Joshua 8:23
New International Version
But they took the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua.

New Living Translation
Only the king of Ai was taken alive and brought to Joshua.

English Standard Version
But the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him near to Joshua.

Berean Standard Bible
But they took the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua.

Berean Literal Bible
And the king of Ai they took alive, and they brought him to Joshua.

King James Bible
And the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.

New King James Version
But the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.

New American Standard Bible
But they captured the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua.

NASB 1995
But they took alive the king of Ai and brought him to Joshua.

NASB 1977
But they took alive the king of Ai and brought him to Joshua.

Legacy Standard Bible
But they seized the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua.

Amplified Bible
But they took the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua.

Berean Annotated Bible
But they took the king of Ai (heap of ruins) alive and brought him to Joshua (YHWH saves).

Christian Standard Bible
but they captured the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
but they captured the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua.

American Standard Version
And the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.

English Revised Version
And the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But they captured the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua.

Good News Translation
except the king of Ai. He was captured and taken to Joshua.

International Standard Version
But the king of Ai was taken alive and brought to Joshua.

NET Bible
But they captured the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua.

New Heart English Bible
They captured the king of Ai alive, and brought him to Joshua.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
But they took the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua.

World English Bible
They captured the king of Ai alive, and brought him to Joshua.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and they have caught the king of Ai alive, and bring him near to Joshua.

Berean Literal Bible
And the king of Ai they took alive, and they brought him to Joshua.

Young's Literal Translation
and the king of Ai they caught alive, and bring him near unto Joshua.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the king of Ai they seized, living, and they will bring him to Joshua.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And they took the king of the city of Hai alive, and brought him to Josue.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Also, they apprehended the king of the city of Ai, alive, and they brought him before Joshua.

New American Bible
except the king, whom they took alive and brought to Joshua.

New Revised Standard Version
But the king of Ai was taken alive and brought to Joshua.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And they took the king of Ai alive, and brought him to Joshua.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they seized the King of Ai alive and they brought him to Yeshua
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they took the king of Gai alive, and brought him to Joshua.

Additional Translations ...



Context
The Conquest of Ai
22Meanwhile, those in the ambush came out of the city against them, and the men of Ai were trapped between the Israelite forces on both sides. So Israel struck them down until no survivor or fugitive remained. 23But they took the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua. 24When Israel had finished killing all the men of Ai who had pursued them into the field and wilderness, and when every last one of them had fallen by the sword, all the Israelites returned to Ai and put it to the sword as well.…

Cross References
But they took the king of Ai alive

1 Samuel 15:8-9
He captured Agag king of Amalek alive, but devoted all the others to destruction with the sword. / Saul and his troops spared Agag, along with the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs, and the best of everything else. They were unwilling to devote them to destruction, but they devoted to destruction all that was despised and worthless.

1 Kings 20:18
“If they have marched out in peace,” he said, “take them alive. Even if they have marched out for war, take them alive.”

Jeremiah 39:5
But the army of the Chaldeans pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. They seized him and brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he pronounced judgment on him.
and brought him to Joshua.

1 Samuel 15:32-33
Then Samuel said, “Bring me Agag king of the Amalekites.” Agag came to him cheerfully, for he thought, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.” / But Samuel declared: “As your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless among women.” And Samuel hacked Agag to pieces before the LORD at Gilgal.

2 Kings 25:6-7
The Chaldeans seized the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah, where they pronounced judgment on him. / And they slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes. Then they put out his eyes, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon.

Jeremiah 52:9-11
The Chaldeans seized the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he pronounced judgment on Zedekiah. / There at Riblah the king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and he also killed all the officials of Judah. / Then he put out Zedekiah’s eyes, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon, where he kept him in custody until his dying day.
Deuteronomy 7:2
and when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you to defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. Make no treaty with them and show them no mercy.

Deuteronomy 20:16-18
However, in the cities of the nations that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, you must not leave alive anything that breathes. / For you must devote them to complete destruction—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—as the LORD your God has commanded you, / so that they cannot teach you to do all the detestable things they do for their gods, and so cause you to sin against the LORD your God.

Joshua 6:21
With the edge of the sword they devoted to destruction everything in the city—man and woman, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys.

Joshua 10:1-2
Now Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had captured Ai and devoted it to destruction—doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king—and that the people of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were living near them. / So Adoni-zedek and his people were greatly alarmed, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities; it was larger than Ai, and all its men were mighty.

1 Samuel 15:3
Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction all that belongs to them. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”

2 Samuel 12:31
David brought out the people who were there and put them to work with saws, iron picks, and axes, and he made them work at the brick kilns. He did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all his troops returned to Jerusalem.

1 Kings 9:21
their descendants who remained in the land, those whom the Israelites were unable to devote to destruction—Solomon conscripted these people to be forced laborers, as they are to this day.

2 Kings 17:18
So the LORD was very angry with Israel, and He removed them from His presence. Only the tribe of Judah remained,

2 Chronicles 20:23
The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction. And when they had finished off the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.

Psalm 21:8-9
Your hand will apprehend all Your enemies; Your right hand will seize those who hate You. / You will place them in a fiery furnace at the time of Your appearing. In His wrath the LORD will engulf them, and the fire will consume them.


Treasury of Scripture

And the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.

Joshua 8:29
And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until eventide: and as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his carcase down from the tree, and cast it at the entering of the gate of the city, and raise thereon a great heap of stones, that remaineth unto this day.

Joshua 10:17
And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings are found hid in a cave at Makkedah.

1 Samuel 15:8
And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.

Jump to Previous
Ai Alive Captured Caught Joshua Prisoner
Jump to Next
Ai Alive Captured Caught Joshua Prisoner
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












But they took the king of Ai alive

Ai’s king was captured during Israel’s complete defeat of the city. His capture showed that Ai’s military resistance had been broken and that its ruler was subject to Israel’s authority. Located near Bethel, Ai held importance in the central hill country, and its fall opened the way for Israel’s advance through Canaan.

1Sa 15:8-9 He captured Agag king of Amalek alive, but devoted…
1Ki 20:18 “If they have marched out in peace,” he said, “take them…”…
Jer 39:5 But the army of the Chaldeans pursued them…

and brought him to Joshua.

The king was brought before Joshua, who carried out the judgment God had commanded against Ai. As Israel’s appointed leader, Joshua acted under God’s direction, and the king’s surrender marked the defeat of a city that had opposed Israel’s entrance into the land.

1Sa 15:32-33 Then Samuel said, “Bring me Agag king of the Amalekites.”…
2Ki 25:6-7 The Chaldeans seized the king and brought him up…
Jer 52:9-11 The Chaldeans seized the king and brought him up…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Joshua
The leader of the Israelites, successor to Moses, tasked with leading the people into the Promised Land. He is a central figure in the conquest of Canaan.

2. King of Ai
The ruler of the city of Ai, which was a Canaanite city. His capture signifies the defeat of Ai and the success of the Israelites' strategy.

3. Ai
A city in Canaan that the Israelites targeted after their initial defeat. Its eventual capture was part of the broader conquest of the Promised Land.

4. Israelites
The people of God, descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who are in the process of taking possession of the land promised to them by God.

5. The Battle of Ai
A significant event where the Israelites, under Joshua's leadership, successfully capture the city of Ai after a strategic ambush.
Teaching Points
Obedience to God’s Commands
The capture of Ai after the initial failure underscores the importance of following God's instructions precisely. Disobedience leads to defeat, while obedience brings victory.

God’s Sovereignty in Battle
The Israelites' victory at Ai demonstrates that success in spiritual battles comes from reliance on God's guidance and power.

Repentance and Restoration
After the sin of Achan and the initial defeat, the Israelites' repentance leads to restoration and victory, showing the power of turning back to God.

Strategic Planning and Faith
Joshua's strategic ambush at Ai teaches the balance between human planning and divine guidance. Faith does not negate the need for wise action.

Leadership and Accountability
Joshua's role in leading the Israelites and holding them accountable reflects the importance of godly leadership in achieving God's purposes.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Joshua 8:23?

2. How does Joshua 8:23 demonstrate God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises?

3. What can we learn about leadership from Joshua's actions in Joshua 8:23?

4. How does the capture of Ai's king connect to God's justice in Scripture?

5. How can we apply Joshua's obedience in Joshua 8:23 to our daily lives?

6. What does Joshua 8:23 teach about God's sovereignty in battles we face?

7. Why was the king of Ai captured alive in Joshua 8:23?

8. What does Joshua 8:23 reveal about God's justice and mercy?

9. How does Joshua 8:23 fit into the broader narrative of Israel's conquest?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Joshua 8?


Joshua 8:23 records a precise, literal fulfillment of God’s promise to hand over Ai’s king.

• The verse showcases collective obedience, the subjection of earthly rulers to divine authority, and proper submission to God-appointed leadership.

• In one short line, Scripture reminds us that victory, justice, and order flow from the Lord and are handled His way, through His chosen servants, for His glory.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But
וְאֶת־ (wə·’eṯ-)
Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

they took
תָּ֣פְשׂוּ (tā·p̄ə·śū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 8610: To manipulate, seize, chiefly to capture, wield, to overlay, to use unwarrantably

the king
מֶ֥לֶךְ (me·leḵ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4428: A king

of Ai
הָעַ֖י (hā·‘ay)
Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 5857: Ai -- a Canaanite city

alive
חָ֑י (ḥāy)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life

and brought
וַיַּקְרִ֥בוּ (way·yaq·ri·ḇū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7126: To come near, approach

him to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Joshua.
יְהוֹשֻֽׁעַ׃ (yə·hō·wō·šu·a‘)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3091: Joshua -- 'the LORD is salvation', Moses' successor, also the name of a number of Israelites


Additonal Resources
Joshua 8:23 Blue Letter Bible
Joshua 8:23 Bible Gateway
Joshua 8:23 Bible.com

Joshua 8:23 NIV
Joshua 8:23 NLT
Joshua 8:23 ESV
Joshua 8:23 NASB
Joshua 8:23 KJV

Joshua 8:23 Study Bible
Joshua 8:23 Biblia Paralela
Joshua 8:23 Chinese Bible
Joshua 8:23 French Bible
Joshua 8:23 Catholic Bible

OT History: Joshua 8:23 They captured the king of Ai alive (Josh. Jos)

Joshua 8:22
Top of Page
Top of Page