Joshua 8:6 - They will come out after us, until we have drawn them away from the city; for they will say, ‘They flee before us, like the first time.’ So we will flee before them,
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What does "Joshua 8:6" mean?
This verse is a key part of Joshua's deceptive strategy to conquer the city of Ai. Let's break it down:
"They will come out after us, until we have drawn them away from the city..." This explains the planned outcome. Joshua and a small group of soldiers would pretend to be retreating in defeat, luring the soldiers of Ai out of their fortified city to pursue them.
"...for they will say, ‘They flee before us, like the first time.’" This explains the psychology of the plan. The soldiers of Ai had previously defeated the Israelites in an earlier, poorly planned attack (Joshua 7). They would likely believe the Israelites were weak and easily routed, falling for the trap. They would be overconfident and eager to repeat their victory.
"So we will flee before them..." This is the action the Israelites are instructed to take. They must run away from Ai, reinforcing the illusion of defeat and continuing to draw the enemy forces further away from their city.
In summary, the verse describes a calculated deception. Joshua's forces will feign a retreat, playing on the enemy's past success and overconfidence, to lure them into a vulnerable position away from their fortified city. This sets the stage for the main Israelite force, which is hidden in ambush, to capture the now undefended city of Ai. The deception is crucial for the success of the overall military strategy.
Joshua 8:6 - They will come out after us, until we have drawn them away from the city; for they will say, ‘They flee before us, like the first time.’ So we will flee before them,
What does "Joshua 8:6" mean?
This verse is a key part of Joshua's deceptive strategy to conquer the city of Ai. Let's break it down:
"They will come out after us, until we have drawn them away from the city..." This explains the planned outcome. Joshua and a small group of soldiers would pretend to be retreating in defeat, luring the soldiers of Ai out of their fortified city to pursue them.
"...for they will say, ‘They flee before us, like the first time.’" This explains the psychology of the plan. The soldiers of Ai had previously defeated the Israelites in an earlier, poorly planned attack (Joshua 7). They would likely believe the Israelites were weak and easily routed, falling for the trap. They would be overconfident and eager to repeat their victory.
"So we will flee before them..." This is the action the Israelites are instructed to take. They must run away from Ai, reinforcing the illusion of defeat and continuing to draw the enemy forces further away from their city.
In summary, the verse describes a calculated deception. Joshua's forces will feign a retreat, playing on the enemy's past success and overconfidence, to lure them into a vulnerable position away from their fortified city. This sets the stage for the main Israelite force, which is hidden in ambush, to capture the now undefended city of Ai. The deception is crucial for the success of the overall military strategy.