8:12a

Now Joshua had taken about five thousand men: This clause indicates that Joshua gave orders to about five thousand soldiers.

In verse 8:3 it says that thirty thousand men were part of the ambush. In this verse it says there were five thousand men. The commentaries do not suggest any good way to reconcile these different numbers. It is recommended that you translate them literally.

had taken: There are two ways to interpret the meaning of the verb had taken.

(1) The form of the verb indicates the next event in the story. For example:

He took five thousand men (NET Bible)

(NET Bible, Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version, Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures, Good News Translation, New Living Translation (2004), King James Version)

(2) The form of the verb indicates an event that has already happened. For example:

Joshua had taken about five thousand men (New International Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Contemporary English Version, God’s Word)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This is the interpretation followed by many English versions and by many commentaries.

8:12b

and set up an ambush: The clause set up an ambush indicates that Joshua told them to hide and wait to attack Ai.

between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city: Bethel was three kilometers west of Ai. The soldiers hid themselves Bethel and Ai.

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