Tanach
Yehoshua 8:1-17 יהושע ח׳:א׳-י״ז
Part of: Chapter 8
Reading: Hebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlyHebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlySimple English onlyFaithful translation onlySide by sideRashi
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה אֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אַל־תִּירָא וְאַל־תֵּחָת קַח עִמְּךָ אֵת כׇּל־עַם הַמִּלְחָמָה וְקוּם עֲלֵה הָעָי רְאֵה ׀ נָתַתִּי בְיָדְךָ אֶת־מֶלֶךְ הָעַי וְאֶת־עַמּוֹ וְאֶת־עִירוֹ וְאֶת־אַרְצֽוֹ׃
And the Lord said to Yehoshua, Fear not, nor be dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to ῾Ay: see I have given into thy hand the king of ῾Ay: and his people, and his city, and his land:
And the Lord said to Yehoshua, Fear not, nor be dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to ῾Ay: see I have given into thy hand the king of ῾Ay: and his people, and his city, and his land:
וְעָשִׂיתָ לָעַי וּלְמַלְכָּהּ כַּאֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתָ לִּֽירִיחוֹ וּלְמַלְכָּהּ רַק־שְׁלָלָהּ וּבְהֶמְתָּהּ תָּבֹזּוּ לָכֶם שִׂים־לְךָ אֹרֵב לָעִיר מֵאַחֲרֶֽיהָ׃
and thou shalt do to ῾Ay and her king as thou didst to Yeriĥo and her king: only its spoil and its cattle, shall you take for a prey to yourselves: lay thee an ambush for the city behind it.
and thou shalt do to ῾Ay and her king as thou didst to Yeriĥo and her king: only its spoil and its cattle, shall you take for a prey to yourselves: lay thee an ambush for the city behind it.
Rashi
וַיָּקׇם יְהוֹשֻׁעַ וְכׇל־עַם הַמִּלְחָמָה לַעֲלוֹת הָעָי וַיִּבְחַר יְהוֹשֻׁעַ שְׁלֹשִׁים אֶלֶף אִישׁ גִּבּוֹרֵי הַחַיִל וַיִּשְׁלָחֵם לָֽיְלָה׃
So Yehoshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against ῾Ay: and Yehoshua chose out thirty thousand mighty men of valour, and sent them away by night.
So Yehoshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against ῾Ay: and Yehoshua chose out thirty thousand mighty men of valour, and sent them away by night.
וַיְצַו אֹתָם לֵאמֹר רְאוּ אַתֶּם אֹרְבִים לָעִיר מֵאַחֲרֵי הָעִיר אַל־תַּרְחִיקוּ מִן־הָעִיר מְאֹד וִהְיִיתֶם כֻּלְּכֶם נְכֹנִֽים׃
And he commanded them, saying, Behold, you shall lie in wait against the city, behind the city: go not very far from the city, but be all of you ready:
And he commanded them, saying, Behold, you shall lie in wait against the city, behind the city: go not very far from the city, but be all of you ready:
וַאֲנִי וְכׇל־הָעָם אֲשֶׁר אִתִּי נִקְרַב אֶל־הָעִיר וְהָיָה כִּֽי־יֵצְאוּ לִקְרָאתֵנוּ כַּאֲשֶׁר בָּרִֽאשֹׁנָה וְנַסְנוּ לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃
and I and all the people that are with me, will approach the city: and it shall come to pass, when they come out against us, as at the first, that we will flee before them,
and I and all the people that are with me, will approach the city: and it shall come to pass, when they come out against us, as at the first, that we will flee before them,
וְיָצְאוּ אַחֲרֵינוּ עַד הַתִּיקֵנוּ אוֹתָם מִן־הָעִיר כִּי יֹֽאמְרוּ נָסִים לְפָנֵינוּ כַּאֲשֶׁר בָּרִֽאשֹׁנָה וְנַסְנוּ לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃
(for they will come out after us) till we have drawn them from the city; for they will say, They flee before us, as at the first: therefore we will flee before them.
(for they will come out after us) till we have drawn them from the city; for they will say, They flee before us, as at the first: therefore we will flee before them.
Rashi
התיקנו אותם. לשון תיק, שנוציאם מתיק העיר, דישפורי"ר בלעז ויש לפותרו לשון נתיקה, כמו (ירמיהו יב ג): התיקם כצאן לטבחה:
Until we have drawn them. הַתִּיקֵנוּ is an expression of תִּיק, a pocket, i.e., until we have drawn them from the pocket of the city.1The city provided them with protection, as a pocket protects its contents. Defaurer in old french. We may also explain it as an expression of נְתִּיקָה, drawing out similar to ‘Draw them out like sheep to the slaughter.’2Yirmiahu 12:3.
וְאַתֶּם תָּקֻמוּ מֵהָאוֹרֵב וְהוֹרַשְׁתֶּם אֶת־הָעִיר וּנְתָנָהּ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם בְּיֶדְכֶֽם׃
Then you shall rise up from the ambush, and take possession of the city: for the Lord your God will deliver it into your hand.
Then you shall rise up from the ambush, and take possession of the city: for the Lord your God will deliver it into your hand.
Rashi
והורשתם. ותתרכון:
And drive out.3This is translated according to the Targum who renders the word הוֹרַשְׁתֶם as תְתַרְכוּן which means to drive out.
וְהָיָה כְּתׇפְשְׂכֶם אֶת־הָעִיר תַּצִּיתוּ אֶת־הָעִיר בָּאֵשׁ כִּדְבַר יְהֹוָה תַּעֲשׂוּ רְאוּ צִוִּיתִי אֶתְכֶֽם׃
And it shall be, when you have taken the city, that you shall set the city on fire: according to the commandment of the Lord shall you do. See, I have commanded you.
And it shall be, when you have taken the city, that you shall set the city on fire: according to the commandment of the Lord shall you do. See, I have commanded you.
וַיִּשְׁלָחֵם יְהוֹשֻׁעַ וַיֵּֽלְכוּ אֶל־הַמַּאְרָב וַיֵּשְׁבוּ בֵּין בֵּֽית־אֵל וּבֵין הָעַי מִיָּם לָעָי וַיָּלֶן יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בַּלַּיְלָה הַהוּא בְּתוֹךְ הָעָֽם׃
Yehoshua therefore sent them forth: and they went to lie in ambush, and abode between Bet-el and ῾Ay, on the west side of ῾Ay: but Yehoshua lodged that night among the people.
Yehoshua therefore sent them forth: and they went to lie in ambush, and abode between Bet-el and ῾Ay, on the west side of ῾Ay: but Yehoshua lodged that night among the people.
Rashi
מים לעי. שהעי מקדם לבית אל, ובית אל מים לעי:
To the west of Ai. Ai was east of Beis-eil and Beis-eil was west of Ai.
וילן יהושע בתוך העם. להיות נכון בהשכמת הבקר:
And Yehoshua rested—in the midst of the people. To be ready early in the morning.
וַיַּשְׁכֵּם יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בַּבֹּקֶר וַיִּפְקֹד אֶת־הָעָם וַיַּעַל הוּא וְזִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לִפְנֵי הָעָם הָעָֽי׃
And Yehoshua rose up early in the morning, and numbered the people, and went up, he and the elders of Yisra᾽el, before the people to ῾Ay.
And Yehoshua rose up early in the morning, and numbered the people, and went up, he and the elders of Yisra᾽el, before the people to ῾Ay.
Rashi
ויעל הוא. כמו שאמר לו המקום, אם הוא עובר לפניהם עוברין, ואם לאו אין עוברין:
And he went up. He fulfilled that which God had said to him, “If he goes at their head, they will cross, and if not, they will not cross.”
וְכׇל־הָעָם הַמִּלְחָמָה אֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ עָלוּ וַֽיִּגְּשׁוּ וַיָּבֹאוּ נֶגֶד הָעִיר וַֽיַּחֲנוּ מִצְּפוֹן לָעַי וְהַגַּי בֵּינָו וּבֵין־הָעָֽי׃
And all the people of war that were with him, went up, and drew near, and came before the city, and pitched on the north side of ῾Ay: now there was a valley between them and ῾Ay.
And all the people of war that were with him, went up, and drew near, and came before the city, and pitched on the north side of ῾Ay: now there was a valley between them and ῾Ay.
וַיִּקַּח כַּחֲמֵשֶׁת אֲלָפִים אִישׁ וַיָּשֶׂם אוֹתָם אֹרֵב בֵּין בֵּֽית־אֵל וּבֵין הָעַי מִיָּם לָעִֽיר׃
And he took about five thousand men, and set them to lie in ambush between Bet-el and ῾Ay on the west side of the city.
And he took about five thousand men, and set them to lie in ambush between Bet-el and ῾Ay on the west side of the city.
Rashi
ויקח כחמשת אלפים איש. אורב אחר אורב, אחד קרוב לעיר מחבירו:
He took about five thousand men. One ambush contingent following the other each approaching nearer to the city than its fellow.4The question is, what was the purpose of this second ambush party? Some suggest that these five thousand men were not to enter the city. Their task was to attack the army of Ai from behind, as they were pursuing the main army of Bnei Yisroel. When Yehoshua and his army would turn and attack, the army of Ai would be caught between them.
וַיָּשִׂימוּ הָעָם אֶת־כׇּל־הַֽמַּחֲנֶה אֲשֶׁר מִצְּפוֹן לָעִיר וְאֶת־עֲקֵבוֹ מִיָּם לָעִיר וַיֵּלֶךְ יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בַּלַּיְלָה הַהוּא בְּתוֹךְ הָעֵֽמֶק׃
And when they had set the people, even all the encampment that was on the north of the city, and their ambush party on the west of the city, Yehoshua went that night into the midst of the valley.
And when they had set the people, even all the encampment that was on the north of the city, and their ambush party on the west of the city, Yehoshua went that night into the midst of the valley.
Rashi
וישימו העם. שימה זו לשון הזמנה סמוך לחומה להלחם, כמו שנאמר בבן הדד (מלכים א כ ל): שימו על העיר, וישימו:
The people positioned. This positioning expresses readiness to wage war near the [city] wall. This is similar to what is said regarding Ben-Hadad, in I Melachim 20:12, (who said to his servants:) “Position yourselves against the city and they positioned themselves.”
ואת עקבו. ואת ארבו, כמו (בראשית כז לו) ויעקבני:
And their ambush party their ambushers this word עַקֵבוֹ is similar to וַיעֲקְבֵנִי.5Bereishis 27:36. Eisov said regarding Yaakov, וַיַעְקְבֵנִי זֶה פַּעֲמַיִם “He has deceived me twice.” An ambush implies cunning and trickery.
וילך יהושע בלילה ההוא בתוך העמק. אמרו רבותינו (סנהדרין מד ב): שלן בעומקה של הלכה:
That night, Yehoshua walked through the valley Our Sages have said that he lodged in the depth of the law.6Our Sages interpreted the word עֵמֶק as an expression of depth, and they say he spent the night studying Torah. After all the preparations were made and orders given, Yehoshua had time to return to the study of Torah, which is the real protection in time of crisis. He remembered the rebuke of the angel on the night before the fall of Yericho.
וַיְהִי כִּרְאוֹת מֶלֶךְ־הָעַי וַֽיְמַהֲרוּ וַיַּשְׁכִּימוּ וַיֵּצְאוּ אַנְשֵֽׁי־הָעִיר לִקְרַֽאת־יִשְׂרָאֵל לַֽמִּלְחָמָה הוּא וְכׇל־עַמּוֹ לַמּוֹעֵד לִפְנֵי הָעֲרָבָה וְהוּא לֹא יָדַע כִּֽי־אֹרֵב לוֹ מֵאַחֲרֵי הָעִֽיר׃
And it came to pass, when the king of ῾Ay saw it, that they hastened and rose up early, and the men of the city went out against Yisra᾽el to battle, he and all his people, at a time appointed, before the plain; but he knew not that there were liers in ambush against him behind the city.
And it came to pass, when the king of ῾Ay saw it, that they hastened and rose up early, and the men of the city went out against Yisra᾽el to battle, he and all his people, at a time appointed, before the plain; but he knew not that there were liers in ambush against him behind the city.
Rashi
למועד. לזמן היום שנועצו יחד מאתמול, באותה שעה נצא, שהיו מנחשים ומעוננים:
At the appointed time. At the time of day they had astrologically predicted previously, saying “at that time we will go out,” for they were sorcerers and diviners.
וַיִּנָּגְעוּ יְהוֹשֻׁעַ וְכׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵל לִפְנֵיהֶם וַיָּנֻסוּ דֶּרֶךְ הַמִּדְבָּֽר׃
And Yehoshua and all Yisra᾽el made as if they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness.
And Yehoshua and all Yisra᾽el made as if they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness.
Rashi
וינגעו. לשון נגע (כתרגומו:) ואתברו, הראו עצמן כאלו הם נגפים לפניהם:
Pretended to be stricken. This is an expression of נֶגַע, plague, or beating. They gave the appearance of being beaten before them.
וַיִּזָּעֲקוּ כׇּל־הָעָם אֲשֶׁר (בעיר) [בָּעַי] לִרְדֹּף אַחֲרֵיהֶם וַֽיִּרְדְּפוּ אַֽחֲרֵי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ וַיִּנָּתְקוּ מִן־הָעִֽיר׃
And all the people that were in ῾Ay were called out to pursue after them: and they pursued after Yehoshua, and were drawn away from the city.
And all the people that were in ῾Ay were called out to pursue after them: and they pursued after Yehoshua, and were drawn away from the city.
וְלֹא־נִשְׁאַר אִישׁ בָּעַי וּבֵית אֵל אֲשֶׁר לֹא־יָצְאוּ אַחֲרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיַּעַזְבוּ אֶת־הָעִיר פְּתוּחָה וַֽיִּרְדְּפוּ אַחֲרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ {פ}
And there was not a man left in ῾Ay or Bet-el, that went not out after Yisra᾽el: and they left the city unguarded, and pursued after Yisra᾽el.
And there was not a man left in ῾Ay or Bet-el, that went not out after Yisra᾽el: and they left the city unguarded, and pursued after Yisra᾽el.
תבוזו לכם. ואל תחרימו השלל עוד:
Take for yourselves as booty. You shall no longer consecrate the spoils.