Joshua 7:3

3 They returned to Yehoshua, and said to him, Don't let all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and strike `Ai; don't make all the people to toil there; for they are but few.

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 But the children of Yisra'el committed a trespass in the devoted thing; for `Akhan, the son of Karmi, the son of Zavdi, the son of Zerach, of the tribe of Yehudah, took of the devoted thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Yisra'el.

2 Yehoshua sent men from Yericho to `Ai, which is beside Beit-Aven, on the east side of Beit-El, and spoke to them, saying, Go up and spy out the land. The men went up and spied out `Ai.

3 They returned to Yehoshua, and said to him, Don't let all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and strike `Ai; don't make all the people to toil there; for they are but few.

4 So there went up there of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of `Ai.

5 The men of `Ai struck of them about thirty-six men; and they chased them [from] before the gate even to Shevarim, and struck them at the descent; and the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.