Joshua 8:2 nasb — "You shall do to Ai and its king just as you did to Jericho and its king; you shall take only its spoil and its cattle…

NASB

""You shall do to Ai and its king just as you did to Jericho and its king; you shall take only its spoil and its cattle as plunder for yourselves. Set an ambush for the city behind it.""

— Joshua 8:2, NASB

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Joshua 8:2 in Other Translations

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Joshua 8 — Context

1

Now the LORD said to Joshua, "Do not fear or be dismayed. Take all the people of war with you and arise, go up to Ai; see, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land.

2

"You shall do to Ai and its king just as you did to Jericho and its king; you shall take only its spoil and its cattle as plunder for yourselves. Set an ambush for the city behind it."

3

So Joshua rose with all the people of war to go up to Ai; and Joshua chose 30,men, valiant warriors, and sent them out at night.

4

He commanded them, saying, "See, you are going to ambush the city from behind it. Do not go very far from the city, but all of you be ready.

5

"Then I and all the people who are with me will approach the city. And when they come out to meet us as at the first, we will flee before them.

Joshua 8:2 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Joshua 8:2 say?
Joshua 8:2 in the NASB reads: “"You shall do to Ai and its king just as you did to Jericho and its king; you shall take only its spoil and its cattle as plunder for yourselves. Set an ambush for the city behind it."”
Where is Joshua 8:2 in the Bible?
Joshua 8:2 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Joshua, chapter 8, verse 2.
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 8:2.
What translation should I read Joshua 8:2 in?
Joshua 8:2 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 8:2?
Joshua 8:2 reads (NASB): “"You shall do to Ai and its king just as you did to Jericho and its king; you shall take only its spoil and its cattle as plunder for yourselves. Set an ambush for the city behind it."” 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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