Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joshua 8:20
And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and, behold, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that way: and the people that fled to the wilderness turned back upon the pursuers.
20. they had no power ] no hand. Comp. Jdg 18:10 (Heb.).
that fled to the wilderness ] See above, Jos 8:15, and below, Jos 8:24.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 20. They had no power to flee this way or that way] They were in utter consternation; they saw that the city was taken, they found themselves in the midst of their foes; that their wives, children, and property, had fallen a prey to their enemies, in consequence of which they were so utterly panic-struck as to be incapable of making any resistance.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
No power, or, place; for so the Hebrew word is oft used, as Num 2:17; Neh 7:4; Job 37:7; Psa 104:25; Isa 22:18; 56:5.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And when the men of Ai looked behind them,…. On some account or another, perhaps observing that the army of Israel made a full stop and was gazing at the city:
they saw, and, behold, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven; from whence they concluded an enemy was there, and had set fire to it:
and they had no power to flee this way or that way; for if they turned back to their city there was an enemy, how powerful they knew not, possessed of it, and whom they might expect would meet them; and if they pushed forward, there was the whole army of Israel against them, which now turned and faced them, showing no fear of them:
and the people that fled to the wilderness turned back upon the pursuers; the people of Israel, that fled by the way of the wilderness, Jos 8:15, turned about, and fell upon the men of Ai that pursued them.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Ai Exterminated, vs. 20-29
At some given point a soldier of Ai sensed tragedy behind him, the shadow of a smoke pall, or the crackling of flames, or the screams of the doomed people left in the city. He looked behind him, and they all looked.
There was no escape, for the vast army of Israelites surrounded them on all sides, as they turned back from their flight. The destroying ambush, having accomplished its assignment now poured through Ai’s gates to cut them off from retreat. When the doomed men in Israel’s trap were all slain, the Israelites turned back into the city and put it to the sword.
Twelve thousand men, women, and children were destroyed in another display of the judgment on the sin of the world. The strong arm of Joshua kept the spear of victory extended until all was accomplished. As the Lord had commanded, the spoil was apportioned to the men of Israel, and the city was burned. The king of Ai was taken alive and brought to Joshua, who hanged him on a tree. The body was taken down at sundown in keeping with the provision of Israel’s law (Deu 21:22-23).
The body was buried under a heap of stones, Israel’s third, in the burned gate of the city, and was still there at the time the Book of Joshua was written.
This witness heap bore testimony of how victory may be accomplished when men repent, put away their transgressions and return to the Lord, (Psa 32:1; Heb 9:15).
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
20. And they had no power to flee [Literally, there was not in them two hands to fly. Keil makes the word rendered two hands mean on both sides, that is, it was not in them to flee on either side, or in either direction. But this explanation hardly holds good in connection with the expression , in them. We prefer, therefore, the common version, which takes hands metaphorically for capability, power for action or flight.] They were appalled by the revelation of the plot, and stupified by sudden terror. Their wives, children, houses, and possessions were in the hands of a merciless foe, and they themselves were in a ravine completely shut in before and behind by Joshua’s army.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and, behold, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven, and they had no power (literally ‘hands’) to flee this way or that way, and the people who fled into the wilderness turned back on the pursuers.’
The word for ‘hands’ is the same as in verse 18. Joshua stretched out his hand, the city was given into his hand, while Ai had no hands like Joshua had. They had no special power to call on.
Suddenly the battle changed. The men of Ai soon became aware that their city had been sacked, for the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven (compare Jdg 20:40), and they looked back and saw it. The city was as one great burnt offering to YHWH. They had no help to look to, nowhere to hide, no city to fall back to, and when the ‘terrified’ people they were chasing suddenly turned round and did not appear terrified at all, it had suddenly all become a nightmare.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jos 8:20 And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and, behold, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that way: and the people that fled to the wilderness turned back upon the pursuers.
Ver. 20. And when the men of Ai looked behind them. ] They should have looked before . But now it was Sero inquit Nero. Sin casteth wicked men into straits inextricable, and filleth their souls with sorrows unmedicinable.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6.
power. Hebrew hands. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause). for the power put forth by them (App-6).
pursuers = the pursuing force (singular)
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the smoke: Gen 19:28, Isa 34:10, Rev 18:9, Rev 19:3
and they had: Job 11:20, Psa 48:5, Psa 48:6, Psa 76:5, Amo 2:14-16, Rev 6:15-17
power: Heb. hand
Reciprocal: Jdg 20:40 – looked Jdg 20:43 – enclosed 1Sa 13:6 – in a strait 2Ki 3:24 – smote the 2Ch 13:14 – looked back Dan 8:7 – and there was no Joe 2:30 – pillars 1Th 5:3 – then