For Joshua did not draw back his hand, with which he stretched out the spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.
Parallel translations
- WEB For Joshua didn’t draw back his hand, with which he stretched out the javelin, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.
- KJV For Joshua drew not his hand back, wherewith he stretched out the spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.
- BSB Joshua did not draw back the hand that held his battle lance until he had devoted to destruction all who lived in Ai.
- NASB For Joshua did not withdraw his hand with which he reached out with the sword until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.
- NLT For Joshua kept holding out his spear until everyone who had lived in Ai was completely destroyed.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Joshua keeps his javelin outstretched until Ai is utterly destroyed. The sign of God-given victory is held to its complete fulfillment.
Overview
Joshua's sustained gesture, recalling Moses' uplifted hands at Rephidim, marks the battle as wholly the Lord's from start to finish. The destruction is carried out completely, fulfilling the herem command without compromise. The image of the leader's steadfast hand pictures the perseverance God grants for the full accomplishment of his purposes.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
- Exod 17:11–12When Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed. When he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
- Josh 8:18Yahweh said to Joshua, “Stretch out the javelin that is in your hand toward Ai, for I will give it into your hand.” Joshua stretched out the javelin that was in his hand toward the city.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Joshua — the same name as Jesus, 'the LORD saves' — leads God's people into their inheritance, a shadow of the greater Joshua who brings us into the true rest and the promised land that remains.
How Joshua 8:26 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.