Joshua 8:17

Or Bethel. These words are not in the LXX ; and they may possibly have been a marginal gloss, for the intervention of the people of Bethel in this battle is very unintelligible. See note on Joshua 7:2 . On the other hand, it is quite possible that the difficulty involved in their retention may have caused their omission from the LXX ; and it may perhaps be thought possible that, on the capture of Ai, the Bethelites returned with all speed to their city, and that Joshua postponed its capture in consequence of the formidable confederacy ( Joshua 9:1 , Joshua 9:2 ), which his success had called into existence, or, perhaps, by a desire to signalise at once the victory at Ai by the ceremony (verses 30-35) at Gerizim. We read in Joshua 12:16 that Bethel was taken. In 1:22 we read that it was not (see note on Joshua 12:16 ).