Joshua 7:3

3 After returning to Joshua they reported to him, "Don't send all the people, but send about 2,000 or 3,000^[a] men to attack Ai. Since the people of Ai are so few, don't wear out all our people there."

Joshua 7:3 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 7:3

And they returned unto Joshua, and said unto him, let not all
the people go up
After they had reconnoitred the place, they came back to their general, and gave it as their opinion, that there was no need for the whole army to go up against the city:

but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai;
such a number they judged were sufficient to take it:

[and] make not all the people to labour thither;
carrying their tents, bearing their armour, and going up hill:

for they [are but] few;
the inhabitants of Ai, men and women making but twelve thousand; ( Joshua 8:25 ) .

Joshua 7:3 In-Context

1 The Israelites, however, were unfaithful regarding the things set apart for destruction. Achan son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of what was set apart, and the Lord's anger burned against the Israelites.

2 Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, east of Bethel, and told them, "Go up and scout the land." So the men went up and scouted Ai.

3 After returning to Joshua they reported to him, "Don't send all the people, but send about 2,000 or 3,000 men to attack Ai. Since the people of Ai are so few, don't wear out all our people there."

4 So about 3,000 men went up there, but they fled from the men of Ai.

5 The men of Ai struck down about 36 of them and chased them from outside the gate to the quarries, striking them down on the descent. As a result, the people's hearts melted and became like water.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or send two or three military units of