Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joshua 8:27

Only the cattle and the spoil of that city Israel took for a prey unto themselves, according unto the word of the LORD which he commanded Joshua.

27. which he commanded Joshua ] See Jos 8:2, and comp. Num 31:22-26.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Verse 27. Only the cattle and the spoil] In the case of Jericho these were all consigned to destruction, and therefore it was criminal to take any thing pertaining to the city, as we have already seen; but in the case before us the cattle and spoils were expressly given to the conquerors by the order of God. See Jos 8:2.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

Only the cattle, and the spoil of the city, Israel took for a prey unto themselves,…. Even all their substance, as besides their cattle, also their gold, silver, household goods, merchandise, &c.

according unto the word of the Lord which he commanded Joshua, Jos 8:2.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(27) The spoil of that city Israel took.The spoil of Ai was assigned to Israel, the spoil of Jericho had been claimed for Jehovah alone.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

27. A prey unto themselves Joshua’s army was now, like Sherman’s on his grand march to the sea, a moving column cut off from its base of supplies. Hence it must live upon spoils.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

‘ Only the cattle, and the spoil of the city, Israel took for a prey for themselves, in accordance with the word of YHWH which he commanded Joshua.’

In this case the spoils were to the victors. YHWH had received the firstfruits at Jericho. These belonged to His people. Note the emphasis on their doing what YHWH commanded. They had learned their lesson.

Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett

Jos 8:27 Only the cattle and the spoil of that city Israel took for a prey unto themselves, according unto the word of the LORD which he commanded Joshua.

Ver. 27. Only the cattle and the spoil. ] For encouragement of the soldiers: so at the sack of Constantinople, Mohammed, the great Turk, caused proclamation to be made through his camp that he would freely give all the spoil of the city for three days unto his soldiers, if they could win it, which also they soon did, and were so enriched therewith, that it is a proverb amongst them at this day, if any grow suddenly rich, to say, He hath been at the sacking of Constantinople. a

a Turk. Hist., 347.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)