Joshua 8:2 Meaning and Explanation
“And thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou didst unto Jericho and her king: only the spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof, shall ye take for a prey unto yourselves: lay thee an ambush for the city behind it.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The LORD instructs Joshua to treat Ai as he did Jericho, but this time the people may keep the spoil and cattle, and He directs them to set an ambush behind the city.
What Does Joshua 8:2 Mean?
At Jericho everything had been devoted to God and the people were forbidden the plunder; Achan's theft of it caused the disaster at Ai. Now God graciously grants the spoil of Ai to the people as their own. What was once withheld is now given freely, and the difference is simply God's command.
Here is a quiet lesson about obedience: the same object that was forbidden at Jericho is permitted at Ai. The issue was never the gold itself but whether Israel would trust God's word in each moment. God also stoops to give military strategy, the ambush, reminding us that His sovereignty works through human planning and action rather than around it.
Joshua 8:2 in the Original Language
Ai (הָעַי), 'the ruin' -- the city's very name means a heap or ruin, fitting the desolation it would become.
Frequently Asked Questions About Joshua 8:2
What does Joshua 8:2 mean?
The LORD instructs Joshua to treat Ai as he did Jericho, but this time the people may keep the spoil and cattle, and He directs them to set an ambush behind the city.