Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version All the men of Ai were called to pursue them, and they pursued Joshua and were lured away from the city. New Living Translation Then all the men in the town were called out to chase after them. In this way, they were lured away from the town. English Standard Version So all the people who were in the city were called together to pursue them, and as they pursued Joshua they were drawn away from the city. Berean Standard Bible Then all the men of Ai were summoned to pursue them, and they followed Joshua and were drawn away from the city. Berean Literal Bible And all the people who were in the city were called together to pursue after them, and they pursued after Joshua, and they were drawn away from the city. King James Bible And 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. New King James Version So all the people who were in Ai were called together to pursue them. And they pursued Joshua and were drawn away from the city. New American Standard Bible And all the people who were in the city were called together to pursue them, and they pursued Joshua and were lured away from the city. NASB 1995 And all the people who were in the city were called together to pursue them, and they pursued Joshua and were drawn away from the city. NASB 1977 And all the people who were in the city were called together to pursue them, and they pursued Joshua, and were drawn away from the city. Legacy Standard Bible And all the people who were in the city were called together to pursue them, and they pursued Joshua and were drawn away from the city. Amplified Bible Then all the people who were in the city were called together to pursue them, and they pursued Joshua and were lured away from the city. Berean Annotated Bible Then all the men of Ai were summoned to pursue them, and they followed Joshua (YHWH saves) and were drawn away from the city. Christian Standard Bible Then all the troops of Ai were summoned to pursue them, and they pursued Joshua and were drawn away from the city. Holman Christian Standard Bible Then all the troops of Ai were summoned to pursue them, and they pursued Joshua and were drawn away from the city. American Standard Version And all the people that were in the city were called together to pursue after them: and they pursued after Joshua, and were drawn away from the city. English Revised Version And all the people that were in the city were called together to pursue after them: and they pursued after Joshua, and were drawn away from the city. GOD'S WORD® Translation All the troops in the city were called out to chase them. As they chased Joshua, they were lured away from the city. Good News Translation All the men in the city had been called together to go after them, and as they pursued Joshua, they kept getting farther away from the city. International Standard Version everyone in the city followed after them. As they pursued Joshua, they were drawn away from the town. NET Bible All the reinforcements in Ai were ordered to chase them; they chased Joshua and were lured away from the city. New Heart English Bible All the people who were in the city were called together to pursue after them. They pursued Joshua, and were drawn away from the city. Webster's Bible Translation And all the people that were in Ai were called together to pursue them: and they pursued Joshua, and were drawn away from the city. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThen all the men of Ai were summoned to pursue them, and they followed Joshua and were drawn away from the city. World English Bible All the people who were in the city were called together to pursue after them. They pursued Joshua, and were drawn away from the city. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand all the people who [are] in the city are called to pursue after them, and they pursue after Joshua, and are drawn away out of the city, Berean Literal Bible And all the people who were in the city were called together to pursue after them, and they pursued after Joshua, and they were drawn away from the city. Young's Literal Translation and all the people who are in the city are called to pursue after them, and they pursue after Joshua, and are drawn away out of the city, Smith's Literal Translation And all the people which are in the city will be called together to pursue after them, and they will pursue after Joshua, and be drawn away from the city. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBut they shouting together, and encouraging one another, pursued them. And when they were come from the city, Catholic Public Domain Version And they pursued them, shouting together and encouraging one another. And when they had withdrawn from the city, New American Bible until the last of the soldiers in the city had been called out to pursue them. Since they were drawn away from the city, with everyone pursuing Joshua, New Revised Standard Version So all the people who were in the city were called together to pursue them, and as they pursued Joshua they were drawn away from the city. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd all the people of Ai shouted as they pursued them; and they followed Joshua, and were drawn out of the city. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And all the people of Ai cried out to chase after them and they pursued after Yeshua and they poured out after them from the city OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And 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. Brenton Septuagint Translation And they pursued after the children of Israel, and they themselves went to a distance from the city. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Conquest of Ai…15Joshua and all Israel let themselves be beaten back before them, and they fled toward the wilderness. 16Then all the men of Ai were summoned to pursue them, and they followed Joshua and were drawn away from the city. 17Not a man was left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel, leaving the city wide open while they pursued Israel.… Cross References Then all the men of Ai were summoned to pursue them, Judges 20:31-32 The Benjamites came out against them and were drawn away from the city. They began to attack the people as before, killing about thirty men of Israel in the fields and on the roads, one of which led up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah. / “We are defeating them as before,” said the Benjamites. But the Israelites said, “Let us retreat and draw them away from the city onto the roads.” Exodus 14:23-24 And the Egyptians chased after them—all Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and horsemen—and followed them into the sea. / At morning watch, however, the LORD looked down on the army of the Egyptians from the pillar of fire and cloud, and He threw their camp into confusion. 1 Samuel 30:8 and David inquired of the LORD: “Should I pursue these raiders? Will I overtake them?” “Pursue them,” the LORD replied, “for you will surely overtake them and rescue the captives.” and they followed Joshua Joshua 1:16-18 So they answered Joshua, “Everything you have commanded us we will do, and everywhere you send us we will go. / Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you. And may the LORD your God be with you, as He was with Moses. / Anyone who rebels against your order and does not obey your words, all that you command him, will be put to death. Above all, be strong and courageous!” Deuteronomy 31:7-8 Then Moses called for Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you will go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their fathers to give them, and you shall give it to them as an inheritance. / The LORD Himself goes before you; He will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.” Deuteronomy 34:9 Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites obeyed him and did as the LORD had commanded Moses. and were drawn away from the city. Judges 20:36-37 Then the Benjamites realized they had been defeated. Now the men of Israel had retreated before Benjamin because they were relying on the ambush they had set against Gibeah. / The men in ambush rushed suddenly against Gibeah; they advanced and put the whole city to the sword. 2 Kings 18:31-32 Do not listen to Hezekiah, for this is what the king of Assyria says: Make peace with me and come out to me. Then every one of you will eat from his own vine and his own fig tree and drink water from his own cistern, / until I come and take you away to a land like your own—a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey—so that you may live and not die. But do not listen to Hezekiah, for he misleads you when he says, ‘The LORD will deliver us.’ Isaiah 36:16-17 Do not listen to Hezekiah, for this is what the king of Assyria says: Make peace with me and come out to me. Then every one of you will eat from his own vine and his own fig tree, and drink water from his own cistern, / until I come and take you away to a land like your own—a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards. Joshua 7:5 And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of them, chasing them from the gate as far as the quarries and striking them down on the slopes. So the hearts of the people melted and became like water. 2 Samuel 10:9-10 When Joab saw the battle lines before him and behind him, he selected some of the best men of Israel and arrayed them against the Arameans. / And he placed the rest of the troops under the command of his brother Abishai, who arrayed them against the Ammonites. 2 Kings 7:12 So the king got up in the night and said to his servants, “Let me tell you what the Arameans have done to us. They know we are starving, so they have left the camp to hide in the field, thinking, ‘When they come out of the city, we will take them alive and enter the city.’” 2 Chronicles 13:13-14 Now Jeroboam had sent troops around to ambush from the rear, so that while he was in front of Judah, the ambush was behind them. / When Judah turned and discovered that the battle was both before and behind them, they cried out to the LORD. Then the priests blew the trumpets, 2 Chronicles 20:22-23 The moment they began their shouts and praises, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who had come against Judah, and they were defeated. / The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction. And when they had finished off the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another. Isaiah 37:36-37 Then the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies! / So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there. Jeremiah 21:9 Whoever stays in this city will die by sword and famine and plague, but whoever goes out and surrenders to the Chaldeans who besiege you will live; he will retain his life like a spoil of war. Treasury of Scripture And 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. called together Judges 20:36-39 So the children of Benjamin saw that they were smitten: for the men of Israel gave place to the Benjamites, because they trusted unto the liers in wait which they had set beside Gibeah… drawn away Joshua 8:5,6 And I, and all the people that are with me, will approach unto the city: and it shall come to pass, when they come out against us, as at the first, that we will flee before them, … Judges 20:31 And the children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city; and they began to smite of the people, and kill, as at other times, in the highways, of which one goeth up to the house of God, and the other to Gibeah in the field, about thirty men of Israel. Psalm 9:16 The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah. Jump to Previous Ai City Drawn Joshua Lured Moving Pursue Pursued TogetherJump to Next Ai City Drawn Joshua Lured Moving Pursue Pursued TogetherJoshua 8 1. God encourages Joshua3. The plan whereby Ai was taken 29. The king thereof is hanged 30. Joshua builds an altar 32. writes the law on stones 33. and pronounces the blessings and curses Then all the men of Ai were summoned to pursue them This phrase indicates a strategic military maneuver. The men of Ai, confident from their previous victory over Israel, are summoned to pursue the Israelites. This reflects the ancient Near Eastern warfare tactics where cities would often defend themselves by sending out their fighting men. The summoning of all the men suggests a complete mobilization, leaving the city vulnerable. This is reminiscent of the overconfidence seen in other biblical narratives, such as the Philistines' underestimation of David (1 Samuel 17). and they followed Joshua and were drawn away from the city Persons / Places / Events 1. JoshuaThe leader of Israel, successor to Moses, who is orchestrating the military strategy against Ai. 2. Men of Ai The inhabitants and soldiers of the city of Ai, who are drawn out of their city to pursue the Israelites. 3. Ai A Canaanite city that Israel is attempting to conquer after their initial defeat due to Achan's sin. 4. Israelites The people of God, following Joshua's leadership, executing a divinely inspired military strategy. 5. The Ambush The strategic military maneuver planned by Joshua to lure the men of Ai out of their city, allowing the Israelites to capture it. Teaching Points Divine Strategy and Human ObedienceGod often uses human strategies to accomplish His purposes, but success requires obedience to His instructions. Learning from Past Mistakes The Israelites' initial failure at Ai teaches the importance of addressing sin and seeking God's guidance before moving forward. The Importance of Leadership Joshua's role as a leader is crucial; he listens to God and leads the people with courage and wisdom. Trusting God's Timing The Israelites had to wait for God's timing to attack Ai again, teaching us patience and trust in God's perfect plan. Spiritual Warfare Just as the Israelites used strategy in physical warfare, Christians are called to be strategic in spiritual warfare, using the armor of God. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Joshua 8:16?2. How does Joshua 8:16 demonstrate God's strategy in overcoming our spiritual battles? 3. What can we learn from the Israelites' obedience in Joshua 8:16? 4. How does Joshua 8:16 connect with God's promises in Deuteronomy 31:6? 5. How can we apply the Israelites' trust in God's plan to our lives? 6. What does the phrase "all the people of the city" reveal about unity? 7. How does Joshua 8:16 reflect God's strategy in warfare? 8. What historical evidence supports the events described in Joshua 8:16? 9. How does Joshua 8:16 demonstrate God's sovereignty over Israel's enemies? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Joshua 8? 11. How can Jericho be mentioned again (Joshua 16:1) if Joshua 6 supposedly left the city in total ruins? 12. Why does the ambush strategy described in Joshua 8:2-22 differ from other accounts of Israelite conquests? 13. Where is the archaeological evidence supporting the complete destruction of Ai (Joshua 8:28)? 14. If Ai was truly annihilated, why does it not appear in later references to the region's cities in the Old Testament? What Does Joshua 8:16 Mean Then all the men of AiJoshua records, “Then all the men of Ai…” (Joshua 8:16). • Every soldier—“all”—left his station. Like the unified response in Judges 20:11, the defenders acted “as one man,” but here in blind confidence. • Genesis 14:14 shows Abram mustering 318 trained men; Ai sends everyone, yet numbers alone never guarantee victory when God is against a city (Deuteronomy 9:1-3). • Their total departure underscores how completely the Lord had handed them over (Deuteronomy 7:2). were summoned The king’s urgent call gathers the force. • Similar rallying cries appear in 2 Samuel 20:4-6, but whereas David’s summons served righteous order, Ai’s serves impending judgment. • Psalm 2:2 warns that earthly rulers who band together against the Lord stand doomed; Ai’s summons fits that pattern. • God foresaw this very moment: “I have delivered the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land into your hand” (Joshua 8:1). The summons only moves prophecy to fulfillment. to pursue them Ai believes Israel is fleeing a second time, repeating the rout of Joshua 7:5. • Exodus 15:9 captures the pride of Egypt—“The enemy said, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake.’” Ai echoes that arrogance. • Proverbs 16:18 reminds that pride goes before destruction; pursuit sets the trap. • By chasing Israel, Ai abandons the secure high ground, mirroring Judges 8:4 where Gideon draws Midian far from safety. and they followed Joshua Israel is not leaderless but follows Joshua, who himself feigns retreat. • Joshua 8:15 notes, “Joshua and all Israel let themselves be beaten back.” Their obedience contrasts with Ai’s self-confident impulse. • 1 Corinthians 11:1 calls believers to imitate faithful leadership; Israel trusts God’s appointed commander. • Joshua personifies the nation, just as the true Joshua—Jesus—will later lead His people in triumph (Hebrews 2:10). and were drawn away from the city This is the crux of the Lord’s strategy (Joshua 8:6-7). • Judges 20:31 describes a near-identical tactic against Gibeah; enemies leave their stronghold, exposing it to ambush. • Psalm 33:10 declares, “The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations”; Ai’s emptied city becomes its downfall. • While Ai pursues perceived victory, hidden Israelite forces rush in (Joshua 8:19), prefiguring spiritual truths: when the adversary overreaches, God’s people prevail (Romans 8:37). summary Joshua 8:16 portrays the total military exodus of Ai, triggered by pride and divine orchestration. Every soldier answers the summons, races after Joshua, and unwittingly abandons the city, clearing the way for Israel’s decisive victory. The verse showcases God’s sovereign use of enemy arrogance to accomplish His promise, reminding believers that obedience to the Lord’s strategy always triumphs over human confidence. Verse 16. - Were called together. So the Masorites. Perhaps it would be better to translate, raised a cry ("at illi vociferantes." Vulgate. "Da schrie das ganze Volk." Luther). This gives us the scene in all its picturesque detail. We hear the exultant shout of the men of Ai, as they thought the victory won. The LXX. appear to have read חָזַק for זָעַק for they translate ἐνίσχυσε. The city. The Masorites correct here again into "Ai." But the LXX. and Vulgate render as the English translation.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Then allכָּל־ (kāl-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every the men [of Ai] הָעָם֙ (hā·‘ām) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock were summoned וַיִּזָּעֲק֗וּ (way·yiz·zā·‘ă·qū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 2199: To shriek, to announce, convene publicly to pursue them, לִרְדֹּ֖ף (lir·dōp̄) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 7291: To pursue, chase, persecute and they followed וַֽיִּרְדְּפוּ֙ (way·yir·də·p̄ū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 7291: To pursue, chase, persecute Joshua יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ (yə·hō·wō·šu·a‘) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3091: Joshua -- 'the LORD is salvation', Moses' successor, also the name of a number of Israelites and were drawn away וַיִּנָּתְק֖וּ (way·yin·nā·ṯə·qū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 5423: To pull, draw, or tear away, apart, or off from מִן־ (min-) Preposition Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of the city. בָּעַ֔י (bā·‘ay) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 5892: Excitement Links Joshua 8:16 NIVJoshua 8:16 NLT Joshua 8:16 ESV Joshua 8:16 NASB Joshua 8:16 KJV Joshua 8:16 BibleApps.com Joshua 8:16 Biblia Paralela Joshua 8:16 Chinese Bible Joshua 8:16 French Bible Joshua 8:16 Catholic Bible OT History: Joshua 8:16 All the people who were (Josh. 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