God, the righteous Judge, had sentenced the Canaanites for their wickedness; the Israelites only executed his doom. None of their conduct can be drawn into an example for others. Especial reason no doubt there was for this severity to the king of Ai; it is likely he had been notoriously wicked and vile, and a blasphemer of the God of Israel.
Bible Commentary
Joshua 8:23-29
Matthew Henry on Joshua 8:23-29
Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · Matthew Henry · CC0 1.0 Universal
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The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 8:1-29Joshua 8:1-29 · The Pulpit CommentaryEXPOSITION THE CAPTURE OF AI.—The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 8:1-29Joshua 8:1-29 · The Pulpit CommentaryRenewed effort after disaster. The Christian warfare, whether from an individual or from a general point of view, is no record of invariable success. The career of each Christian, as of the Christian Church, is a cheque…Matthew Henry on Joshua 8:23-29Joshua 8:23-29 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleWe have here an account of the improvement which the Israelites made of their victory over Ai. 1. They put all to the sword, not only in the field, but in the city, man, woman, and child, none of them remained, Joshua 8…
commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 8:1-29EXPOSITION THE CAPTURE OF AI.—Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 8:1-29Renewed effort after disaster. The Christian warfare, whether from an individual or from a general point of view, is no record of invariable success. The career of each Christian, as of the Christian Church, is a cheque…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryMatthew Henry on Joshua 8:23-29We have here an account of the improvement which the Israelites made of their victory over Ai. 1. They put all to the sword, not only in the field, but in the city, man, woman, and child, none of them remained, Joshua 8…Matthew HenrycommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 8:24In the wilderness. The LXX. must have read בַמּוֹרָד in the going down, or descent. Returned unto Ai and smote it. According to God's command, the defenceless inhabitants must share the fate of the army (see Deuteronomy…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 8:25All the men of Ai. Clearly all the population, as the context shows.Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 8:26Utterly destroyed. Hebrew, הֶחֶרִים (see note on Joshua 6:17).Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 8:27Only the cattle (see Joshua 8:2).Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 8:28And Joshua burnt Ai. He continued the work of destruction which the ambush had begun, until the city was entirely destroyed. The word in verse 19 ( שׂרף) has rather the sense of kindling a fire; the word here ( יצת( ere…Joseph S. Exell and contributors