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Joshua 7:3

in Joshua 7

On returning to Joshua, they reported, “There is no need to send all the people; two or three thousand men are enough to go up and attack Ai. Since the people of Ai are so few, you need not wear out all our people there.”

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; make not all the people to toil thither; for they are but few.

KJV

And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few.

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This verse in Joshua 7

Commentary

8 notes on this verse

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

Let not all the people go up, . . . for they are but few--As the population of Ai amounted to twelve thousand (Jos 8:25), it was a considerable town; though in the hasty and distant reconnoitre made by the spies, it probably appeared small in comparison to Jericho; and this may have been the reason for their proposing so small a detachment to capture it.

This site's exposition

sent men from Jericho to

on Joshua 7:2-3

Jericho fell by a plan, while Ai is scouted first and the force sized by the claim that “the people of Ai are so few”. Barnes works the town’s strength back from the twelve thousand of 8:25, so the spies’ arithmetic was sound, and left out the reason Jericho fell.

This site's exposition

you need not wear out all our people there

The spies' last reason is the labour of the march. Henry sets it against Jericho, where the whole army walked thirteen circuits, and reads the wish to spare effort as a bad sign. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown suppose Ai looked small from a distance beside Jericho.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

And they returned unto Joshua, and said unto him, let not all the people go up,....

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

Whereas when the town was to be taken, though God by his own power would throw down the walls, yet they must all labour thither and labour there too, in walking round it. It did not bode well at all that God's Israel began to think much of their labour, and contrived how to spare their pains. It is required that we work out our salvation, though it is God that works in us.

The Nineteenth Century3 voices

I HAVE taken two texts from two successive chapters of the book of Joshua. The first is from Joshua the seventh, at the third verse. The spies who were sent to Ai returned to Joshua and said to him, "Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai." This policy led to a disastrous defeat and our other text gives us the Lord's command concerning the new attack.
I HAVE taken two texts from two successive chapters of the book of Joshua. The first is from Joshua the seventh, at the third verse. The spies who were sent to Ai returned to Joshua and said to him, "Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai." This policy led to a disastrous defeat and our other text gives us the Lord's command concerning the new attack. You will find it in the eighth of Joshua and the first verse—"The Lord said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be dismayed: take all the people of war with you, and arise, go up to Ai; see, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land." The two texts may be condensed into—first, the advice of the spies, to employ only a part of the people in the assault upon Ai—"Let not all the people go up." And, secondly, the command of God to let every fighting man go forth to the war—"Take all the people of war with you." Brethren, like Israel, we are called to war and we have a greater than Joshua at our head, in whose name we conquer! There is an inheritance which as yet has been held by the adversary and in the name of God we have to drive him out. We are likely to experience difficulties very similar to those which were met with by the tribes and I doubt not that their history, (is it not written for our learning?), will prove exceedingly interesting to us if we have a mind to consider it. We shall meet with the same defeats as they did if we fall into the same sins. And we shall win like victories if we are obedient to the commands which God has given us, which are very similar to those addressed to Israel of old. As in a glass we see ourselves in the 12 tribes, from the first day even until now, and in the texts before us there is a lesson for us, which may God, by His Grace, enable us to learn.
The total population of Ai was about twelve thousand Jos 8:25. It could therefore hardly muster three thousand warriors.

The words behind it

28 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • וַיָּשֻׁ֣בוּand they returned

    vaiyashuvuH7725 →1056 times

  • אֶל־to

    ʾel-H413 →5510 times

  • יְהוֹשֻׁ֗עַJoshua

    yehoshua'H3091 →218 times

  • וַיֹּאמְר֣וּand they said

    vaiyomeruH559 →5305 times

  • אֵלָיו֮to him

    ʾelavH413 →5510 times

  • אַל־may not

    ʾal-H408 →724 times

  • יַ֣עַלit go up

    yaalH5927 →890 times

  • כָּל־all

    kol-H3605 →5413 times

  • הָעָם֒the people

    haamH5971 →1873 times

  • כְּאַלְפַּ֣יִםabout two thousand

    kealpayimH505 →505 times

  • אִ֗ישׁman

    ʾishH376 →1663 times

  • א֚וֹor

    ʾoH176 →

  • כִּשְׁלֹ֣שֶׁתabout three

    kishloshetH7969 →432 times

  • אֲלָפִ֣יםthousand<s>

    ʾalafimH505 →505 times

  • אִ֔ישׁman

    ʾishH376 →1663 times

  • יַעֲל֖וּlet them go up

    yaaluH5927 →890 times

  • וְיַכּ֣וּand they may attack

    veyakuH5221 →499 times

  • אֶת־<obj.>

    ʾet-H853 →10935 times

  • הָעָ֑י<the> Ai

    haaiH5857 →40 times

  • אַל־may not

    ʾal-H408 →724 times

  • תְּיַגַּע־you make go wearily

    teyaga'-H3021 →

  • שָׁ֙מָּה֙there towards

    shamahH8033 →834 times

  • אֶת־<obj.>

    ʾet-H853 →10935 times

  • כָּל־all

    kol-H3605 →5413 times

  • הָעָ֔םthe people

    haamH5971 →1873 times

  • כִּ֥יfor

    kiH3588 →4482 times

  • מְעַ֖ט[are] few

    meatH4592 →

  • הֵֽמָּה׃they

    hemahH1992 →553 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

7 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Hebrews 6:11–12We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure.4 worksHebrews 4:11Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience.3 works2 Peter 1:5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge;3 worksProverbs 21:25The craving of the slacker kills him because his hands refuse to work.3 worksLuke 13:24“Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.3 works2 Peter 1:10Therefore, brothers, strive to make your calling and election sure. For if you practice these things you will never stumble,3 works
The other 1 cross-references, with their words ▾
Proverbs 13:4The slacker craves yet has nothing, but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied.3 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    2 Peter 1:5

    For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge;

    it leads to

    • Philippians 4:8

      Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.

    • Hebrews 6:11

      We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • Proverbs 4:23

      Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.

    • 2 Peter 3:18

      But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

    • 2 Peter 1:2–3

      Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

  • Through

    Luke 13:24

    “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.

    it leads to

    • Matthew 7:13–14

      Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.

    • 2 Peter 1:10

      Therefore, brothers, strive to make your calling and election sure. For if you practice these things you will never stumble,

  • Through

    Hebrews 4:11

    Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience.

    it leads to

    • Matthew 11:28–30

      Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Where this verse is studied

About Joshua

Achan Is Stoned to Death — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
Achan Is Stoned to Death — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
Joshua: the study guide →Read Joshua 7 →

This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 1358: “All the People at Work for Jesus” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in Joshua 7 →