Joshua 8:2

Authorized King James Version

And thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou didst unto Jericho and her king: only the spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof, shall ye take for a prey unto yourselves: lay thee an ambush for the city behind it.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
עָשִׂ֤יתָ
And thou shalt do
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
#2
לָעַ֜י
to Ai
ai, aja or ajath, a place in palestine
#3
וּלְמַלְכָּ֔הּ
and her king
a king
#4
כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֨ר
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#5
עָשִׂ֤יתָ
And thou shalt do
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
#6
לִֽירִיחוֹ֙
unto Jericho
jericho or jerecho, a place in palestine
#7
וּלְמַלְכָּ֔הּ
and her king
a king
#8
רַק
properly, leanness, i.e., (figuratively) limitation; only adverbial, merely, or conjunctional, although
#9
שְׁלָלָ֥הּ
only the spoil
booty
#10
וּבְהֶמְתָּ֖הּ
thereof and the cattle
properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective)
#11
תָּבֹ֣זּוּ
thereof shall ye take for a prey
to plunder
#12
לָכֶ֑ם
H0
#13
שִׂים
unto yourselves lay
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
#14
לְךָ֥
H0
#15
אֹרֵ֛ב
thee an ambush
to lurk
#16
לָעִ֖יר
for the city
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
#17
מֵאַֽחֲרֶֽיהָ׃
behind
properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The historical context of the biblical period relevant to this book's composition provides crucial background for understanding this verse. The historical and cultural milieu of the biblical world informed the author's theological expression and the audience's understanding. The the cultural context of the biblical world would have shaped how the original audience understood divine revelation. Archaeological and historical evidence reveals Archaeological discoveries continue to illuminate the historical context of biblical texts.

Questions for Reflection

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