35 Bible Verses about Ambush

Jehovah said to Joshua: Do not fear and do not be discouraged (troubled) (confused). Take all the people of war with you and go up to Ai. I have given into your hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land. Do to Ai and her king what you did to Jericho and her king. Take the spoil and the cattle for yourselves. Lay an ambush for the city behind it. Joshua and all the people of war went up against Ai. Joshua chose out thirty thousand mighty men of valor, and sent them away by night.read more.
He commanded them, saying: You shall lie in wait against the city, even behind the city. Do not go very far from the city and be ready. I, and all the people that are with me, will approach the city. When they come out against us we will run away from them. They will come out after us till we have drawn them from the city. They will say: 'They run from us.' Therefore we will run before them. Then you shall rise up from the ambush, and seize the city: for Jehovah your God will deliver it into your hand. When you have taken the city you will set the city on fire according to the commandment of Jehovah. See, I have commanded you. Joshua sent them forth. They went to lie in ambush, and stay between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai. Joshua lodged that night among the people. Joshua rose up early in the morning and mustered his men. He and the elders of Israel went in front of the people to Ai. And all the people, even the people of war that were with him went to the city. They set up camp on the north side of Ai. There was a valley between them and Ai. He took about five thousand men, and set them to lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city. They had the solders take up their positions those in camp to the north and the ambush to the west. Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley. When the king of Ai saw it, that they hasted and rose up early, and the men of the city went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at a time appointed headed for the plain. He did not know that there was an ambush against him behind the city. Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten in front of them and ran away to the wilderness. All the people in Ai were called together to chase after them. They chased after Joshua, and were drawn away from the city. There was no man left in Ai or Bethel. They all went after Israel: and they left the city open. Jehovah said to Joshua: Stretch out the spear (javelin) that is in your hand toward Ai. I will give it to your hand. Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand toward the city. The ambush began quickly. They ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand. They entered into the city, captured it and quickly set the city on fire. The men of Ai looked behind and saw the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven. They had no power to run this way or that way: and the people that fled to the wilderness turned back upon the pursuers. When Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city, and that the smoke of the city ascended they turned and killed the men of Ai. The men of the ambush came out of the city against them. They were caught in the middle with Israel on both sides. Israel killed them all. No one remained or escaped. They captured the king of Ai alive, and brought him to Joshua. When Israel finished slaying all the inhabitants of Ai in the field, in the wilderness where they chased them, and when they were all fallen on the edge of the sword, until they were consumed, that all the Israelites returned to Ai, and killed it with the edge of the sword.

He sent messengers to Abimelech at Arumah. They said: Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem. They are not going to let you enter into the city. You and your men should move by night and hide in the fields. Get up early in the morning at sunrise and attack the city. When he and the people who are with him come out against you do what you can against them.read more.
Abimelech and all his troops, in four companies, took up concealed positions at night against Shechem. Abimelech and his men saw Gaal come out and stand at the city gate. So they got up from their hiding places. Gaal saw them and said to Zebul: There are men coming down from the mountaintops! Zebul answered: They are not men. They are only shadows on the mountains. Gaal responded: Do you see? There are men coming down from the top of the mountain. Some are coming along the road from the big tree of Meonenim (big tree of magic)! Zebul said to him: Where is all your big talk now? You asked why we should serve this man Abimelech. These are the men you made fun of. You go fight them! Gaal led the men of Shechem out to fight Abimelech. Abimelech chased Gaal, and Gaal ran away. Many were wounded at the city gate.

The Israelites hid some soldiers around Gibeah. Then for the third straight day they marched against the army of Benjamin. They placed their soldiers in battle position facing Gibeah, as they had done before. The Benjaminites came out to fight and were drawn away from the city. Just as before they killed some Israelites in the open country, on the road to Bethel and on the road to Gibeah. They killed about thirty Israelites.read more.
The Benjaminites said: They are defeated just as before. But the Israelites planned to retreat and lead them away from the city onto the roads. The main army of the Israelites pulled back and regrouped at Baaltamar. The men surrounding Gibeah suddenly rushed out of hiding in the rocky country around the city. Ten thousand, specially chosen men, out of all Israel, attacked Gibeah, and the fighting was fierce. The Benjaminites did not realize they were about to be destroyed. Jehovah gave Israel victory over the army of Benjamin. The Israelites killed twenty five thousand one hundred of the enemy that day, The Benjaminites knew they were defeated. The main body of the Israelite army had retreated from the Benjaminites. This is because they relied on the men that were hiding around Gibeah. These men ran quickly toward Gibeah. They spread out and killed everyone there. The main Israelite army and the men in hiding had a prearranged signal. When they saw a big cloud of smoke going up from the town, the Israelites out on the battlefield were to turn around. By this time the Benjaminites had already killed the thirty Israelites. They told themselves: We have beaten them. The signal appeared. A cloud of smoke rose above the town. The Benjaminites looked behind them to see the whole city going up in flames. Then the Israelites turned around. The Benjaminites were thrown into panic because they could see that they were about to be destroyed. They retreated from the Israelites. They ran toward the open country and could not escape. They were caught between the main army and the men now coming out of the city. They were destroyed. The Israelites trapped the enemy. Without stopping they pursued them as far as a point east of Gibeah. They killed them as they advanced. Eighteen thousand of the best Benjaminite soldiers were killed. The others turned and ran to the open country to Rimmon Rock. Five thousand of them were killed on the roads. The Israelites continued to pursue the rest to Gidom, killing two thousand. In all, twenty-five thousand brave Benjaminites were killed that day. Six hundred men were able to escape to the open country to Rimmon Rock. They stayed there four months. The Israelites turned back against the rest of the Benjaminites and killed them all, men and women, children and animals as well. They burned every town in the area.

Once again David consulted Jehovah. Jehovah answered David: Do not attack them from here. Go around and get ready to attack them from the other side, near the balsam trees. Attack when you hear the sound of marching in the treetops. I will be marching ahead of you to defeat the Philistine army. David did what Jehovah commanded. He drove the Philistines back from Geba all the way to Gezer.

Joshua and all the people of war went up against Ai. Joshua chose out thirty thousand mighty men of valor, and sent them away by night. He commanded them, saying: You shall lie in wait against the city, even behind the city. Do not go very far from the city and be ready. I, and all the people that are with me, will approach the city. When they come out against us we will run away from them.read more.
They will come out after us till we have drawn them from the city. They will say: 'They run from us.' Therefore we will run before them. Then you shall rise up from the ambush, and seize the city: for Jehovah your God will deliver it into your hand. When you have taken the city you will set the city on fire according to the commandment of Jehovah. See, I have commanded you. Joshua sent them forth. They went to lie in ambush, and stay between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai. Joshua lodged that night among the people. Joshua rose up early in the morning and mustered his men. He and the elders of Israel went in front of the people to Ai. And all the people, even the people of war that were with him went to the city. They set up camp on the north side of Ai. There was a valley between them and Ai. He took about five thousand men, and set them to lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city. They had the solders take up their positions those in camp to the north and the ambush to the west. Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley. When the king of Ai saw it, that they hasted and rose up early, and the men of the city went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at a time appointed headed for the plain. He did not know that there was an ambush against him behind the city. Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten in front of them and ran away to the wilderness. All the people in Ai were called together to chase after them. They chased after Joshua, and were drawn away from the city. There was no man left in Ai or Bethel. They all went after Israel: and they left the city open.

And the men of Shechem set men in ambush on the top of the mountains. They robbed all who came along that way. This was reported to Abimelech.

Abner arrived in Hebron. Joab took him aside at the gate, as though he wanted to speak privately with him. There he stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner was murdered because he had killed Joab's brother Asahel.

The Philistines again attacked and overran the valley of Rephaim. Once again David consulted Jehovah. Jehovah answered David: Do not attack them from here. Go around and get ready to attack them from the other side, near the balsam trees. Attack when you hear the sound of marching in the treetops. I will be marching ahead of you to defeat the Philistine army.read more.
David did what Jehovah commanded. He drove the Philistines back from Geba all the way to Gezer.

They attack, they lurk, and they watch my steps. They have waited for my life.

Wicked men are found among my people. They lie in ambush like bird catchers. They set traps and catch men.

Do not go out into the field. Do not walk on the road. The enemy has a sword and terror is on every side.

The day after the murder of Gedaliah, before anyone knew about it, Eighty men arrived from Shechem, Shiloh, and Samaria. Their beards were shaved off, their clothes were torn, and cuts were on their bodies. They brought grain offerings and incense to Jehovah's Temple. Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, left Mizpah to meet them. He was crying as he went. When he met them, he said to them: Come to Gedaliah, son of Ahikam.read more.
When they came into the city, Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, and his men slaughtered them and threw them into a cistern.

If they say: Come with us. Let us lie in wait to kill someone. Let us ambush the innocent without cause.

If you did not intend to kill someone and I, Jehovah, let it happen anyway, you may run for safety to a place that I have set aside.

The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the mouth of the upright delivers them.

She also lies in wait as for a victim, and increases the transgressors among men.

Those who went after us were quicker than the eagles of the heaven. They drive us before them on the mountains. They wait secretly for us in the wasteland.

He is like a bear waiting for me, like a lion in secret places.

Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous. Do not destroy his resting place.

Hearing about the ambush, Paul's sister's son entered the barracks and reported to Paul.

Do to Ai and her king what you did to Jericho and her king. Take the spoil and the cattle for yourselves. Lay an ambush for the city behind it. Joshua and all the people of war went up against Ai. Joshua chose out thirty thousand mighty men of valor, and sent them away by night. He commanded them, saying: You shall lie in wait against the city, even behind the city. Do not go very far from the city and be ready.read more.
I, and all the people that are with me, will approach the city. When they come out against us we will run away from them. They will come out after us till we have drawn them from the city. They will say: 'They run from us.' Therefore we will run before them. Then you shall rise up from the ambush, and seize the city: for Jehovah your God will deliver it into your hand. When you have taken the city you will set the city on fire according to the commandment of Jehovah. See, I have commanded you. Joshua sent them forth. They went to lie in ambush, and stay between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai. Joshua lodged that night among the people.

He took about five thousand men, and set them to lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city. They had the solders take up their positions those in camp to the north and the ambush to the west. Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley. When the king of Ai saw it, that they hasted and rose up early, and the men of the city went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at a time appointed headed for the plain. He did not know that there was an ambush against him behind the city.read more.
Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten in front of them and ran away to the wilderness. All the people in Ai were called together to chase after them. They chased after Joshua, and were drawn away from the city. There was no man left in Ai or Bethel. They all went after Israel: and they left the city open. Jehovah said to Joshua: Stretch out the spear (javelin) that is in your hand toward Ai. I will give it to your hand. Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand toward the city. The ambush began quickly. They ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand. They entered into the city, captured it and quickly set the city on fire. The men of Ai looked behind and saw the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven. They had no power to run this way or that way: and the people that fled to the wilderness turned back upon the pursuers. When Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city, and that the smoke of the city ascended they turned and killed the men of Ai.

He divided his men into three groups. They hid in the fields, waiting. When he saw the people come out of the city, he came out of hiding to kill them.

The Israelites hid some soldiers around Gibeah. Then for the third straight day they marched against the army of Benjamin. They placed their soldiers in battle position facing Gibeah, as they had done before. The Benjaminites came out to fight and were drawn away from the city. Just as before they killed some Israelites in the open country, on the road to Bethel and on the road to Gibeah. They killed about thirty Israelites.read more.
The Benjaminites said: They are defeated just as before. But the Israelites planned to retreat and lead them away from the city onto the roads. The main army of the Israelites pulled back and regrouped at Baaltamar. The men surrounding Gibeah suddenly rushed out of hiding in the rocky country around the city. Ten thousand, specially chosen men, out of all Israel, attacked Gibeah, and the fighting was fierce. The Benjaminites did not realize they were about to be destroyed. Jehovah gave Israel victory over the army of Benjamin. The Israelites killed twenty five thousand one hundred of the enemy that day, The Benjaminites knew they were defeated. The main body of the Israelite army had retreated from the Benjaminites. This is because they relied on the men that were hiding around Gibeah. These men ran quickly toward Gibeah. They spread out and killed everyone there. The main Israelite army and the men in hiding had a prearranged signal. When they saw a big cloud of smoke going up from the town,

Then he and his men went to the city of Amalek. They waited in ambush in a dry riverbed.

They lie in ambush for me right here! Fierce men attack me, O Jehovah, but not because of any disobedience.

Give the signal to attack Babylon's walls. Strengthen the guard! Post the sentries! Place troops in ambush! Jehovah has done what he said he would do to the people of Babylon.

The people of Gaza discovered that Samson was there. They surrounded the place and waited for him all night long at the city gate. They were quiet all night, thinking: We will wait until daybreak and kill him.

She had some men waiting in another room, so she shouted: Samson! The Philistines are coming! But he snapped the bowstrings just as thread breaks when fire touches it. They still did not know the secret of his strength.

Delilah tied him with new ropes. Then she shouted: Samson! The Philistines are coming! The men were waiting in another room. However he snapped the ropes off his arms like thread.

All of you are plotting against me. No one informed me when my son entered into a loyalty pledge with Jesse's son. No one felt sorry for me. And no one informed me that my son has encouraged my servant David to ambush me, as he is doing now.

Saul asked him: Why did you and Jesse's son plot against me? You gave him bread and a sword. You even prayed to God that he could rise up against me and ambush me, as he is doing now.

Do not give in to them. There are more than forty men lying in wait for him. They are united with an oath that they will neither eat nor drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready and looking for a promise from you.

They desired favor against him that he would transfer him to Jerusalem. Then they would ambush him along the way and kill him.

They lie in wait for their own blood (murder). They set an ambush for their own lives.