John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 5. And I and all the people that [are] with me will approach unto the city , etc.] That is, Joshua with the main body of the army would march up to the city the next morning, in order to draw out the inhabitants of it to fight them: and it shall come to pass, when they come out against us, as at the first ; as they had done before, when the three thousand were sent against them, ( Joshua 7:4,5); that we will flee before them ; as the three thousand did, which would animate them to pursue them with the greater eagerness, and to a distance from their city.
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 ואני589 וכל3605 העם5971 אשׁר834 אתי854 נקרב7126 אל413 העיר5892 והיה1961 כי3588 יצאו3318 לקראתנו7125 כאשׁר834 בראשׁנה7223 ונסנו5127 לפניהם׃6440
