Joshua 8:27 Meaning and Explanation
“Only the cattle and the spoil of that city Israel took for a prey unto themselves, according unto the word of the LORD which he commanded Joshua.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Israel takes only the cattle and spoil of Ai for themselves, exactly as the LORD had commanded Joshua.
What Does Joshua 8:27 Mean?
Just as God had granted in verse 2, Israel keeps the livestock and goods of Ai as their own. The narrator is careful to note that they did so "according unto the word of the LORD," within the bounds God had set, not seizing it on their own impulse as Achan had done at Jericho.
The contrast with chapter 7 is the whole point. The same spoil that brought death when taken in disobedience now becomes a lawful blessing when received within God's word. The gift was good; the difference was obedience. God's blessings are richest when they are received His way and in His time, rather than grasped at by a will that will not wait on Him.
Frequently Asked Questions About Joshua 8:27
What does Joshua 8:27 mean?
Israel takes only the cattle and spoil of Ai for themselves, exactly as the LORD had commanded Joshua.