Ambush

How Nave’s arranged it

• INSTANCES OF
• At AiJoshua 8:2–22
• At ShechemJudges 9:25Judges 9:34
• At GibeahJudges 20:29–41
• Near Zemaraim2 Chronicles 13:13
• By Jehoshaphat2 Chronicles 20:22
• See Armies
• FIGURATIVEJeremiah 51:12

The passages, in Bible order (7)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 7 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Joshua 8:2–22

   And you shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king, except that you may carry off their plunder and livestock for yourselves. Set up an ambush behind the city.”

   ›Commentary on Joshua 8:2–221 voice

   “And thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou didst to Jericho and her king,.... Burn the one and slay the other: only the spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof, shall ye take for a prey unto yourselves; which they were not allowed to do at Jericho: lay thee an ambush for the city behind it; at the west side of it: some have called in question the lawfulness of the ambush, but, as this was appointed by the Lord, there is no room for it.

   Everything gathered on Joshua 8:2–22→

   Verse page →Original language →

2. Judges 9:25

   The leaders of Shechem set up an ambush against Abimelech on the hilltops, and they robbed all who passed by them on the road. So this was reported to Abimelech.

   ›Commentary on Judges 9:252 voices

   “And the men of Shechem set liers in wait for him in the top of the mountains,....

   “The men of Shechem set liers in wait - It pleased God to punish this bad man by the very persons who had contributed to his iniquitous elevation. So God often makes the instruments of men’s sins the means of their punishment. It is likely that although Abimelech had his chief residence at Shechem, yet he frequently went to Ophrah, the city of his father; his claim to which there was none to oppose, as he had slain all his brethren.

   Everything gathered on Judges 9:25→

   Verse page →Original language →

3. Judges 9:34

   So Abimelech and all his troops set out by night and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.

   ›Commentary on Judges 9:341 voice

   “And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night,.... According to the advice of Zebul: and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies; he divided his army into four parts, which he placed on the four sides of the city, at some distance from it, to act as they should have opportunity, to find ways and means of getting into it on either quarter.

   Everything gathered on Judges 9:34→

   Verse page →Original language →

4. Judges 20:29–41

   So Israel set up an ambush around Gibeah.

   ›Commentary on Judges 20:29–412 voices

   “Begging the Lord's peace, they returned more boldly to war, and they to whom prayer had given courage and who had entertained much hope were now able to do what they planned. On a pretext of withdrawing their front lines, setting ambushes at night in the rear of the city, where a segment of the enemy was located, they followed as some retired and thus were provided with an opportunity for invading the unprotected city. Fires were quickly set and flared up while raging flames and waves of heat revealed the sight of the taken city.

   “And Israel set liers in wait round about Gibeah. For though they were assured of success and victory, yet they thought proper to make use of means: and though their numbers were very great, they had recourse to art and stratagem, and set an ambush in divers places, much in like manner as Israel did for the men of Ai; the two cases being pretty much similar; this ambush was set in the night, as Josephus says (s), (s) Ut supra, (Antiqu. l. 5. c. 2.) sect. 11.

   Everything gathered on Judges 20:29–41→

   Verse page →Original language →

5. 2 Chronicles 13:13

   Now Jeroboam had sent troops around to ambush from the rear, so that while he was in front of Judah, the ambush was behind them.

   ›Commentary on 2 Chronicles 13:132 voices

   “But Jeroboam caused an ambushment to come about behind them,.... While Abijah was making his oration, he detached a party from his army, which got about, and lay in ambush, behind the army of Abijah: so they were before Judah; Jeroboam and the greater part of his army: and the ambushment was behind them; which Jeroboam had sent thither.

   “But Jeroboam caused an ambushment - While Abijah was thus employed in reproving them, Jeroboam divided his army privately, and sent a part to take Abijah in the rear; and this must have proved fatal to the Jews, had not the Lord interposed.

   Everything gathered on 2 Chronicles 13:13→

   Verse page →Original language →

6. 2 Chronicles 20:22

   The moment they began their shouts and praises, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who had come against Judah, and they were defeated.

   ›Commentary on 2 Chronicles 20:222 voices

   “The Lord set ambushments - “The Word of the Lord placed snares among the children of Ammon and Moab; and the inhabitants of the mountain of Gibla, who came to fight with Judah; and they were broken to pieces:” so the Targum.

   “And when they began to sing and to praise,....

   Everything gathered on 2 Chronicles 20:22→

   Verse page →Original language →

7. Jeremiah 51:12

   Raise a banner against the walls of Babylon; post the guard; station the watchmen; prepare the ambush. For the LORD has both devised and accomplished what He spoke against the people of Babylon.

   ›Commentary on Jeremiah 51:122 voices

   “Set up the standard upon the walls of Babylon,....

   “Upon the walls of Babylon - Or, “against the walls.” The King James Version takes the word ironically, as a summons to Babylon to prepare for her defense; others take it as a summons to the army to make the attack.

   Everything gathered on Jeremiah 51:12→

   Verse page →Original language →