Joshua 8:8

8 As soon as you seize the city, set it on fire. Act according to the LORD's word. Indeed, I have given you an order!"

Joshua 8:8 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 8:8

And it shall be, when ye have taken the city
Entered it and become masters of it:

[that] ye shall set the city on fire;
not the whole city, only some outlying houses of it, to make a smoke which might be seen both by Israel and the men of Ai, for different purposes; for the spoil of the city was first to be taken before it was utterly burnt with fire:

according to the commandment of the Lord shall ye do;
plunder the city, destroy the inhabitants of it, and then burn it:

see I have commanded you;
delivered the command of the Lord unto them, and therefore were left without excuse, and could not plead ignorance; besides, he was their general, and he expected his orders to be obeyed, as they ought to have been.

Joshua 8:8 In-Context

6 They will come out after us until we have drawn them away from the city. They will think, They are fleeing from us as before. So we will flee from them.

7 But you will rise up from the ambush and take over the city. The LORD your God will give it into your power.

8 As soon as you seize the city, set it on fire. Act according to the LORD's word. Indeed, I have given you an order!"

9 Joshua sent them off, and they went to set the ambush. They stayed between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai. Joshua spent that night among the people.

10 Joshua got up early in the morning and mustered the people. Then he and the elders of Israel went up in front of the people to Ai.