Joshua 8:22 Meaning and Explanation
“And the other issued out of the city against them; so they were in the midst of Israel, some on this side, and some on that side: and they smote them, so that they let none of them remain or escape.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The ambush force comes out of the captured city, so Ai's men are surrounded on both sides and struck down, with none left to escape.
What Does Joshua 8:22 Mean?
The men from the burning city pour out behind Ai's army while the main force presses from the front. Surrounded "some on this side, and some on that side," the men of Ai are caught with no way out, and the judgment falls completely.
This is the sober heart of the conquest narrative. These were the events by which God gave Israel the land long promised and carried out a judgment long deferred upon entrenched evil. Scripture does not soften the severity; it sets it before us plainly. We read such passages with reverence and humility, trusting the righteousness of the Judge of all the earth, who sees what we cannot and does only what is just.
Frequently Asked Questions About Joshua 8:22
What does Joshua 8:22 mean?
The ambush force comes out of the captured city, so Ai's men are surrounded on both sides and struck down, with none left to escape.