Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, by R.A. Torrey, [ca. 1880], at sacred-texts.com
Overview
Jos 8:1, God encourages Joshua; Jos 8:3, The stratagem whereby Ai was taken; Jos 8:29, The king thereof is hanged; Jos 8:30, Joshua builds an altar; Jos 8:32, writes the law on stones; Jos 8:33, and pronounces the blessings and curses.
Fear not: Jos 1:9, Jos 7:6, Jos 7:7, Jos 7:9; Deu 1:21, Deu 7:18, Deu 31:8; Psa 27:1, Psa 46:11; Isa 12:2, Isa 41:10-16; Isa 43:2; Jer 46:27; Mat 8:26
take all: It would seem, from this verse, that all that were capable of bearing arms were to march out of the camp on this occasion: 30,000 formed an ambuscade in one place; and 5,000 were placed in another, who all gained their positions in the night. With the rest of the army, Joshua appeared the next morning before Ai, which the men of that city would naturally suppose was the whole of the Israelitish force and, consequently, be the more emboldened to come out and attack them. Some, however, think that 30,000 men were the whole that were employed on this occasion, 5,000 of whom were placed in ambush on the west of the city, between Bethel and Ai (Jos 8:12), and, with the rest, Joshua appeared before the city in the morning. The king, seeing but about 25,000 coming against him, though he had but 12,000 persons in the whole city (Jos 8:25), determined to risk a battle, issued out, and was defeated by stratagem.
I have: Jos 6:2; Psa 44:3; Dan 2:21, Dan 2:37, Dan 2:38, Dan 4:25, Dan 4:35
do to Ai: Jos 8:24, Jos 8:28, Jos 8:29. See note on Jos 6:21, see note on Jos 10:1, see note on Jos 10:28, and see note on Deu 3:2.
only the spoil: Jos 8:27; Deu 20:14; Job 27:16, Job 27:17; Psa 39:6; Pro 13:22, Pro 28:20; Jer 17:11; Luk 12:20, Luk 12:21
lay thee: Jos 8:7, Jos 8:9, Jos 8:12, Jos 8:14, Jos 8:19; Jdg 20:29-33; Ch2 13:13, Ch2 20:22; Jer 51:12
by night: Mat 24:39, Mat 24:50, Mat 25:6; Th1 5:2; Pe2 3:10
lie in wait: Jos 8:16; Jdg 9:25, Jdg 20:29, Jdg 20:33, Jdg 20:36; Sa1 15:2, Sa1 15:5; Act 23:21
as at: Jos 7:5
that we will: Jdg 20:31-33; Mat 10:16
drawn: Heb. pulled, Jos 8:16
They flee: Exo 14:3, Exo 15:9; Jdg 20:32; Ecc 8:11, Ecc 9:12
for the Lord: Jos 8:1; Kg2 5:1; Pro 21:30, Pro 21:31
set the city: Jos 8:28, Jos 6:24
I have: Jos 1:9, Jos 1:16; Jdg 4:6; Sa2 13:28
between: Jos 8:12, Jos 7:2; Gen 12:8, Hai, Ezr 2:28; Neh 7:32
lodged: Gen 32:21
rose up: Jos 3:1, Jos 6:12, Jos 7:16; Psa 119:60
five thousand: Jos 8:2, Jos 8:3
of the city: or, of Ai
liers in wait: Heb. lying in wait, Jos 8:4
on the west: Jos 8:8, Jos 8:12
he wist not: Jdg 20:34-36; Ecc 9:12; Isa 19:11, Isa 19:13; Dan 4:31; Mat 24:39, Mat 24:50; Th1 5:1-3; Pe2 2:3
by the way: Jos 18:12
called together: Jdg 20:36-39
drawn away: Jos 8:5, Jos 8:6; Jdg 20:31; Psa 9:16; Eze 38:11-22; Rev 16:14, Rev 19:19-21
a man: Jos 8:3, Jos 8:24, Jos 8:25, Jos 11:20; Deu 2:30; Job 5:13; Isa 19:11-13
Bethel: Bethel is not mentioned in the Greek version, and some, with Houbigant and Pilkington, think it was not originally in the Hebrew; because, had the men of Bethel pursued, as well as those of Ai, it would have been said that they left the cities, and not the city, open. The principal strength of Bethel might have been previously taken into Ai, as the strongest place to make a stand in; Bethel being but about three miles westward from Ai.
Stretch: Jos 8:7, Jos 8:26; Exo 8:5, Exo 17:11; Job 15:25
the spear: The word keedon is rendered clypeum, a shield or buckler, by the Vulgate but the LXX translate it γαισον, which Suidas says, signifies a kind of weapon, οιον δορατος, like a spear. It may denote a short spear, javelin, or lance; for it is evident that it signifies neither the larger spear nor the shield, because it is distinguished from both. Sa1 17:6, Sa1 17:41, Sa1 17:45; Job 39:23; Joshua may have had a flag or ensign at the end of the spear, which might be seen at a considerable distance when extended, which was the sign agreed upon by him and the ambush.
the smoke: Gen 19:28; Isa 34:10; Rev 18:9, Rev 19:3
and they had: Job 11:20; Psa 48:5, Psa 48:6, Psa 76:5; Amo 2:14-16; Rev 6:15-17
power: Heb. hand
let none: Jos 6:21, Jos 10:28, Jos 11:11, Jos 11:12; Deu 7:2; Job 20:5; Luk 17:26-30; Th1 5:3
Jos 8:29, Jos 10:17; Sa1 15:8; Rev 19:20
returned unto Ai: This must refer to the women, children, and old persons left behind; for it seems that all the effective men had sallied out when they imagined the Israelites had fled (Jos 8:16). Jos 10:30-41, Jos 11:10-14; Num 21:24
Joshua: Joshua seems to have been not only the general but the standard-bearer of the army (Jos 8:18), and continued in this employment, by holding up or extending his spear, during the whole of the battle; and did not slacken from the pursuit till the forces of Ai were utterly discomfited. Some commentators, however, understand this action in a figurative sense, like the holding up of Moses' hands, as if it implied that Joshua continued in prayer for the success of his troops, nor ceased till the armies of Ai were annihilated, and the city taken and destroyed.
drew not: Jos 8:18; Exo 17:11, Exo 17:12
the cattle: Jos 8:2, Jos 11:4; Num 31:22, Num 31:26; Psa 50:10; Mat 20:15
he commanded: Jos 8:2
an heap: Deu 13:16; Kg2 19:25; Isa 17:1, Isa 25:2; Jer 9:11, Jer 49:2, Jer 50:26; Mic 3:12
unto this day: Jos 4:9
the king: The kings of Canaan lay under the same curse as their subjects and probably were more deeply criminal. The reserving of the king of Ai for a solemn execution, would tend to strike terror into the other kings, contribute to the success of Israel, and give their proceedings the stamp of a judicial process, and of executing the vengeance of God upon his enemies. Jos 10:26-28, Jos 10:30, Jos 10:33; Deu 21:22, Deu 21:23; Est 7:10; Psa 107:40, Psa 110:5; Act 12:23; Rev 19:17, Rev 19:18
as soon: Jos 10:27
a great heap: Jos 7:26; Sa2 18:17
built an altar: Gen 8:20, Gen 12:7, Gen 12:8
in mount Ebal: Moses himself had twice given express orders for this solemnity; once Deu 11:29, Deu 11:30, in which he pointed out the very place where it was to be performed; and again, at the Deu 27:1, there is a renewal of the instructions to Joshua, with special reference to minute particulars. It was a federal transaction. the covenant was now renewed between God and Israel upon their taking possession of the land of promise, that they might be encouraged in the conquest of it, and might know upon what terms they held it, and come under fresh obligations to obedience. Jos 8:33
as it is: Jos 8:34, Jos 8:35, Jos 1:8; Kg2 14:6, Kg2 22:8; Ch2 25:4, Ch2 35:12; Ezr 6:18; Neh 13:1; Mat 12:26
altar: Exo 20:24, Exo 20:25; Deu 27:5, Deu 27:6; Kg1 18:31, Kg1 18:32
and they offered: Exo 18:12, Exo 24:5; Deu 27:6, Deu 27:7
all Israel: Jos 23:2, Jos 24:1; Deu 27:12, Deu 27:13, Deu 29:10, Deu 29:11
priests: Jos 3:3, Jos 3:6, Jos 3:14, Jos 4:10, Jos 4:18, Jos 6:6; Deu 31:9, Deu 31:25; Ch1 15:11-15
stranger: Exo 12:49; Lev 24:22; Num 15:16, Num 15:29; Deu 31:12
Moses: Jos 8:30-32; Deu 11:29, Deu 27:12
he read: Deu 31:10-12; Neh 8:2, Neh 8:3, Neh 9:3, Neh 13:1
blessings: Lev. 26:1-46; Deu 27:14-26, 28:1-68, Deu 29:20, Deu 29:21, Deu 30:15-20
was not: Deu 4:2; Jer 26:2; Act 20:27
women: Deu 29:11, Deu 31:12; Ezr 10:1; Neh 8:2; Joe 2:16; Mar 10:14; Act 21:5
strangers: Jos 8:33
were: Heb. walked
conversant: The word conversant, from the Latin conversor, is here used in the classical sense of having intercourse with.