Joshua 7:4 bbe — So about three thousand of the people went up, and were sent in flight by the men of Ai.

Bible in Basic English

"So about three thousand of the people went up, and were sent in flight by the men of Ai."

— Joshua 7:4, Bible in Basic English

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Joshua 7:4 in Other Translations

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Joshua 7 — Context

1

But the children of Israel did wrong about the cursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the family of Judah, took of the cursed thing, moving the Lord to wrath against the children of Israel.

2

Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is by the side of Beth-aven, on the east side of Beth-el, and said to them, Go up and make a search through the land. And the men went up and saw how Ai was placed.

3

Then they came back to Joshua and said to him, Do not send all the people up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and make an attack on Ai; there is no need for all the people to be tired with the journey there, for it is only a small town.

4

So about three thousand of the people went up, and were sent in flight by the men of Ai.

5

The men of Ai put to death about thirty-six of them, driving them from before the town as far as the stoneworks, and overcoming them on the way down: and the hearts of the people became like water.

6

Then Joshua, in great grief, went down on the earth before the ark of the Lord till the evening, and all the chiefs of Israel with him, and they put dust on their heads.

7

And Joshua said, O Lord God, why have you taken us over Jordan only to give us up into the hands of the Amorites for our destruction? If only it had been enough for us to keep on the other side of Jordan!

Joshua 7:4 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Joshua 7:4 say?
Joshua 7:4 in the Bible in Basic English reads: “So about three thousand of the people went up, and were sent in flight by the men of Ai.”
Where is Joshua 7:4 in the Bible?
Joshua 7:4 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Joshua, chapter 7, verse 4.
Who wrote Joshua?
Joshua is traditionally attributed to Joshua (traditional). Traditionally written by Joshua with later additions noting his death and burial. It was written c. 1405–1380 BC.
What is the book of Joshua about?
Joshua is the account of Israel's entry into Canaan under Moses' successor — the crossing of the Jordan, the fall of Jericho, the conquest of the land, and its division among the twelve tribes. It is a record of God's faithfulness to his covenant promise to Abraham.
What are the major themes of Joshua?
Joshua explores themes including Conquest, Faithfulness, Inheritance, Courage, Holy War. These themes shape the meaning and context of Joshua 7:4.
What translation should I read Joshua 7:4 in?
Joshua 7:4 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Joshua 7:4?
Joshua 7:4 reads (BBE): “So about three thousand of the people went up, and were sent in flight by the men of Ai.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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