Joshua 8:24-29
Ai ................. returned ... Ai <07725 05857> [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. (ver. 16.)
Joshua <03091> [Joshua.]
Joshua seems to have been not only the general but the standard-bearer of the army, (ver. 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.
holding <07725 03027> [drew not.]
cattle <0929> [the cattle.]
orders <06680> [he commanded.]
mound <08510> [an heap.]
day <03117> [unto this day.]
king <04428> [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.
sunset <08121> [as soon.]
large pile <01530 01419> [a great heap.]
