Joshua 8:20 “When the men of Ai turned and looked back, the smoke of the city was r…”

Joshua 8:20

When the men of Ai turned and looked back, the smoke of the city was rising into the sky. They could not escape in any direction, and the troops who had fled to the wilderness now turned against their pursuers.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

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.

World English Bible

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. The people who fled to the wilderness turned back on the pursuers.

American Standard Version

Geneva Bible 1599

And the men of Ai looked behinde them, and sawe it: for loe, the smoke of the citie ascended vp to heauen, and they had no power to flee this way or that way: for the people that fled to the wildernesse, turned backe vpon the pursuers.

Darby Translation

And the men of Ai turned and saw, and behold, the smoke of the city went up to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that way; and the people that fled to the wilderness turned upon the pursuers.

Young's Literal Translation

And the men of Ai look behind them, and see, and lo, the smoke of the city hath gone up unto the heavens, and there hath not been in them power to flee hither and thither — and the people who are fleeing to the wilderness have turned against the pursuer, —

Bible in Basic English

Then the men of Ai, looking back, saw the smoke of the town going up to heaven, and were unable to go this way or that: and the people who had gone in flight to the waste land were turned back on those who were coming after them.

.mt-body { max-height: none !important; -webkit-mask-image: none !important; mask-image: none !important; } .mt-bar { display: none !important; } .o-trans::after { display: block !important; }

Cross references

“the smoke”

Genesis 19:28 Isaiah 34:10 Revelation 18:9 Revelation 19:3

Genesis 19:28 · BSB

He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and all the land of the plain, and he saw the smoke rising from the land like smoke from a furnace.

Isaiah 34:10 · BSB

It will not be quenched—day or night. Its smoke will ascend forever. From generation to generation it will lie desolate; no one will ever again pass through it.

Revelation 18:9 · BSB

Then the kings of the earth who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her will weep and wail at the sight of the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her.

Revelation 19:3 · BSB

And a second time they called out: “Hallelujah! Her smoke rises forever and ever.”

“and they had”

Job 11:20 Psalm 76:5 Amos 2:14–16 Revelation 6:15–17 Psalm 48:5 Psalm 48:6

Job 11:20 · BSB

But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape will elude them; they will hope for their last breath.”

Psalm 76:5 · BSB

The valiant lie plundered; they sleep their last sleep. No men of might could lift a hand.

Amos 2:14–16 · BSB

Escape will fail the swift, the strong will not prevail by his strength, and the mighty will not save his life.

Revelation 6:15–17 · BSB

Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the commanders, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and free man hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains.

Psalm 48:5 · BSB

They saw and were astounded; they fled in terror.

Psalm 48:6 · BSB

Trembling seized them there, anguish like a woman in labor.

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

19and as soon as he did so, the men in ambush rose quickly from their position. They rushed forward, entered the city, captured it, and immediately set it on fire.

21When Joshua and all Israel saw that the men in ambush had captured the city and that smoke was rising from it, they turned around and struck down the men of Ai.

Read Joshua 8