35 Bible Verses about Ambush

Most Relevant Verses

Joshua 8:1-24

And the LORD said unto Joshua, "Fear not, nor dread: but take all the men of war with thee, and up and get thee to Ai. Behold, I have given into thy hand, the king of Ai, and his people, his city and his land. And thou shalt do to Ai and her king, as thou didst unto Jericho and her king. Nevertheless the spoil and cattle thereof, ye shall take unto yourselves. But lay a watch unto the town on the backside thereof." And then Joshua arose and all the men of war, to go up unto Ai. And Joshua chose out thirty thousand men of war, and sent them by night.read more.
And he commanded them, saying, "See that ye lie await unto the town on the backside thereof. Go not very far from the city, and see that ye be all ready. And I and all the people that are with me, will approach unto the city. And when they come out against us, as at the first time, then will we flee before them. And they will come out after us, until we have plucked them away from the city. For they will say, 'They flee before us, as at the first time': for we will flee before them. Then shall ye rise up from lying await and destroy the city: For the LORD your God will deliver it into your hands. As soon, therefore, as ye have taken the city, see that ye set it on fire. According to the commandment of the LORD see that ye do: behold, I have charged you." And Joshua sent them forth, and they went to lie await, and lay between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai. But Joshua lodged that night among the people. And he rose up early in the morning and numbered the people and went up, both he and the elders of Israel before the people, unto Ai. And all the men of war that were with him, went up and drew nigh, and came before the city, and pitched on the north side of Ai, a valley being between them and Ai, and he took upon a five thousand men and put them to lie await, between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city. And he put the people, even all the host, on the north side of the city, and the lyers-await on the west. And Joshua went the same night into the midst of the valley. And when the king of Ai saw that they hasted and rose up early, then the people of the city went out against Israel, to battle, both the king and all his people, at a time appointed, even before the plain, and wist not that there were lyers-await on the backside of the city. And Joshua and Israel were put to the worse before them, and fled toward the wilderness. And all the people of the town cried to follow after them. And they followed after Joshua till they were drawn away from the city: So that there was not a man left in Ai, or in Bethel, that went not out after Israel. And they left the city open and followed after Israel. Then the LORD said unto Joshua, "Stretch out the spear that is in thine hand toward Ai, for I have given thee it." And Joshua stretched out the spear that was in his hand, toward the city. And the lyers-await rose quickly out of their places, and ran, as soon as Joshua had stretched out his hand, and they entered into the city, and took it, and hasted and set it on fire. And when the men of Ai looked back after them and saw, behold, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven. And they had no place to flee either this way or that, for the people that fled to the wilderness turned back again upon the followers. And when Joshua and all Israel saw that the lyers-await had taken the city and that the smoke of it ascended, they turned again and laid on the men of Ai. And the other issued out of the city against them. And so were they in the midst of Israel, these being on the one side of them, and the rest on the other. And they laid upon them, so that they let none either remain or escape. And the king of Ai they took alive and brought him to Joshua. And when Israel had made an end of slaying all the inhabiters of Ai in the fields and in the wilderness by which they chased them, and when they were all fallen on the edge of the sword, until they were wasted, then all Israel returned unto Ai and smote it with the edge of the sword.

Judges 9:31-40

and sent messengers unto Abimelech privily saying, "Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren be come to Shechem: and behold they set the city against thee. Now, therefore, up by night, both thou and all the people that is with thee, and lie in wait in the fields. And rise early in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, and come upon the city. And when he and the people that is with him come out against thee, do to him what thine hands shall be able."read more.
And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night. And they laid await to the city in four companies. And Gaal the son of Ebed went out and stood in the entering of the gate of the city. And Abimelech rose up and the folk that were with him, from lying await. And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, "Behold, there come people down from the top of the mountains." And Zebul said unto him, "The shadow of the hills seem men unto thee." And Gaal answered again and said, "See, there come folk down by the middle of the land and another company come along by the charmer's oak." Then said Zebul unto him, "Where is now thy mouth that said, 'What fellow is Abimelech, that we should serve him?' These are the people that thou so despisest. Go out now a fellowship and fight with them." And Gaal went out before the citizens of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech. And Abimelech chased him that he fled before him and many were overthrown and slain, even until they came unto the entering of the gate.

Judges 20:29-48

And Israel set layers await against Gibeah round about. And the children of Israel went against the children of Benjamin the third time, and put themselves in array against Gibeah, as twice before. Then came the children of Benjamin against the people, till they were drawn a great way from the city. And they began to smite of the people dead - as twice before, by two highways of which one goeth up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah through the field - upon a thirty men of Israel.read more.
For the children of Benjamin thought that the other had been beaten before them, as at the first time. But the children of Israel said, "Let us flee and pluck them away from the city, unto the highways." And then all the men of Israel rose up out of their standing, and put themselves in array at Baaltamar. And likewise the layers in wait of Israel came forth out of their places, even out of the meadows of Gibeah, and came before Gibeah: ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and there was sore battle. But the other knew not that evil was so nigh them. And the LORD plagued Benjamin before Israel, so that the children of Israel destroyed in Benjamin the same day twenty five thousand and a hundred men, that drew swords every one of them. It seemed the children of Benjamin, that the other had been put to the worse. For the men of Israel gave room to Benjamin, because they trusted unto the layers in wait which they had laid against Gibeah. And the layers in wait hasted and ran upon Gibeah, and went and smote all the city with the edge of the sword. And the appointment of the men of Israel with the layers in wait to run upon Benjamin with the sword, was when they should make the smoke rise up out of the city. And the men of Israel fled in the battle. And Benjamin began to smite dead of the children of Israel, about a thirty persons, for they supposed that the other had been put to the worse before them, as in the first battle. Then began to arise out of the city, a pillar of smoke. And the Benjamites looked back: and behold, the wasting of the whole city began to ascend up to heaven. When the men of Israel turned again, the men of Benjamin were abashed: for they saw that evil approached them. And they turned before the men of Israel into the way that leadeth to the wilderness, the other following them at the hard heels. And beside that they of the city destroyed them in the middle of them. And they compassed Benjamin about, and chased them to Menuah, and overran them before Gibeah on the east side. And there were slain of Benjamin eighteen thousand, and all men of might. And they turned and fled to the wilderness ward and unto the rock of pomegranates. And the other slew by the way of the rest of them, five thousand men, and sticked unto them until they came to Gidom, and slew two thousand more of them. So that all that were slain that same day of Benjamin were twenty five thousand men that drew swords, and all men of might. Only, six hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness, unto the rock of pomegranates and abode there four months. And then the men of Israel turned back again unto the children of Benjamin, and smote them with the edge of the sword in the cities, both man and beast and all that came to hand, and moreover set all the cities they could come by on fire.

2 Samuel 5:23-25

And David asked the LORD, and he said, "Go not. But compass them on the back side and come down upon them from the pear trees. And when thou hearest the noise of a thing going in the tops of the pear trees, then move. For then the LORD is gone out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines." And David did as the LORD commanded him, and smote the Philistines from Gibeah to Gezer.

Joshua 8:3-17

And then Joshua arose and all the men of war, to go up unto Ai. And Joshua chose out thirty thousand men of war, and sent them by night. And he commanded them, saying, "See that ye lie await unto the town on the backside thereof. Go not very far from the city, and see that ye be all ready. And I and all the people that are with me, will approach unto the city. And when they come out against us, as at the first time, then will we flee before them.read more.
And they will come out after us, until we have plucked them away from the city. For they will say, 'They flee before us, as at the first time': for we will flee before them. Then shall ye rise up from lying await and destroy the city: For the LORD your God will deliver it into your hands. As soon, therefore, as ye have taken the city, see that ye set it on fire. According to the commandment of the LORD see that ye do: behold, I have charged you." And Joshua sent them forth, and they went to lie await, and lay between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai. But Joshua lodged that night among the people. And he rose up early in the morning and numbered the people and went up, both he and the elders of Israel before the people, unto Ai. And all the men of war that were with him, went up and drew nigh, and came before the city, and pitched on the north side of Ai, a valley being between them and Ai, and he took upon a five thousand men and put them to lie await, between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city. And he put the people, even all the host, on the north side of the city, and the lyers-await on the west. And Joshua went the same night into the midst of the valley. And when the king of Ai saw that they hasted and rose up early, then the people of the city went out against Israel, to battle, both the king and all his people, at a time appointed, even before the plain, and wist not that there were lyers-await on the backside of the city. And Joshua and Israel were put to the worse before them, and fled toward the wilderness. And all the people of the town cried to follow after them. And they followed after Joshua till they were drawn away from the city: So that there was not a man left in Ai, or in Bethel, that went not out after Israel. And they left the city open and followed after Israel.

Judges 9:25

And the citizens of Shechem set men to lay await for him in the top of the mountains, which men robbed all that came along the way by them. And it was told Abimelech.

2 Samuel 5:22-25

And the Philistines came yet again and laid them in the valley Rephaim. And David asked the LORD, and he said, "Go not. But compass them on the back side and come down upon them from the pear trees. And when thou hearest the noise of a thing going in the tops of the pear trees, then move. For then the LORD is gone out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines."read more.
And David did as the LORD commanded him, and smote the Philistines from Gibeah to Gezer.

Psalm 56:6

They hold all together, and keep themselves close, and mark my steps, when they lay wait for my soul.

Jeremiah 5:26

For among my people are found wicked persons, that privily lay snares and wait for me, to take them and destroy them.

Jeremiah 6:25

No man go forth into the field, no man come upon the high street: for the sword and fear of the enemy shall be on every side!"

Jeremiah 41:4-7

The next day after that he had slain Gedaliah - the matter was yet unknown - there came certain men from Shechem, from Shiloh and Samaria, to the number of eighty, which had shaven their beards, rent their clothes, and were all heavy, bringing meat offerings, and incense in their hands, to offer it in the house of the LORD. And Ishmael the son of Nethaniah went forth of Mizphah weeping, to meet them. Now when he met them, he said, "Go your way to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam."read more.
And when they came in the midst of the city, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, with them that were sworn unto him, slew them: even at the midst of the pit.

Proverbs 1:11

if they entice thee, and say, "Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, and lurk privily for the innocent without a cause:

Exodus 21:13

If a man lay not await, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will point thee a place whither he shall flee.

Proverbs 12:6

The talking of the ungodly is how they may lay wait for blood; but the mouth of the righteous will deliver them.

Proverbs 23:28

She lurketh like a thief, and those that be not aware, she bringeth unto her.

Lamentations 4:19

{Kuf} Our persecutors are swifter than the Eagles of the air, they followed upon us over the mountains, and laid wait for us in the wilderness.

Lamentations 3:10

{Daleth} He layeth wait for me like a Bear, and as a lion in a hole.

Proverbs 24:15

Lay no privy wait wickedly upon the house of the righteous, and disquiet not his resting place.

Acts 23:16

When Paul's sister's son heard of their laying await, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.

Joshua 8:2-9

And thou shalt do to Ai and her king, as thou didst unto Jericho and her king. Nevertheless the spoil and cattle thereof, ye shall take unto yourselves. But lay a watch unto the town on the backside thereof." And then Joshua arose and all the men of war, to go up unto Ai. And Joshua chose out thirty thousand men of war, and sent them by night. And he commanded them, saying, "See that ye lie await unto the town on the backside thereof. Go not very far from the city, and see that ye be all ready.read more.
And I and all the people that are with me, will approach unto the city. And when they come out against us, as at the first time, then will we flee before them. And they will come out after us, until we have plucked them away from the city. For they will say, 'They flee before us, as at the first time': for we will flee before them. Then shall ye rise up from lying await and destroy the city: For the LORD your God will deliver it into your hands. As soon, therefore, as ye have taken the city, see that ye set it on fire. According to the commandment of the LORD see that ye do: behold, I have charged you." And Joshua sent them forth, and they went to lie await, and lay between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai. But Joshua lodged that night among the people.

Joshua 8:12-21

and he took upon a five thousand men and put them to lie await, between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city. And he put the people, even all the host, on the north side of the city, and the lyers-await on the west. And Joshua went the same night into the midst of the valley. And when the king of Ai saw that they hasted and rose up early, then the people of the city went out against Israel, to battle, both the king and all his people, at a time appointed, even before the plain, and wist not that there were lyers-await on the backside of the city.read more.
And Joshua and Israel were put to the worse before them, and fled toward the wilderness. And all the people of the town cried to follow after them. And they followed after Joshua till they were drawn away from the city: So that there was not a man left in Ai, or in Bethel, that went not out after Israel. And they left the city open and followed after Israel. Then the LORD said unto Joshua, "Stretch out the spear that is in thine hand toward Ai, for I have given thee it." And Joshua stretched out the spear that was in his hand, toward the city. And the lyers-await rose quickly out of their places, and ran, as soon as Joshua had stretched out his hand, and they entered into the city, and took it, and hasted and set it on fire. And when the men of Ai looked back after them and saw, behold, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven. And they had no place to flee either this way or that, for the people that fled to the wilderness turned back again upon the followers. And when Joshua and all Israel saw that the lyers-await had taken the city and that the smoke of it ascended, they turned again and laid on the men of Ai.

Judges 9:43

And he took his people and divided them into three companies and lay await in the fields. And when he saw that the people were come out of the city, he ran upon them and laid upon them.

Judges 20:29-38

And Israel set layers await against Gibeah round about. And the children of Israel went against the children of Benjamin the third time, and put themselves in array against Gibeah, as twice before. Then came the children of Benjamin against the people, till they were drawn a great way from the city. And they began to smite of the people dead - as twice before, by two highways of which one goeth up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah through the field - upon a thirty men of Israel.read more.
For the children of Benjamin thought that the other had been beaten before them, as at the first time. But the children of Israel said, "Let us flee and pluck them away from the city, unto the highways." And then all the men of Israel rose up out of their standing, and put themselves in array at Baaltamar. And likewise the layers in wait of Israel came forth out of their places, even out of the meadows of Gibeah, and came before Gibeah: ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and there was sore battle. But the other knew not that evil was so nigh them. And the LORD plagued Benjamin before Israel, so that the children of Israel destroyed in Benjamin the same day twenty five thousand and a hundred men, that drew swords every one of them. It seemed the children of Benjamin, that the other had been put to the worse. For the men of Israel gave room to Benjamin, because they trusted unto the layers in wait which they had laid against Gibeah. And the layers in wait hasted and ran upon Gibeah, and went and smote all the city with the edge of the sword. And the appointment of the men of Israel with the layers in wait to run upon Benjamin with the sword, was when they should make the smoke rise up out of the city.

1 Samuel 15:5

And Saul came unto a city of the Amalekites, and fought in a valley.

Psalm 59:3

For lo, they lie in waiting for my soul; the mighty men are gathered together against me, without any offense or fault of me, O LORD.

Jeremiah 51:12

Set up tokens upon the walls of Babylon, make your watch strong, set your watchmen in array, yea hold privy watches: and yet for all that shall the LORD go forth with the device, which he hath taken upon them that dwell in Babylon.

Judges 16:2

And it was told the Gazites, that Samson was come thither. And they went about and laid a wait for him all night in the gate of the city, but were still all the night, saying, "Tarry till the morning that it be day, and then let us kill him."

Judges 16:9

Notwithstanding, she had men lying in wait with her in the chamber. And she said unto him, "The Philistines be upon thee, Samson." And he brake the cords as a string of tow breaketh, when it feeleth fire. And so his strength was not known.

Judges 16:12

And Delilah took new ropes and bound him therewith, and said unto him, "The Philistines be upon thee, Samson." And there were layers of wait in the chamber. And he brake them from off his arms, as they had been but a thread.

1 Samuel 22:8

that ye have all conspired against me? So that there is none of you that openeth mine ear? Insomuch that my son hath made a bond with the son of Jesse, neither is there any of you that mourneth for me or showeth it in mine ear: because my son hath set up my servant to lie await against me, as it appeareth this day."

1 Samuel 22:13

Then said Saul to him, "Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, insomuch that thou hast given him victuals and a sword, and hast asked counsel of God for him that he should arise against me and lie await as it is come to pass this day?"

Acts 23:21

But follow not their minds: for there lie in wait for him of them, more than forty men, which have bound themselves with a vow, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him. And now are they ready, and look for thy promise."

Acts 25:3

and desired favour against him that he would send for him to Jerusalem, and laid wait for him in the way to kill him.

Proverbs 1:18

Yea, they themselves lay wait one for another's blood, and one of them would slay another.

From Thematic Bible


Ambush » Instances of » At gibeah

Judges 20:29-41

And Israel set layers await against Gibeah round about. And the children of Israel went against the children of Benjamin the third time, and put themselves in array against Gibeah, as twice before. Then came the children of Benjamin against the people, till they were drawn a great way from the city. And they began to smite of the people dead - as twice before, by two highways of which one goeth up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah through the field - upon a thirty men of Israel. read more.
For the children of Benjamin thought that the other had been beaten before them, as at the first time. But the children of Israel said, "Let us flee and pluck them away from the city, unto the highways." And then all the men of Israel rose up out of their standing, and put themselves in array at Baaltamar. And likewise the layers in wait of Israel came forth out of their places, even out of the meadows of Gibeah, and came before Gibeah: ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and there was sore battle. But the other knew not that evil was so nigh them. And the LORD plagued Benjamin before Israel, so that the children of Israel destroyed in Benjamin the same day twenty five thousand and a hundred men, that drew swords every one of them. It seemed the children of Benjamin, that the other had been put to the worse. For the men of Israel gave room to Benjamin, because they trusted unto the layers in wait which they had laid against Gibeah. And the layers in wait hasted and ran upon Gibeah, and went and smote all the city with the edge of the sword. And the appointment of the men of Israel with the layers in wait to run upon Benjamin with the sword, was when they should make the smoke rise up out of the city. And the men of Israel fled in the battle. And Benjamin began to smite dead of the children of Israel, about a thirty persons, for they supposed that the other had been put to the worse before them, as in the first battle. Then began to arise out of the city, a pillar of smoke. And the Benjamites looked back: and behold, the wasting of the whole city began to ascend up to heaven. When the men of Israel turned again, the men of Benjamin were abashed: for they saw that evil approached them.

Ambush » Instances of » At shechem

Judges 9:25

And the citizens of Shechem set men to lay await for him in the top of the mountains, which men robbed all that came along the way by them. And it was told Abimelech.

Judges 9:34

And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night. And they laid await to the city in four companies.

Ambush » Instances of » At ai

Joshua 8:2-22

And thou shalt do to Ai and her king, as thou didst unto Jericho and her king. Nevertheless the spoil and cattle thereof, ye shall take unto yourselves. But lay a watch unto the town on the backside thereof." And then Joshua arose and all the men of war, to go up unto Ai. And Joshua chose out thirty thousand men of war, and sent them by night. And he commanded them, saying, "See that ye lie await unto the town on the backside thereof. Go not very far from the city, and see that ye be all ready. read more.
And I and all the people that are with me, will approach unto the city. And when they come out against us, as at the first time, then will we flee before them. And they will come out after us, until we have plucked them away from the city. For they will say, 'They flee before us, as at the first time': for we will flee before them. Then shall ye rise up from lying await and destroy the city: For the LORD your God will deliver it into your hands. As soon, therefore, as ye have taken the city, see that ye set it on fire. According to the commandment of the LORD see that ye do: behold, I have charged you." And Joshua sent them forth, and they went to lie await, and lay between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai. But Joshua lodged that night among the people. And he rose up early in the morning and numbered the people and went up, both he and the elders of Israel before the people, unto Ai. And all the men of war that were with him, went up and drew nigh, and came before the city, and pitched on the north side of Ai, a valley being between them and Ai, and he took upon a five thousand men and put them to lie await, between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city. And he put the people, even all the host, on the north side of the city, and the lyers-await on the west. And Joshua went the same night into the midst of the valley. And when the king of Ai saw that they hasted and rose up early, then the people of the city went out against Israel, to battle, both the king and all his people, at a time appointed, even before the plain, and wist not that there were lyers-await on the backside of the city. And Joshua and Israel were put to the worse before them, and fled toward the wilderness. And all the people of the town cried to follow after them. And they followed after Joshua till they were drawn away from the city: So that there was not a man left in Ai, or in Bethel, that went not out after Israel. And they left the city open and followed after Israel. Then the LORD said unto Joshua, "Stretch out the spear that is in thine hand toward Ai, for I have given thee it." And Joshua stretched out the spear that was in his hand, toward the city. And the lyers-await rose quickly out of their places, and ran, as soon as Joshua had stretched out his hand, and they entered into the city, and took it, and hasted and set it on fire. And when the men of Ai looked back after them and saw, behold, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven. And they had no place to flee either this way or that, for the people that fled to the wilderness turned back again upon the followers. And when Joshua and all Israel saw that the lyers-await had taken the city and that the smoke of it ascended, they turned again and laid on the men of Ai. And the other issued out of the city against them. And so were they in the midst of Israel, these being on the one side of them, and the rest on the other. And they laid upon them, so that they let none either remain or escape.

Ambush » Instances of » Near zemaraim

2 Chronicles 13:13

But for all that, Jeroboam sent men privily above to come behind upon them: and so they were before Judah, and the layers in wait were behind them.

Ambush » Instances of » By jehoshaphat

2 Chronicles 20:22

And what time they began to laud and praise, then the LORD set layers await against the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir,

Ambush » Figurative

Jeremiah 51:12

Set up tokens upon the walls of Babylon, make your watch strong, set your watchmen in array, yea hold privy watches: and yet for all that shall the LORD go forth with the device, which he hath taken upon them that dwell in Babylon.

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Theasaurus: Ambush