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Joshua 8
Joshua 8:1
Do not fear; do not be discouraged
These two phrases mean basically the same thing. Yahweh combines them to emphasize that there is no reason to be afraid. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism)
I have given into your hand the king of Ai ... and his land
Giving them into Israel's hand represents giving Israel victory and control over them. Alternate translation: "I have given you victory over the king of Ai and his people, and I have given you control over his city and his land" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
I have given
God speaks of what he promises to do as though he had already done it, because he will certainly do it. Alternate translation: "I will certainly give" or "I am giving" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-pastforfuture)
Joshua 8:2
her king
The word "her" refers to the city of Ai. Cities were often spoken of as if they were women. Alternate translation: "its king" or "their king" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-personification)
Joshua 8:3
the men of war
"the army of Israel"
Joshua 8:4
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Joshua 8:5
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Joshua continues to explain the battle plan to his soldiers.
Joshua 8:6
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Joshua 8:7
will give it into your hand
Here "hand" symbolizes the control and power the people have over their enemies. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Joshua 8:8
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Joshua finishes explaining the battle plan to his soldiers.
Joshua 8:9
Joshua sent them out
This phrase refers to Joshua sending the thirty thousand men who had been selected to ambush Ai to where they would set the ambush.
the place of ambush
"where they would hide until it was time to attack"
Joshua 8:10
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Joshua 8:11
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Joshua 8:12
five thousand men
"5,000 men." This group seems to be a portion of the "thirty thousand men" (Joshua 8:9). This smaller group remained in the ambush while the other 25,000 men attacked the city. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-numbers)
Joshua 8:13
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The Israelites prepare to fight the people of Ai.
the main army
This refers to the largest group of fighting men, those not in the ambush group.
rear guard
those who were "set in ambush on the west side of the city" (Joshua 8:12)
Joshua 8:14
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Joshua 8:15
let themselves be defeated before them
"let themselves be defeated before the people of Ai." The phrase "before them" represents what the people of Ai would see and think. The phrase "be defeated" can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "let the people of Ai think that the Israelites were defeated" or "let the people of Ai think that they had defeated the Israelites" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
before them
the army of Ai
they fled
The army of Israel fled.
Joshua 8:16
they went after ... they were drawn away
These occurrences of "they" refer to the army of Ai.
to go after them
to go after the army of Isreal
All the people who were in the city were called together
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "The city leaders called all the people in the city together" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
All the people who were in the city
The writer speaks in a general way about all the people, but "all the people" refers only to those who could fight. Alternate translation: "all the people in the city who could help chase the army of Israel" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-hyperbole)
Joshua 8:17
left it open
"left the city gates open"
Joshua 8:18
I will give Ai into your hand
Giving Ai into Israel's hand represents giving Israel victory and control over Ai. Alternate translation: "I will give you victory over Ai" or "I will cause you to capture Ai" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Joshua 8:19
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Joshua 8:20
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Joshua 8:21
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Joshua 8:22
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Joshua 8:23
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Joshua 8:24
when Israel had finished killing all the inhabitants ... when all of them ... had fallen by the edge of the sword
The writer uses both of these sentences, which mean almost the same thing, to strongly say that the Israelites had obeyed God's command to kill everyone in Ai. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism)
had fallen by the edge of the sword
Here "fallen" is a euphemism for dying. Also, "the edge of the sword" represents whole swords, and swords represent either battle or the army of Israel. Alternate translation: "had died in battle" or "had died when the army of Israel attacked them" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-euphemism and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Joshua 8:25
twelve thousand
"12,000" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-numbers)
Joshua 8:26
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Joshua 8:27
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Joshua 8:28
an abandoned place
It is a place where people once lived, but now, no one lives there.
Joshua 8:29
to this day
"today" or "even now"
Joshua 8:30
Mount Ebal
a mountain in Canaan (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
Joshua 8:31
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Joshua 8:32
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Joshua 8:33
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Joshua 8:34
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Joshua 8:35
There was not one word from all that Moses commanded that Joshua did not read
The double negative here emphasizes the positive. This can be expressed positively. Alternate translation: "Joshua read every word of all that Moses commanded" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-doublenegatives)
Israel
This refers to the nation of Israel. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)