Joshua 8:4 net — He ordered them,“Look, set an ambush behind the city. Don’t go very far from the city; all of you be ready!

NET Bible

"He ordered them,“Look, set an ambush behind the city. Don’t go very far from the city; all of you be ready!"

— Joshua 8:4, NET Bible

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Joshua 8:4 in Other Translations

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Joshua 8 — Context

1

Israel Conquers Ai The LORD told Joshua,“Don’t be afraid and don’t panic! Take the whole army with you and march against Ai! See, I am handing over to you the king of Ai, along with his people, city, and land.

2

Do to Ai and its king what you did to Jericho and its king, except you may plunder its goods and cattle. Set an ambush behind the city!”

3

Joshua and the whole army marched against Ai. Joshua selected thirty thousand brave warriors and sent them out at night.

4

He ordered them,“Look, set an ambush behind the city. Don’t go very far from the city; all of you be ready!

5

I and all the troops who are with me will approach the city. When they come out to fight us like before, we will retreat from them.

6

They will attack us until we have lured them from the city, for they will say,‘They are retreating from us like before.’ We will retreat from them.

7

Then you rise up from your hiding place and seize the city. The LORD your God will hand it over to you.

Joshua 8:4 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Joshua 8:4 say?
Joshua 8:4 in the NET Bible reads: “He ordered them,“Look, set an ambush behind the city. Don’t go very far from the city; all of you be ready!”
Where is Joshua 8:4 in the Bible?
Joshua 8:4 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Joshua, chapter 8, 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 8:4.
What translation should I read Joshua 8:4 in?
Joshua 8:4 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 8:4?
Joshua 8:4 reads (NET): “He ordered them,“Look, set an ambush behind the city. Don’t go very far from the city; all of you be ready!” 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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