24-25 When it was all over, Israel had killed everyone in Ai, whether in the fields or in the wilderness where they had chased them. When the killing was complete, the Israelites returned to Ai and completed the devastation. The death toll that day came to twelve thousand men and women—everyone in Ai.

26-27 Joshua didn’t lower his outstretched javelin until the sacred destruction of Ai and all its people was completed. Israel did get to take the livestock and loot left in the city; God’s instructions to Joshua allowed for that.

Read full chapter

25 Twelve thousand men and women fell that day—all the people of Ai.(A) 26 For Joshua did not draw back the hand that held out his javelin(B) until he had destroyed[a](C) all who lived in Ai.(D) 27 But Israel did carry off for themselves the livestock and plunder of this city, as the Lord had instructed Joshua.(E)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 8:26 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them.