of its defenders.

Reflection

Joshua 8:6 shows us that God's plans can involve clever, even counter-intuitive, human actions. The reference to "the first" defeat serves as a reminder that past failures, while painful, can provide valuable lessons and shape future strategies. It also illustrates the danger of overconfidence based on past successes, as seen in the expected reaction of the men of Ai. For us today, this verse can encourage careful planning guided by wisdom and learning from mistakes, trusting that God can work through our efforts even when they involve complex steps.

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Cross-References

  • Judges 20:32 (2 votes)

    And the children of Benjamin said, They [are] smitten down before us, as at the first. But the children of Israel said, Let us flee, and draw them from the city unto the highways.

  • Ecclesiastes 8:11 (2 votes)

    Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

  • Exodus 14:3 (2 votes)

    For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They [are] entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in.

  • Exodus 15:9 (2 votes)

    The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.

  • Ecclesiastes 9:12 (2 votes)

    For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so [are] the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.