John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 3. So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against Ai , etc.] As the Lord had commanded him: and Joshua chose out thirty thousand mighty men of valour ; out of all the men of war; these were a select company, picked men, not the whole army, as some have thought, for he was ordered to take all the people of war, as he did: and sent them away by night ; from the main army, that they might pass the city and get behind it undiscovered, for they were sent for an ambush; and of these some were to take the city, and be left in it to burn it, and some to smite the men of Ai, as Abarbinel notes.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 3-22 - Observe Joshua's conduct and prudence. Those that would maintain their spiritual conflicts must not love their ease. Probably he went into the valley alone, to pray to God for a blessing, and he did not seek in vain. He never drew back till the work was done. Those that have stretched out their hands against their spiritual enemies, must neve draw them back.
Original Hebrew ויקם6965 יהושׁע3091 וכל3605 עם5971 המלחמה4421 לעלות5927 העי5857 ויבחר977 יהושׁע3091 שׁלשׁים7970 אלף505 אישׁ376 גבורי1368 החיל2428 וישׁלחם7971 לילה׃3915
