Yehoshua 7:3

3 And they returned to Yehoshua, and said unto him, Let not Kol HaAm go up; but let about two or three thousand Ish go up and attack Ai; and weary not kol HaAm there; for they are but few.

Yehoshua 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 ) .

Yehoshua 7:3 In-Context

1 But the Bnei Yisroel broke [covenant] faith in regard to the Cherem; for Achan ben Carmi ben Zavdi ben Zerach of the tribe of Yehudah, took of the Cherem (that which was devoted to destruction); and the Af Hashem was kindled against the Bnei Yisroel.

2 And Yehoshua sent anashim from Yericho to Ai, which is near Beit-Aven, on the east of Beit-El, speaking unto them, saying, Go up and spy out HaAretz. And the anashim went up and spied out Ai.

3 And they returned to Yehoshua, and said unto him, Let not Kol HaAm go up; but let about two or three thousand Ish go up and attack Ai; and weary not kol HaAm there; for they are but few.

4 So there went up there of HaAm about three thousand Ish; and they fled before the anashim of Ai.

5 And the anashim of Ai struck down of them about thirty and six ish; for they chased them from before the sha’ar even unto Shevarim, and struck them down on the descent; therefore the levav HaAm melted, and became like mayim.