The Meaning of Joshua 8:2 Explained

Joshua 8:2

KJV: 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.

YLT: and thou hast done to Ai and to her king as thou hast done to Jericho and to her king; only, its spoil and its cattle ye spoil for yourselves; set for thee an ambush for the city at its rear.'

Darby: And thou shalt do to Ai and to its king as thou didst to Jericho and to its king; only, the spoil thereof and the cattle thereof shall ye take as prey for yourselves. Set an ambush against the city behind it.

ASV: 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: set thee an ambush for the city behind it.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Joshua 8:2 Mean?

Context Summary

Joshua 8:1-17 - Ai Again Attacked
Now that the evil was put away, the people were assured of victory. "I have given," etc. But the assurance of faith is not inconsistent with the call for action: "Arise, go up." Though he was thus secure of victory, Joshua adopted such measures as his soldier-training suggested. Notice the place which our preparations should occupy. Not to shut God out, but to make the pathway along which His help may travel.
The restrictions as to the spoil which had been in force and which had led to Achan's undoing were now removed. God often tests us before allowing us to enjoy. Certain injunctions or prohibitions may be given to prove us; but are removed when our lesson is learned, Deuteronomy 8:2.
Up the long, desolate pass Israel marched. There they could see Achan's tent, and there the scenes of their recent defeat. Their hearts were chastened. In all humility and faith they marched forward, and they were not ashamed, Joel 2:26. [source]

Chapter Summary: Joshua 8

1  God encourages Joshua
3  The plan whereby Ai was taken
29  The king thereof is hanged
30  Joshua builds an altar
32  writes the law on stones
33  and pronounces the blessings and curses

What do the individual words in Joshua 8:2 mean?

And you shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king only its spoil and its cattle you shall take as booty for yourselves Lay to you an ambush for the city behind it
וְעָשִׂ֨יתָ לָעַ֜י וּלְמַלְכָּ֗הּ כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשִׂ֤יתָ לִֽירִיחוֹ֙ וּלְמַלְכָּ֔הּ רַק־ שְׁלָלָ֥הּ וּבְהֶמְתָּ֖הּ תָּבֹ֣זּוּ לָכֶ֑ם שִׂים־ לְךָ֥ אֹרֵ֛ב לָעִ֖יר מֵאַחֲרֶֽיהָ

וְעָשִׂ֨יתָ  And  you  shall  do 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
לָעַ֜י  to  Ai 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: עַי 
Sense: a city lying east of Bethel and beside Bethaven near Jericho and the 2nd city taken on the invasion of Canaan.
וּלְמַלְכָּ֗הּ  and  its  king 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person feminine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
עָשִׂ֤יתָ  you  did 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
לִֽירִיחוֹ֙  to  Jericho 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יְרִחֹו 
Sense: a city 5 miles (8 km) west of the Jordan and 7 miles (.
וּלְמַלְכָּ֔הּ  and  its  king 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person feminine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
רַק־  only 
Parse: Adverb
Root: רַק  
Sense: only, altogether, surely.
שְׁלָלָ֥הּ  its  spoil 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person feminine singular
Root: שָׁלָל  
Sense: prey, plunder, spoil, booty.
וּבְהֶמְתָּ֖הּ  and  its  cattle 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person feminine singular
Root: בְּהֵמָה  
Sense: beast, cattle, animal.
תָּבֹ֣זּוּ  you  shall  take  as  booty 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: בָּזַז  
Sense: to spoil, plunder, prey upon, seize.
לָכֶ֑ם  for  yourselves 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine plural
שִׂים־  Lay 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
לְךָ֥  to  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
אֹרֵ֛ב  an  ambush 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: אָרַב  
Sense: to lie in wait, ambush, lurk.
לָעִ֖יר  for  the  city 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
מֵאַחֲרֶֽיהָ  behind  it 
Parse: Preposition-m, third person feminine singular
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).