Israel took for themselves only the cattle and plunder of that city, as the LORD had commanded Joshua.
Parallel translations
- WEB Israel took for themselves only the livestock and the goods of that city, according to Yahweh’s word which he commanded Joshua.
- KJV Only the cattle and the spoil of that city Israel took for a prey unto themselves, according unto the word of the LORD which he commanded Joshua.
- NKJV Only the livestock and the spoil of that city Israel took as booty for themselves, according to the word of the Lord which He had commanded Joshua.
- NASB Israel took only the cattle and the spoils of that city as plunder for themselves, in accordance with the word of the Lord which He had commanded Joshua.
- NLT Only the livestock and the treasures of the town were not destroyed, for the Israelites kept these as plunder for themselves, as the Lord had commanded Joshua.
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
Israel takes only the livestock and goods of Ai, as Yahweh had permitted. This time the spoil is lawfully theirs by God's word.
Overview
Unlike Jericho, the spoil of Ai is given to the people, and they take it in obedience to God's explicit allowance. The contrast with Achan's earlier theft is pointed: what he stole sinfully is now received as a lawful gift. The episode shows that God's blessings are enjoyed rightly when received on his terms and in obedience to his word.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Josh 8:2And 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.”
- Num 31:22Only the gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, and lead—
- Num 31:26“You and Eleazar the priest and the family heads of the congregation are to take a count of what was captured, both of man and beast.
- Josh 11:4So these kings came out with all their armies, a multitude as numerous as the sand on the seashore, along with a great number of horses and chariots.
- Ps 50:10for every beast of the forest is Mine—the cattle on a thousand hills.
- Matt 20:15Do I not have the right to do as I please with what is mine? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 8:27 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.