8:21a

When The Hebrew conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as When is used to give prominence to Joshua and his men and what they saw. You should translate the word with a connecting word that is most natural in your language. In some languages it may be most natural to omit them.

Joshua and all Israel saw that the men in ambush had captured the city: The phrase Joshua and all Israel refers to Joshua and the soldiers who were with him.

the men in ambush: The phrase the men in ambush refers to the men who were hiding behind Ai.

had captured the city: The clause had captured the city indicates that the soldiers who were in hiding had attacked the town and defeated Ai.

8:21b

and that smoke was rising from it: The clause that smoke was rising from it indicates that the town was burning. The smoke was the visible signal of this for them.

8:21c

they turned around: The clause they turned around indicates that Joshua and the soldiers with him stopped running away. They turned around to face the soldiers of Ai.

and struck down the men of Ai: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as struck is more literally “hit.” This is an idiom. It means that the Israelite soldiers attacked them.

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