Joshua 8:4
 Joshua 8:4 
New International Version (©2011)
with these orders: "Listen carefully. You are to set an ambush behind the city. Don't go very far from it. All of you be on the alert.

New Living Translation (©2007)
with these orders: "Hide in ambush close behind the town and be ready for action.

English Standard Version (©2001)
And he commanded them, “Behold, you shall lie in ambush against the city, behind it. Do not go very far from the city, but all of you remain ready.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
He commanded them, saying, "See, you are going to ambush the city from behind it. Do not go very far from the city, but all of you be ready.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye shall lie in wait against the city, even behind the city: go not very far from the city, but be ye all ready:

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
He commanded them: "Pay attention. Lie in ambush behind the city, not too far from it, and all of you be ready.

International Standard Version (©2012)
telling them, "Pay attention now! You are to set up an ambush around the city. Don't go very far from the city, and all of you remain on alert.

NET Bible (©2006)
He told them, "Look, set an ambush behind the city. Don't go very far from the city; all of you be ready!

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
with these orders: "Set an ambush behind the city. Don't go very far away from the city. Everyone must be ready.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And he commanded them, saying, Behold, you shall lie in wait against the city, even behind the city: go not very far from the city, but be you all ready:

American King James Version
And he commanded them, saying, Behold, you shall lie in wait against the city, even behind the city: go not very far from the city, but be you all ready:

American Standard Version
And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye shall lie in ambush against the city, behind the city; go not very far from the city, but be ye all ready:

Douay-Rheims Bible
And commanded them, saying: Lay an ambush behind the city: and go not very far from it: and be ye all ready.

Darby Bible Translation
And he commanded them, saying, See, ye shall be in ambush against the city, behind the city: go not very far from the city, and be all of you ready.

English Revised Version
And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye shall lie in ambush against the city, behind the city: go not very far from the city, but be ye all ready:

Webster's Bible Translation
And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye shall lie in wait against the city, even behind the city: go not very far from the city, but be ye all ready:

World English Bible
He commanded them, saying, "Behold, you shall lie in ambush against the city, behind the city. Don't go very far from the city, but all of you be ready.

Young's Literal Translation
and commandeth them, saying, 'See, ye are liers in wait against the city, at the rear of the city, ye go not very far off from the city, and all of you have been prepared,

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.


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And he commanded them, saying,.... At the time he sent them away:

behold, ye shall lie in wait against the city, even behind the city; that is, on the west side of it, Joshua 8:9,

go not very far from the city, but be ye all ready; to enter into it, as soon as the forces are drawn out eastward to meet the army of Israel.


Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

4. behind the city—is rendered (Jos 8:9), "on the west side of Ai."


Joshua 8:4 Parallel Commentaries

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Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


The Conquest of Ai
3So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against Ai: and Joshua chose out thirty thousand mighty men of valor, and sent them away by night. 4And he commanded them, saying, Behold, you shall lie in wait against the city, even behind the city: go not very far from the city, but be you all ready: 5And I, and all the people that are with me, will approach to the city: and it shall come to pass, when they come out against us, as at the first, that we will flee before them, …

Joshua 8:3 So Joshua and the whole army moved out to attack Ai. He chose thirty thousand of his best fighting men and sent them out at night
Judges 20:29 Then Israel set an ambush around Gibeah.
2 Kings 7:12 The king got up in the night and said to his officers, "I will tell you what the Arameans have done to us. They know we are starving; so they have left the camp to hide in the countryside, thinking, 'They will surely come out, and then we will take them alive and get into the city.'"
2 Chronicles 13:13 Now Jeroboam had sent troops around to the rear, so that while he was in front of Judah the ambush was behind them.