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John Gill
INTRODUCTION TO Joshua 8 Joshua is encouraged to go up and take Ai, and is directed what method to make use of, Joshua 8:1; accordingly he set an ambush on the west side of it, and, he and the rest of the army went up before it, Joshua 8:3; which, when the king of Ai saw, he and all his forces came cut against them, and the Israelites making a feint as if they were beaten, drew on the men of Ai...
John Gill
And all the people, [even the people] of war that [were] with him, and went up, and drew nigh,.... To the city of Ai: and came before the city; as if they intended to besiege it, storm it, or force an entrance into it: and pitched on the north side of Ai; which was judged fittest for the purpose: now [there was] a valley between them and Ai; which the Rabbins call the valley of Halacah, as Jarchi...
Matthew Henry
The embarrassment which Achan's sin gave to the affairs of Israel being over, we have them here in a very good posture again, the affairs both of war and religion. Here is, I. The glorious progress of their arms in the taking of Ai, before which they had lately suffered disgrace. 1. God encourages Joshua to attack it, with the assurance of success, and directs him what method to take, ver. 1, 2....