Joshua 8:17
◄  Joshua 8:17  ►
New International Version (©2011)
Not a man remained in Ai or Bethel who did not go after Israel. They left the city open and went in pursuit of Israel.

New Living Translation (©2007)
There was not a man left in Ai or Bethel who did not chase after the Israelites, and the town was left wide open.

English Standard Version (©2001)
Not a man was left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel. They left the city open and pursued Israel.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
So not a man was left in Ai or Bethel who had not gone out after Israel, and they left the city unguarded and pursued Israel.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And there was not a man left in Ai or Bethel, that went not out after Israel: and they left the city open, and pursued after Israel.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
Not a man was left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel, leaving the city exposed while they pursued Israel.

International Standard Version (©2012)
There wasn't a single man left in Ai or Bethel who didn't run out after Israel. They left the city open and pursued Israel.

NET Bible (©2006)
No men were left in Ai or Bethel; they all went out after Israel. They left the city wide open and chased Israel.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Not one man was left in Ai or Bethel; they all went after Israel. So the city was left unprotected as they chased Israel.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And there was not a man left in Ai or Bethel, that went not out after Israel: and they left the city open, and pursued after Israel.

American King James Version
And there was not a man left in Ai or Bethel, that went not out after Israel: and they left the city open, and pursued after Israel.

American Standard Version
And there was not a man left in Ai or Beth-el, that went not out after Israel: and they left the city open, and pursued after Israel.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And not one remained in the city of Hai and of Bethel, that did not pursue after Israel, leaving the towns open as they had rushed out,

Darby Bible Translation
And not a man remained in Ai and Bethel that went not out after Israel; and they left the city open, and pursued after Israel.

English Revised Version
And there was not a man left in Ai or Beth-el, that went not out after Israel: and they left the city open, and pursued after Israel.

Webster's Bible Translation
And there was not a man left in Ai, or Beth-el that went not out after Israel: and they left the city open, and pursued Israel.

World English Bible
There was not a man left in Ai or Beth El who didn't go out after Israel. They left the city open, and pursued Israel.

Young's Literal Translation
and there hath not been left a man in Ai and Bethel who hath not gone out after Israel, and they leave the city open, and pursue after Israel.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

8:3-22 Observe Joshua's conduct and prudence. Those that would maintain their spiritual conflicts must not love their ease. Probably he went into the valley alone, to pray to God for a blessing, and he did not seek in vain. He never drew back till the work was done. Those that have stretched out their hands against their spiritual enemies, must never draw them back.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 17. - Or Bethel. These words are not in the LXX., and they may possibly have been a marginal gloss, for the intervention of the people of Bethel in this battle is very unintelligible. See note on Joshua 7:2. On the other hand, it is quite possible that the difficulty involved in their retention may have caused their omission from the LXX., and it may perhaps be thought possible that, on the capture of Ai, the Bethelites returned with all speed to their city, and that Joshua postponed its capture in consequence of the formidable confederacy (Joshua 9:1, 2), which his success had called into existence, or, perhaps, by a desire to signalise at once the victory at Ai by the ceremony (vers. 30-35) at Gerizim. We read in Joshua 12:16 that Bethel was taken. In Judges 1:22 we read that it was not (see note on Joshua 12:16).

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And there was not a man left in Ai or Bethel that went not out after Israel,.... For as these two places were very near to each other, but a mile apart, they were in confederacy, and acted together, and could easily be called to the help of each other when required: though there is a difficulty how the men of Bethel could join those of Ai, when the ambush lay between them both, Joshua 8:12; they either went another way, or the ambush purposely let them pass, for fear of a discovery by a skirmish with them, and that Bethel as well as Ai might be cleared of its armed inhabitants, and so fall an easy prey to them as well as Ai: this must be understood only of men of war; for otherwise there were inhabitants left, as old men, and such as were unfit for war, afterwards slain, Joshua 8:24,

and they left the city open: they did not stay to shut the gates, nor left porters or any guards about, to take care of, protect, and defend the city:

and pursued after Israel; with great eagerness and vehemence, not having the least apprehension of their city being in any danger.

Joshua 8:17 Parallel Commentaries

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Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


The Conquest of Ai
…16And all the people that were in Ai were called together to pursue after them: and they pursued after Joshua, and were drawn away from the city. 17And there was not a man left in Ai or Bethel, that went not out after Israel: and they left the city open, and pursued after Israel. 18And the LORD said to Joshua, Stretch out the spear that is in your hand toward Ai; for I will give it into your hand. And Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand toward the city. …

Joshua 8:16 All the men of Ai were called to pursue them, and they pursued Joshua and were lured away from the city.
Joshua 8:18 Then the LORD said to Joshua, "Hold out toward Ai the javelin that is in your hand, for into your hand I will deliver the city." So Joshua held out toward the city the javelin that was in his hand.