Joshua 7:4

4 ascenderunt ergo tria milia pugnatores qui statim terga vertentes

Joshua 7:4 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 7:4

So there went up thither of the people about three thousand
men
Joshua detached from the army the largest number proposed, that there might be strength enough to take the place; and those he sent under proper officers to Ai, who went up to the very gate of the city, as appears from ( Joshua 7:5 ) :

and they fled before the men of Ai;
for upon their appearing at the gate of their city, they came out with all their forces against them, and as soon as they did, the children of Israel durst not face them, but without engaging with them fled at once: God having forsaken them, their courage failed, the dread of their enemies falling on them.

Joshua 7:4 In-Context

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

6 Iosue vero scidit vestimenta sua et cecidit pronus in terram coram arca Domini usque ad vesperum tam ipse quam omnes senes Israhel miseruntque pulverem super capita sua