Joshua 7:3

3 et reversi dixerunt ei non ascendat omnis populus sed duo vel tria milia virorum pergant et deleant civitatem quare omnis populus frustra vexatur contra hostes paucissimos

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 filii autem Israhel praevaricati sunt mandatum et usurpaverunt de anathemate nam Achan filius Charmi filii Zabdi filii Zare de tribu Iuda tulit aliquid de anathemate iratusque est Dominus contra filios Israhel

2 cumque mitteret Iosue de Hiericho viros contra Ahi quae est iuxta Bethaven ad orientalem plagam oppidi Bethel dixit eis ascendite et explorate terram qui praecepta conplentes exploraverunt Ahi

3 et reversi dixerunt ei non ascendat omnis populus sed duo vel tria milia virorum pergant et deleant civitatem quare omnis populus frustra vexatur contra hostes paucissimos

4 ascenderunt ergo tria milia pugnatores qui statim terga vertentes

5 percussi sunt a viris urbis Ahi et corruerunt ex eis triginta et sex homines persecutique sunt eos adversarii de porta usque Sabarim et ceciderunt per prona fugientes pertimuitque cor populi et instar aquae liquefactum est