Josué 8

Josué 8

Utley - YHWH renews His encouragement and assurances from Joshua 1:9+. Blaikie - It is most interesting to mark how the Bible is studded with "fear nots," from Genesis to Revelation; from that early word to Abraham - ’’Fear not, I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward" - to that most comforting assurance to the beloved disciple, ’’Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore. Amen; and have the keys of hades and of death." If only God’s children could hear Him uttering that one word, from how much anxiety and misery would it set them free! (The Capture of Ai) Take all the people of war with you and arise, go up to Ai; see, There are 4 commands from the LORD and He reverses the former strategy of taking only 3000. Utley - “Take all the people of war with you” The phrase “all the people of war” (cf. Joshua 8:3; 10:7; 11:7, 18, 19, 20), can refer to less than the total number. Compare Joshua 1:14–15 with Joshua 3:12–13; for the same type of example, also see Josh 8:16 as compared to Josh 8:19. I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land - God's voice had been silent prior to the first attack on Ai. But now again just as before the battle of Jericho, God gives the promise in the past tense (see Josh 6:1+), indicating all Israel had to do was obey Him and the victory was theirs for the taking! Stephen Grant - The account of the battle of Ai is the first and most detailed account of a battle in the book of Joshua. The conquest of Jericho was accomplished by direct intervention from the Lord and required no military strategy; at Ai the means were different but the help and presence of the Lord was equally essential. It was more difficult to take Ai at the second attempt than it would have been without the trespass of the people at Jericho. This is the cost of failure, since a road littered with diversions is a harder road to negotiate. There are some difficulties with the numbers of men (Josh 8:3, 12) that are mentioned and the chronology of events in this chapter. This has been the subject of much debate amongst commentators. (ED: I FIND THE VARIOUS COMMENTARIES VERY DIFFICULT TO FOLLOW REGARDING THE NUMBER OF MEN AND EVEN THE NUMBER OF AMBUSHES). (What the Bible Teaches - Joshua) Irving Jensen - Restoration is simply returning. When fellowship with God is broken by sin, restoration of that fellowship comes by returning to the place of separation, confessing the sin, and renewing the walk with God from there. In the case of the Israelites, Achan’s sin, though committed at Jericho, took its toll at Ai, since Jericho fell before the sin. So the place of renewed walk would be at Ai. Thus God’s instructions to Joshua were “Go up to Ai.” It was a journey of about fifteen miles from Gilgal, an ascent of 3,200 feet, and the journey would recall all the intimidating pictures of the recent flight from Ai. But Ai was the place for Israel to regain her momentum. In fact, God promised to restore the pre-Ai momentum to Israel by assuring her of victory as at Jericho Alan Redpath - May the Holy Spirit write it with power on your hearts: lost ground in Christian living is very hard to recover. This is the essential background on which this chapter is based. The people of God experienced at Ai the difficulty of recovering lost ground, and what happened immediately afterward was to be expected. No sooner had they slipped up and been beaten, and recovered ground, than there was written on their minds the principles by which they might possess all that God had for them in the land of Canaan. Here was the secret of insuring that the same disaster might not happen again. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary - Verses 1-2. When we have faithfully put away sin, that accursed thing which separates between us and God, then, and not till then, we may look to hear from God to our comfort; and God's directing us how to go on in our Christian work and warfare, is a good evidence of his being reconciled to us. God encouraged Joshua to proceed. At Ai the spoil was not to be destroyed as at Jericho, therefore there was no danger of the people's committing such a trespass. Achan, who caught at forbidden spoil, lost that, and life, and all; but the rest of the people, who kept themselves from the accursed thing, were quickly rewarded for their obedience. The way to have the comfort of what God allows us, is, to keep from what he forbids us. No man shall lose by self-denial. Alan Carr - It is interesting that the Lord called them to return to the place of their greatest defeat. God knew that they needed to overcome the defeat at Ai before they could move on in the conquest of Canaan. Folks, it’s the same for you and me this morning. How many times have we lost the battle to the flesh? How many times have we been defeated by this old sinful nature’s lust for the forbidden? How many times have we fallen and wonder if we will ever get back to where we were before. I think the Lord has a word for that this morning! Notice what He told Joshua, “Fear not!” I think that is the Lord’s word to us this morning! To those who have fallen and have lost a battle to the flesh, God says, “Fear not! I am giving you the victory!” I think it is a blessing to know that I do not have to live in defeat as a Christian! I think it is a blessing to know that I am no longer a slave to sin, the flesh and the devil, Rom. 6:14! I am thankful that God has promised the victory in this area to His children—1 Cor. 15:57.) I will remind you once again that the Lord did not save your soul to leave you defeated and beaten by the flesh. He saved you to walk in the victory that He can give to those who will walk in His ways and not in their own ways or in the ways of the world.) (Joshua 8:1-35 How To Ambush Your Ai) GEORGE BUSH Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 8 1. Fear not, neither be thou dismayed. The sin of Achan and its consequences had probably weighed deeply on the spirits of Joshua, grieving and discouraging him, so as to render this renewed exhortation peculiarly seasonable at this time. When we have faithfully put away the sin that separated between God and us, we may confidently expect the light of his countenance to be restored to us, and that he will animate us with such encouragements as shall banish the fear of our most formidable enemies. Take all the people of war with thee. This can hardly be understood of the whole number of men of war in the congregation, which amounted to upwards of six hundred thousand. It is more probable that by ‘all the people of war’ is to be understood the thirty thousand men mentioned Joshua 8:3, the choicest part, the flower of the host, those who were most experienced in warlike affairs. The main body of the soldiery remained in the camp at Gilgal. I have given. I have purposed to give. The event is certain, that they shall be delivered into your power. And his land. That is, the territory immediately adjoining the city, and under the jurisdiction of the king. Alan Carr applies the teaching on Ai - Before we move into these verses this morning, I want to tell you that Ai, in the Bible, is a type of the flesh. The word “Ai” means “a heap of ruins.” That is a good way to describe this flesh in which we live. The first mention of this city is found in the book of Genesis in connection with the life of Abraham, Gen. 12:8; 13:3. The Bible tells us that Abraham pitched his tent “between Bethel and Hai.” Now, the name “Bethel” means, “The house of God.” Isn’t it interesting that many saints have pitched their tents somewhere between the house of God and a heap of ruins? Do you see the connection? You can either live in a place of victory and blessing, or you can live in a place of defeat and misery. You can either have a Bethel kind of life or an Ai experience, which is up to you! Just like Israel, we often lose battles to our Ai, (this flesh), but through the Lord, we can learn how to ambush our Ai and walk away with the victory in our lives. I don’t know the battles that you are fighting with your flesh, but I do know that you can win the victory. These verses tell us how. (Joshua 8:1-35 How To Ambush Your Ai) Stephen Grant addresses the somewhat difficult to understand Chronology and numbers in Joshua 8 - On the face of the narrative, there appears to be a complicated and contradictory account of the ambush that Joshua put in place prior to the assault on Ai. The difficulty arises from Joshua sending out a force of 30,000 men (v. 3), “and they went to lie in ambush, and abode between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai” (v. 9). He then sent out a force of 5,000 men to the same place (v. 12) to lie in ambush. Were there two large groups of men lying in wait? What happened to the 30,000 men since there is no mention of them being involved in the battle? There are two main schools of thought regarding this apparent textual problem. Some commentators take the view that there was one ambush force of either 30,000 or 5,000 men, with the more likely figure being 5,000. They attribute the different numbers to a copyist error, albeit “it is a drastic measure to postulate an emendation with no manuscript support, but it seems the best solution to a difficult problem” (David M. Howard Jnr., The New American Commentary). In contrast, other commentators take the view that there were two separate forces of 30,000 and 5,000 men. “The narrative makes it quite plain that they were a separate force which was now assigned to a different position. Joshua’s design therein was evident, for his project served a twofold purpose: it cut off Bethel sending any reinforcements to Ai, and it prevented the forces of Ai escaping in that direction” (A. W. Pink). The narrative is structured in a similar fashion to the account of the crossing of the river Jordan (ch 3), where the verses are not necessarily in chronological order, but are set out in a manner to emphasise certain aspects of the events that unfolded. There is repetition and gradual revelation within the structure of these verses. (What the Bible Teaches - Joshua) Here is Donald Campbell's description in which he sees three contingents of Israelites- Joshua 8:3–9. The strategy for the capture of Ai was ingenious. It involved placing an ambush behind (west of) the city. God Himself had told Joshua to do this (vv. 2, 8). The outworking of this plan involved three contingents of soldiers. The first was a group of valiant warriors who were sent by night to hide just west of the city of Ai. Their assignment was to rush into the city and burn it after its defenders had deserted it to pursue Joshua and his army. This unit numbered 30,000, and while this seems like an excessively large number of soldiers to hide near the city, the presence of large rocks in the region made it possible for all these men to remain hidden. Joshua 8:10–11. The second contingent was the main army which walked the 15 miles from Gilgal early the next morning and camped in plain view on the north side of Ai. No doubt this entire force included many thousands of soldiers. Led by Joshua, this army was a diversionary force to decoy the defenders of Ai out of the city. Joshua 8:12–13. The third contingent was another ambush numbering 5,000 men who were positioned between Bethel and Ai to cut off the possibility of reinforcements from Bethel aiding the men of Ai. Joshua was in the valley north of Ai, a deep ravine in the hills. (The Bible Knowledge Commentary ) Joshua 8:2 "You shall do to Ai and its king just as you did to Jericho and its king; you shall take only its spoil and its cattle as plunder for yourselves. Set an ambush for the city behind it." do to Ai: Jos 8:24,28,29, Jos 6:21 10:1,28 De 3:2 spoil: Jos 8:27 De 20:14 Job 27:16,17 Ps 39:6 Pr 13:22 28:20 Jer 17:11 Lu 12:20,21 Set an ambush: Jos 8:7,9,12,14,19 Jdg 20:29-33 2Ch 13:13 20:22 Jer 51:12 Joshua 8 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries GOD ALLOWS ISRAEL TO TAKE SPOILS OF AI You shall do to Ai and its king just as you did to Jericho and its king - In other words they were to utterly destroy all in Ai as described in Joshua 6:21 where "They utterly destroyed everything in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox and sheep and donkey, with the edge of the sword." We see this instruction from Yahweh completely fulfilled in Joshua 8:24,28,29. you shall take only its spoil (shalal) and its cattle as plunder (bāzaz) for yourselves - The treasures of Jericho were Yahweh's but here He allows Israel to take the treasures for themselves. Had Achan only waited, he would have been allowed to take of the spoils! Greed and disobedience short circuited God's plan to bless him (had he not sinned in Jericho)! THOUGHT - Trust and obey for there is no better way to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey! Alan Carr - What a lesson for you and me this morning! We are guilty of the same kind of foolishness aren’t we? If we could just learn top wait on God and let Him lead and bring into our lives the things that need to be there, we would be far better off. Unfortunately, this flesh want what it wants and it wants it now! It doesn’t want to wait. Regardless of the arena you name, you are far better off to wait on the Lord to bring those things into your life that He knows are best for you, (i.e. Mate, sexuality, finances, ministry, etc.), than you are to run ahead of God and mess things up really bad and then expect Him to bail you out! When we can learn to wait on the Lord, we are well on our way to victory in the Christian life, Rom. 12:7; Psa. 130:5; Psa. 37:34.) (Joshua 8:1-35 How To Ambush Your Ai) Set an ambush for the city behind it - Bush comments "That is, on the west side of the city, as the Israelites, at the time of receiving this command, were on the east side of it, and the orientals, in designating the relative position of places, were always supposed to face the east. This stratagem is to be justified on the ground that God commanded it, and it is obvious that if it was right for them to overpower their enemies, it was equally right to out-wit them, if they could do it. ‘No treaties, were violated, no oaths broken, no falsehoods uttered; and it cannot be requisite to inform our enemies of our intentions and purposes, however they may be deceived by appearances. But perjuries, lies, and infractions of treaties cannot, in any war or in any case, be allowable or excusable.’ scott." Utley - set an ambush for the city behind it” YHWH gives the battle strategy (BDB 962, KB 1321, Qal IMPERATIVE). There seems to be some confusion as to how to relate the two ambushes mentioned in vv. 3 and 12. There has been much speculation, but no consensus. Spoil (07998) shalal is a masculine noun which means spoils, plunder, booty, all referring to what is taken by force or violence usually in the context of war and taking spoils was sometimes one of the principle motivations for going to war. Military raids were sometimes ill-disguised plundering expeditions, such as the ill-fated Amalekite raid against Ziklag described in 1 Samuel 30:16, 19, 20, 22, 26. Sometimes shalal was seized as an act of political aggression (Esther 3:13; 8:11). Taking plunder or spoil was an act of aggression by the wicked on the weak or righteous (Pr 1:13). Plunder (take booty, seize) (0962) bāzaz verb meaning to loot, to plunder, to spoil, to rob. The word describes this destructive activity taken against cities or places (Gen. 34:27; 2 Kgs. 7:16), people and cattle (Num. 31:9; Isa. 10:2; 11:14). Its passive uses are similar with the meaning of be plundered (Isa. 24:3) or taken as spoil (Jer. 50:37). If Israel were obedient to God she would triumph over her enemies and would despoil them. This had been her experience during the latter part of the wilderness period and during the conquest of Canaan (Num 31:9, 32, 53; Josh 8:2, 27; etc.). God was pleased to give the spoil to them, only reserving to himself that which was designated ḥerem, devoted to God. GEORGE BUSH Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 8 2. Thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou didst unto Jericho and her king. That is, in general, in the main, not in every particular. Ai was to be overcome and destroyed, and in this respect its fate was to resemble that of Jericho. But the precise manner of its destruction was not the same; the king of Ai was not to be put to death by the sword, as the king of Jericho had been, nor was a curse denounced against him that should rebuild Ai, as was the case in regard to Jericho. Only the spoil thereof—shall ye take to yourselves. This was the grand point of difference in the prescribed manner ‘of treating the two cities. In the one case, the spoil was granted to the people; in the other not. There was, therefore, no danger of their committing the same trespass here that they had there. ‘Observe how Achan, who catched at forbidden spoil, lost that, and life, and all; but the rest of the people, who had conscientiously refrained from the accursed thing, were quickly recompensed for their obedience with the spoil of Ai. The way to have the comfort of what God allows, is, to forbear what he forbids us. No man shall lose by his self-denial.’ Henry. Joshua 8:3 So Joshua rose with all the people of war to go up to Ai; and Joshua chose 30,000 men, valiant warriors, and sent them out at night. night: Mt 24:39,50 25:6 1Th 5:2 2Pe 3:10 Joshua 8 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries JOSHUA BEGINS TO LAY THE TRAP Jensen - The measure of courage is in the test. God assured Joshua that he would take Ai, but there would not be the ease of watching its walls fall as at Jericho. Instead, the manner assigned was by military ambush, which meant danger, suspense, precaution, and alertness. This was Israel’s test of courage, and Joshua and the warriors rose to the challenge (8:3). So Joshua rose with all the people of war to go up to Ai - All the people signify the major component which would be perceived by the King of Ai as essentially the entire Israelite army. And Joshua chose 30,000 men, valiant warriors, and sent them out at night - These skilled warriors would be sent out under the cover of darkness. Commentaries differ in how they explain this large number of men, some suggesting it was actually smaller, so the reader is encouraged to be a Berean on the comments. Utley - “valiant warriors” This phrase is a construct relationship between “mighty” and “strength”. It is often used of military persons (cf. Josh 1:14; 6:2; 8:3; 10:7; Jdg 6:12; 11:1; 1 Sam. 9:1; 16:18; 1 Kgs. 11:28; 2 Kgs. 5:1; 15:20; 24:14, 16). It can be used of an army (cf. Exod. 14:4, 9, 17, 28; 15:4; 1 Sam. 17:20; 2 Sam. 8:9; 2 Kgs. 6:4, 15; 25:1, 5, 10). This was an elite fighting force! Campbell - The outworking of this plan involved three contingents of soldiers. The first was a group of valiant warriors who were sent by night to hide just west of the city of Ai (Joshua 8:3). Their assignment was to rush into the city and burn it after its defenders had deserted it to pursue Joshua and his army. This unit numbered 30,000, and while this seems like an excessively large number of soldiers to hide near the city, the presence of large rocks in the region made it possible for all these men to remain hidden. The second contingent was the main army which walked the 15 miles from Gilgal early the next morning and camped in plain view on the north side of Ai. (see Josh 8:10-11)....The third contingent was another ambush numbering 5,000 men who were positioned between Bethel and Ai to cut off the possibility of reinforcements from Bethel aiding the men of Ai. Joshua was in the valley north of Ai, a deep ravine in the hills. (Josh 8:12-13) (The Bible Knowledge Commentary ) Jensen on 30,000 - The size of this group is indicated by the text as 30,000 men, which appears to be an unusually large contingent for such a secret maneuver as ambush close to the city. One plausible answer to the problem is that the text should read “thirty officers.” This suggestion is made by R.E.D. Clark, who points out that the Hebrew word ’elep, translated “thousand,” can also be translated as “chief” or “officer,” as it is translated in other passages (cf. 1 Chron. 12:23–27; 2 Chron. 13:3, 17; 17:14–19). If this were the case, then the thirty-man group was a highly selected commando unit, assigned to enter the vacated city and burn it. This view may better explain also the description of the contingent as chosen for being “mighty men of valor”—more meaningful to a thirty-man group than to a 30,000-man unit. It should be noted here, however, that the second ambuscade definitely involved 5,000 men (8:12). Alan Carr - Israel had already learned what happens when you do things the Lord’s way. When you fight the battle by following His plan, you cannot fail. They had also learned what happens when they refused to do it God’s way. They learned that failure awaits that person who goes against the will of the Lord.). Remember, we are talking about fighting this flesh that we all carry around. If you are going to pursue victory over your flesh and if you ever expect to gain the victory, then you must go about it God’s way. No other plan will work! I will say more about God’s plan for dealing with the flesh in a moment, but for now, you need to know that if you will win the victory over your flesh, then you need constant contact with the things of God. We are strengthened spiritually when we are exposed to the things of the Lord. There are several that need to be a huge part of our lives: (1) The Word of God—1 Pet. 2:2; 2 Tim. 2:15 (2) Prayer—Luke 18:1; 1 Thes. 5:17; James 4:2 (3) Church Attendance—Heb. 10:25 (4) The Fellowship of the Saints—1 Cor. 12:27. None of these things will give victory in and of themselves, but we need each one to strengthen us and to help us grow in the Lord. When we begin to neglect even one of these essential areas, then we are sure to suffer spiritually. You see, when we feed the flesh and ignore our spiritual needs, then we are headed for trouble in our spiritual lives!) (Joshua 8:1-35 How To Ambush Your Ai) Matthew Henry's Concise 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 never draw them back. GEORGE BUSH Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 8 3. So Joshua arose to go up against Ai. That is, set about the business of going up, took measures preparatory to it, consulted and laid the plan of operations. It does not express the fact of their actually marching towards Ai, for this is inconsistent with what follows, but according to a familiar idiom of the Hebrew, on which we have remarked before, ch. 6:25, merely implies their entering upon the preliminary measures. ‘To arise,’ in innumerable instances in the scriptures, means nothing more than to address one’s self to a particular business, to set about it, to engage in it. Chose out thirty thousand mighty men. The whole number of men to be employed on this occasion. And sent them away by night. That is, as we suppose, not the whole of the thirty thousand, but the party of five thousand expressly mentioned Josh 8:12. The next verse, as well as Joshua 8:9, seems to limit it to those who were ‘to lie in wait,’ and these were unquestionably the five thousand, and not the whole detachment specified above, who could not well have executed such a design without being discovered. It is true that, according to this interpretation, we must suppose the pronoun ‘them’ to be put before its antecedent, which is left to be inferred from the tenor of the ensuing narrative, but this is no unusual thing with the sacred writers. See Ex. 14:19; Ps. 87:1; 105:19; Prov. 7:8. On any other mode of construction it is extremely difficult to make out a consistent narration of the facts, unless it be supposed that the verbs here should be rendered ‘had chosen,’ and ‘had sent,’ and the entire portion, from this place to the end of v. 9, be taken as a parenthesis, which is not improbable. The reasons for sending an ambuscade by night are too obvious to require remark. Joshua 8:4 He commanded them, saying, "See, you are going to ambush the city from behind it. Do not go very far from the city, but all of you be ready. going to ambush: Jos 8:16 Jdg 9:25 20:29,33,36 1Sa 15:2,5 Ac 23:21 Do not go: Ec 7:19 9:16 Joshua 8 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries BE READY TO POUNCE! He commanded them, saying, "See, you are going to ambush the city from behind it - Note that this is Yahweh's instructions to Joshua which he is passing on to his soldiers. That is this group of warriors would go to the west side of Ai in order to ambush it. In Joshua 8:12 we read that Joshua "took about 5,000 men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city." Do not go very far from the city, but all of you be ready - When Joshua raised his javelin (Josh 8:18, 26), they need to launch their "commando raid" on Ai. GEORGE BUSH Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 8 4. And he commanded them. That is, the party of 5,000 just spoken of as sent away by night. Joshua 8:5 "Then I and all the people who are with me will approach the city. And when they come out to meet us as at the first, we will flee before them. will: Jdg 20:31-33 Mt 10:16 Joshua 8 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries BAITING THE TRAP Then I and all the people who are with me will approach the city. And when they come out to meet us as at the first, we will flee before them - This is the strategy for defeating Ai. Joshua would lead the larger contingent of Israelite soldiers and would draw them out of the city by pretending to be retreating. Joshua anticipated that as the men of Ai saw them draw near, they would assume that they were adopting similar tactics to the first time and come out to meet them. Note the phrase as at the first which alludes to the tragic defeat of Israel by the men of Ai. Now it was the men of Ai whose confidence in their previous victory would lead them into the jaws of defeat! GEORGE BUSH Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 8 5. All the people that are with me. That is, the 25,000 remaining after the 5,000 were sent away, and whom he kept for a lure to draw out the inhabitants of Ai from the city. Joshua 8:6 "They will come out after us until we have drawn them away from the city, for they will say, 'They are fleeing before us as at the first.' So we will flee before them. drawn: Jos 8:16 They are fleeing Ex 14:3 15:9 Jdg 20:32 Ec 8:11 9:12 Joshua 8 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries JOSHUA EXPLAINS THE TRAP They will come out after us until we have drawn them away from the city, for they will say, 'They are fleeing before us as at the first.' So we will flee before them - Joshua imagines what the Ai-ites will say when they see Israel fleeing. GEORGE BUSH Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 8 6. Till we have drawn them. Heb. התיקנו hattikënū, till we have pulled, or plucked them. Joshua 8:7 "And you shall rise from your ambush and take possession of the city, for the LORD your God will deliver it into your hand. for the Lord: Jos 8:1 2Ki 5:1 Pr 21:30,31 Joshua 8 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries INSTRUCTIONS TO THE MEN IN AMBUSH And you shall rise from your ambush and take possession of the city, for the LORD your God will deliver it into your hand - The ambush force is given the re-assurance that God would deliver the city into their hands (power). Despite Israel's overwhelming numbers, ultimately it was God Who would deliver victory! Don't miss it - yes, the Israelites had a responsibility, but ultimately it was God's sovereignty and omnipotence that assured the taking of Ai. THOUGHT - This same pattern (God's sovereignty/man's responsibility) is true in all our spiritual warfare beloved. Look at Romans 8:13+ where Paul writes "if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live." Notice our absolute dependence on the Holy Spirit's enabling power in synergy with our making the choice to "kill sin!" If we desire to have victory over our strong enemies, the world, the flesh and the devil, we need to practice this vitally important principle - "Paradoxical Principle of 100% Dependent and 100% Responsible" (100/100) GEORGE BUSH Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 8 7. Then shall ye rise up from the ambush. Upon the signal given, v. 18. Joshua 8:8 "Then it will be when you have seized the city, that you shall set the city on fire. You shall do it according to the word of the LORD. See, I have commanded you." set the city: Jos 8:28 6:24 I have: Jos 1:9,16 Jdg 4:6 2Sa 13:28 Joshua 8 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries YAHWEH'S COMMANDMENT TO JOSHUA Then it will be when you have seized the city, that you shall set the city on fire. You shall do it according to the word of the LORD. See, I have commanded you - NET = "Do as the LORD says! See, I have given you orders." Clearly the strategic plans were from Yahweh even though they were spoken to the soldiers by Joshua. This is probably emphasised in light of the last foray against Ai. These plans were the Lord’s and as such had to be adhered to in every detail. Grant comments that "Although it was a different strategy from that used against Jericho, there was still the need for discipline and adherence to the Lord’s instructions. In addition, the knowledge of the enemy, which they had gained in their failure, was to be utilised. Obedience to the word of the Lord, knowledge of the enemy and dependence upon the Lord were necessary for success. When a believer revisits the scene of his failure and seeks to overcome the obstacle which blocks the pathway of progress in his walk for the Lord, it is necessary for him to obey the Word of God and also utilise his knowledge of the enemy Paul stated that “we are not ignorant of his devices” (2 Cor 2:11+) and draw strength from the Lord for the conflict." (What the Bible Teaches - Joshua) Utley - Fire is both a judgment and a way of cleansing. Utley - “according to the word of the LORD” This is the key theological phrase in the OT. Here it refers to Deut. 20:16–18. However, the concept is wider (cf. Isa. 45:23; 55:11). It is the human side of covenant! According to the word of the LORD - 28x/28v - Num. 3:16; Num. 3:51; Num. 4:45; Num. 36:5; Deut. 34:5; Jos. 19:50; Jos. 22:9; 1 Ki. 12:24; 1 Ki. 13:26; 1 Ki. 14:18; 1 Ki. 16:12; 1 Ki. 16:34; 1 Ki. 17:16; 2 Ki. 1:17; 2 Ki. 4:44; 2 Ki. 7:16; 2 Ki. 9:26; 2 Ki. 14:25; 2 Ki. 23:16; 2 Ki. 24:2; 1 Chr. 11:3; 1 Chr. 11:10; 1 Chr. 12:23; 1 Chr. 15:15; 2 Chr. 35:6; Jer. 13:2; Jer. 32:8; Jon. 3:3 Bush writes "Probably this means no more than that they should kindle a fire in the city, the smoke of which should be an indication that they had taken it. Had they set fire to the whole city, the spoils which were to be divided among the people, would have been all consumed. It appears, moreover, from Josh 8:28, that the city was not burnt till afterwards. Joshua 8:9 So Joshua sent them away, and they went to the place of ambush and remained between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai; but Joshua spent that night among the people. between: Jos 8:12 7:2 Ge 12:8, Hai, Ezr 2:28 Ne 7:32 spent: Ge 32:21 Joshua 8 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries So Joshua sent them away, and they went to the place of ambush and remained between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai; but Joshua spent that night among the people - Note that in Joshua 8:9-13 we begin to encounter the major difficulties in piecing together the chronology of the events and the numbers of soldiers. Utley - “So Joshua spent the night among the people” This phrase is possibly to reassure the people of God’s presence and power for the upcoming battle. A very similar Hebrew phrase is repeated in Josh 8:13 with the change of one additional Hebrew consonant. I Grant - Joshua “lodged that night among the people” (v. 9). His leadership is evident in his decision to remain with the majority of the men of war. He was not distant or in any way separated from the people. The crucial importance of the events that were to follow on the morning could not be underestimated. Having experienced defeat at the hands of the men of Ai, they could not afford to be defeated again since this would mean the end of their advance into the land. At a time of crisis and pressure among the people of God, a true leader will be found among them. It was the night before His suffering and the scattering of His disciples, that the Lord spent time with them in the upper room comforting and preparing them for the days that lay ahead. (What the Bible Teaches - Joshua) GEORGE BUSH Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 8 9. Joshua lodged that night among the people. That is, the people of war, as they are called, v. 11, or in other words the 25,000. Others suppose the night was spent at the camp at Gilgal, with the main body of the people. But this is less likely. Joshua 8:10 Now Joshua rose early in the morning and mustered the people, and he went up with the elders of Israel before the people to Ai. rose: Jos 3:1 6:12 7:16 Ps 119:60 Joshua 8 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries MUSTERING FOR BATTLE Muster means the process or event of accounting for members in a military unit. Now keep the context in mind - It was not long since the “hearts of the people melted, and became as water” (Joshua 7:5). Joshua needed to present himself as strong and courageous so that his people would follow suit. Now Joshua rose early in the morning and mustered the people, and he went up with the elders of Israel before the people to Ai - NET = "Bright and early the next morning Joshua gathered the army, and he and the leaders of Israel marched at the head of it to Ai." So in contrast to the previous attack on Ai, now we have Joshua leading the charge. It is interesting that there is still no mention of the Ark of the LORD in Joshua 8 until we come to the renewing of the covenant at Mt Gerizim and Mt Ebal in Joshua 8:33. We know that the LORD is enabling Israel for in Josh 8:1 and Joshua 8:7 we see that the LORD had already given Ai into their hand. Grant has an interesting observation - In the place of prominence at the head of the procession were the men who had “put dust on their heads” (Joshua 7:6) and humbled themselves before the Lord. This is an example to those who would seek to lead the people of God. There are times when they will be in the forefront of the spiritual battle, in the place of prominence, and at other times humbled on their faces before the Lord. (What the Bible Teaches - Joshua) GEORGE BUSH Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 8 10. Numbered the people. Or, Heb. ויפקד va-yiphkōd, visited, inspected, mustered, set in order. He and the elders of Israel. As a kind of council of war, to give more weight and solemnity to the proceeding, and to see to the just and equal distribution of the spoil. The elders were usually associated with the leader in every important measure that concerned the interests of the people. Joshua 8:11 Then all the people of war who were with him went up and drew near and arrived in front of the city, and camped on the north side of Ai. Now there was a valley between him and Ai. Joshua 8 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries TEMPORARY CAMP IN PREPARATION FOR ATTACK Then all the people of war who were with him went up and drew near and arrived in front of the city, and camped on the north side of Ai. Now there was a valley between him and Ai - Joshua, coming from the southeast, moves up around to the north of Ai toward the Sea of Galilee. And with the valley between him and the residents of Ai, he set up a temporary camp. Grant feels "there is a parenthesis in the narrative, which, if removed, takes the reader from the end of v. 10 to the beginning of v. 14. In common with other restatements of events in the book, the parenthetical verses provide further detail, as well as emphasis, within the narrative. Verse 11 provides details of the troop movements between v. 3, when Joshua began the preparations, and v. 10, when they moved on the following morning." (What the Bible Teaches - Joshua) Joshua 8:12 And he took about 5,000 men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city. five thousand: Jos 8:2,3 Joshua 8 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE SCENE IS SET FOR THE BATTLE TO COMMENCE And he took about 5,000 men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city - So here is the strategy - On the north, the main force was placed across a valley from Ai. On the west, hidden from sight, the ambush force waited. GEORGE BUSH Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 8 12. And he took about five thousand men. Rather, ‘he had taken.’ The verse is apparently thrown in as a parenthesis, with a view to give a more particular explanation of what is said, in a general way, v. 3, 9. Incidents omitted in their proper place are often brought in, in this manner, in order to prevent the interruption of the previous narrative. Joshua 8:13 So they stationed the people, all the army that was on the north side of the city, and its rear guard on the west side of the city, and Joshua spent that night in the midst of the valley. west: Jos 8:8,12 Joshua 8 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries So they stationed the people, all the army that was on the north side of the city, and its rear guard on the west side of the city, and Joshua spent that night in the midst of the valley - Grant has an interesting comment that "During the night when he lodged with the main battle force, across the valley from Ai, Joshua did something similar to what he had done at Jericho (Joshua 5:13) and “went that night into the midst of the valley” (v. 13). His leadership is seen again as he would not lead the people into ground where he had not stood. When the spiritual battle rages among believers, it is good to have leaders who lead the saints through ground where they themselves have stood. Personal experience of the battlefield is important for a leader in any conflict." (What the Bible Teaches - Joshua) GEORGE BUSH Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 8 13. Their liers in wait. Heb. ‘their lying in wait, their ambuscade,’ abst. for concrete. Or it may be rendered ‘their heel,’ i. e. the hinder part of the army, referring to the party that lay in ambush. Went that night, into the midst of the valley. That is, as is most likely, very early in the morning, when it was yet dark, as John 20:1. It seems hardly probable, that when every thing was ready they should have remained inactive during a whole day. We prefer the opinion that Joshua, having sent away the five thousand in the evening of the previous day, and having taken a few hours’ sleep with the 25,000, rose at a very early hour, perhaps a little after midnight, and had them inspected, which might be speedily done by the aid of the officers, and then went, at so early an hour that it might still be called night, into the valley, perhaps alone, to supplicate God for a blessing on the enterprise in which he was now engaged, and which had come so near to its crisis; or, it may imply that at this time he led the army through the valley, and when the day dawned appeared in full view of the city, from whence the king and people immediately sallied out in pursuit. Joshua 8:14 It came about when the king of Ai saw it, that the men of the city hurried and rose up early and went out to meet Israel in battle, he and all his people at the appointed place before the desert plain. But he did not know that there was an ambush against him behind the city. Ai saw it: Jos 8:5,16 he did not know: Jdg 20:34-36 Ec 9:12 Isa 19:11,13 Da 4:31 Mt 24:39,50 1Th 5:1-3 2Pe 2:3 Joshua 8 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries KING OF AI FALLS FOR THE TRAP It came about when the king of Ai saw it, that the men of the city hurried and rose up early and went out to meet Israel in battle, he and all his people at the appointed place before the desert plain. But he did not know that there was an ambush against him behind the city - This is exactly what Joshua had anticipated when he declared "Then I and all the people who are with me will approach the city. And when they come out to meet us as at the first, we will flee before them." (Joshua 8:5) GEORGE BUSH Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 8 14. When the king of Ai saw it, they hasted and rose up early. That is, when the king was informed of it, by the city guards, an alarm was immediately given, and the citizens who had not yet risen hurried from their beds, and soon commenced the pursuit. ‘To see,’ in scripture usage, often has the sense of to know, to learn, to understand. He and all his people. That is, all the men of war; for the rest, the old men, the women, and children, remained in the city, as appears, v. 24. At a time appointed. Heb. מועד moëd, either an appointed time, or a concerted signal, as the same word is rendered where it occurs in Judg. 20:38 Joshua 8:15 Joshua and all Israel pretended to be beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness. by the way: Jos 18:12 Joshua 8 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries JOSHUA DRAWS OUT THE AI-ITES Joshua and all Israel pretended to be beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness - This is the first stage of the battle plan. The Israelites are fleeing now back to the east from the men of Ai in order to entice them away from the security of the city. GEORGE BUSH Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 8 15. Made, as if they were beaten. Turned their backs. Heb. ונגעו yinnâgeū, were beaten or smitten; but rightly understood, as here rendered, of apparently suffering themselves to be beaten, to make a show or pretence of being beaten. See a like phraseology, Gen. 42:7; 2 Sam. 13:5. Fled by the way of the wilderness. Lying between Ai and Jericho or Gilgal. Joshua 8:16 And all the people who were in the city were called together to pursue them, and they pursued Joshua and were drawn away from the city. called together: Jdg 20:36-39 drawn away: Jos 8:5,6 Jdg 20:31 Ps 9:16 Eze 38:11-22 Rev 16:14 19:19-21 Joshua 8 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE TRAP IS SPRUNG And all the people who were in the city were called together to pursue them, and they pursued Joshua and were drawn away from the city - The military operation is working to a T. Joshua is doing everything just exactly as the Lord had instructed, and everything is falling into place, and the game plan is a winner. Bush "That is, all who had not sallied out before, all the men able to bear arms who remained behind when the first body of pursuers issued forth from the city. Some portion of the population, however, was still left, who were afterwards slain, Josh 8:24. The original word for ‘were called together’ is יזעקו yizzâekū, which properly signifies were cried together, that is, were summoned by mutual shouts and vociferations. Joshua 8:17 So not a man was left in Ai or Bethel who had not gone out after Israel, and they left the city unguarded and pursued Israel. a man: Jos 8:3,24,25 11:20 De 2:30 Job 5:13 Isa 19:11-13 Joshua 8 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries NOT A SINGLE MAN LEFT AT AI OR BETHEL So not a man was left in Ai or Bethel who had not gone out after Israel - This mention of Bethel indicates the soldiers from that city had joined with those from Ai. Any left would not have been fit for military service. And they left the city unguarded and pursued Israel - This refers to the city of Ai. Grant comments - It is worth noting that not only was Ai emptied of men, but “there was not a man left in Ai or Bethel, that went not out after Israel” (v. 17). This is interesting because the ambush force was situated between Bethel and Ai and if men had been sent from one city to the other it would have been discovered, since it consisted of five thousand or even thirty thousand men. It is more likely, although not stated, that the men of Bethel were in Ai prior to the commencement of the battle and perhaps as a result of Joshua’s first attempt to take Ai. There is very little detail concerning Bethel in the record of the conquest of Canaan, other than the king of Bethel being one of the kings listed as slain by Joshua (12:16). Some commentators have speculated that a treaty of mutual support bound Bethel and Ai or that, owing to its size, Ai was a satellite city of Bethel. The end of the 2nd stage of the battle concluded with the city of Ai open and defenceless. (What the Bible Teaches - Joshua) GEORGE BUSH Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 8 17. Was not a man left in Ai. Not a man that was able to bear arms, not one fit for military service. Or Bethel. This city, situated at three miles distance from Ai, was probably confederate with it, and aiding it with forces on the present occasion. Joshua 8:18 Then the LORD said to Joshua, "Stretch out the javelin that is in your hand toward Ai, for I will give it into your hand." So Joshua stretched out the javelin that was in his hand toward the city. Stretch: Jos 8:7,26 Ex 8:5 17:11 Job 15:25 Joshua 8 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries YAHWEH AS COMMANDER GIVES ORDER TO JOSHUA Then the LORD said to Joshua, "Stretch out the javelin that is in your hand toward Ai, for I will give it into your hand - Whether this had been a prearranged sign to the men of the ambush is not clear, but very likely there must have been prior communication. Joshua was given responsibility to raise the javelin, but God's sovereignty gave Israel the city of Ai. There is an interesting repetition of hand, which in the OT is often a symbol of power and it appears to be so in this context. Utley - “Stretch out the javelin that is in your hand toward Ai” Here again we see the similarity between God’s dealing with Moses in the use of the shepherd’s staff and His dealing with Joshua in the use of the javelin. Both the staff (BDB 641, cf. Exod. 4:20; 17:9; Num. 20:8) and javelin (BDB 475) show the power is of God and not in human leaders. The VERB (natah, Qal IMPERATIVE) is used several times of YHWH directing Moses (cf. Ex 7:19; 8:5, 6; 9:22; 10:12; 17:16, 21; Isa. 10:26). So Joshua stretched out the javelin that was in his hand toward the city - Joshua immediately obeys Yahweh's command. Somehow the Israelite forces lying in wait to ambush were able to see Joshua's sign to attack. Grant - It is interesting that the weapon raised by Joshua is not described by the usual word for a spear, but by a word which can be translated as “javelin” (RSV). In the same way as the Lord instructed Aaron to “stretch forth thine hand with thy rod” (Ex 8:5) and Moses to “lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it” (Ex 14:16), Joshua was to stretch out the spear toward the city and remain in that position until the city was taken (v. 26). There are similarities to the upheld arms of Moses, when he held the rod of God (Ex 17:9, 12), as Joshua fought the Amalekites at Rephidim. (What the Bible Teaches - Joshua) Alan Carr - They Had God’s Power— The Context. Israel fought the battle, but God gave the victory! You see, the first time Israel went to Ai, they went in their own power and they suffered terrible, humiliating defeat. This time they went to battle walking in the power of God and they were victorious.. Again, there is a lesson here for those of us who struggle with this flesh. The battle will not be won by our ability to say “No!” The battle will not be won because we are more powerful than the temptations we face. The fact is, if you try to fight the spiritual battles of life in your own power, you are headed for terrible defeat in your life. You might as well plan now for a string of sins and defeats in the flesh. My friends, there is just one way for us to prevail in this battle, and that is for us to learn to appropriate the power of God in our lives. We need to realize that when we cannot win the battle, He can! (ED: LEARN TO WALK IN HIS POWER, BY THE SPIRIT - Gal 5:16+) When we are unable to fight the flesh, sin and the world, God will fight it for us (ED: YES THAT IS TRUE BUT STILL IT IS NOT "LET GO, LET GOD" BUT "LET GOD, LET'S GO!" WE ALWAYS HAVE SOME ROLE, SOME RESPONSIBILITY IN KILLING SIN IN OUR LIVES, DOING SO OF COURSE ONLY BY HIS POWER!). I’ll tell you how to fight the flesh: fight it in God’s power—Eph. 6:10; Phil. 4:13; 1Co 10:13. The only way any of us will ever see victory over this flesh is through the power of God!) (Joshua 8:1-35 How To Ambush Your Ai) GEORGE BUSH Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 8 18. Stretch out the spear that is in thine hand. That is, hold extended or stretched out, continue it in that position. Comp. Josh 8:26. This was probably agreed upon as the signal to be given by Joshua to the men in ambush, to notify them of the precise moment when to issue forth from their retreat and rush into the city. If, as some commentators suppose, a flag or a burnished shield were fixed to the end of a long spear, pike, ‘or lance, making it conspicuous from a distance, it would still better answer the purpose intended. Conjoined with this there might have been, as far as we can see, another object in thus elevating the spear on this occasion; viz. that it should serve like the lifting up of Moses’ hands in the battle with Amalek, as a token of the Divine presence and assistance, a pledge of the secret efficacy of the Almighty arm in securing them the victory. This seems highly probable from v. 26. Joshua 8:19 The men in ambush rose quickly from their place, and when he had stretched out his hand, they ran and entered the city and captured it, and they quickly set the city on fire. Joshua 8 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries JOSHUA'S SIGNAL PROMPTS ATTACK ON AI The men in ambush rose quickly from their place, and when he had stretched out his hand, they ran and entered the city and captured it, and they quickly set the city on fire - Somehow the men in ambush saw the signal of Joshua's raised hand (presumably with his javelin). Some suggest the signal was the sun's rays reflecting off the spear, but we cannot be dogmatic. Other writers point out the similarity to Moses' raised hands in Exodus 17, so that when they were elevated, Joshua experienced advantage over the Amalekites. (cf. Ex 17:8–12). Joshua 8:20 When the men of Ai turned back and looked, behold, the smoke of the city ascended to the sky, and they had no place to flee this way or that, for the people who had been fleeing to the wilderness turned against the pursuers. the smoke: Ge 19:28 Isa 34:10 Rev 18:9 19:3 and they had: Job 11:20 Ps 48:5,6 76:5 Am 2:14-16 Rev 6:15-17 Joshua 8 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries SMOKE SIGNAL BODES ILL FOR MEN OF AI When the men of Ai turned back and looked, behold, the smoke of the city ascended to the sky, and they had no place to flee this way or that, for the people who had been fleeing to the wilderness turned against the pursuers - The men of Ai realized that the smoke signaled they now had no way of escape from the Israelites. They knew at this moment they had been fooled, and they were defeated. GEORGE BUSH Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 8 20. Had no power to flee. Heb. לא ידים lō yâdayim, no hand, i. e. no place, no quarter, no direction to which to flee, being hemmed in on every side. Most of the ancient versions, however, render with ours, ‘power, ability, strength,’ in which sense it is certain that ‘hand’ is sometimes used. Pursuers. Heb. רודף rodëph, pursuer, collect, sing. Joshua 8:21 When Joshua and all Israel saw that the men in ambush had captured the city and that the smoke of the city ascended, they turned back and slew the men of Ai. Joshua 8 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries SMOKE SIGNAL BODES GOOD FOR JOSHUA When Joshua and all Israel saw that the men in ambush had captured the city and that the smoke of the city ascended, they turned back and slew the men of Ai - The smoke from Ai wrought fear in the men of Ai and courage in the men of Israel. They knew it was the opportune time to turn back and attack the men of Ai. GEORGE BUSH Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 8 21. When all Israel saw. That is, all the Israelites then present, all that were employed in this service. Joshua 8:22 The others came out from the city to encounter them, so that they were trapped in the midst of Israel, some on this side and some on that side; and they slew them until no one was left of those who survived or escaped. no one was left : Jos 6:21 10:28 11:11,12 De 7:2 Job 20:5 Lu 17:26-30 1Th 5:3 Joshua 8 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries ISRAEL ENFORCES A "TAKE NO PRISONERS POLICY!" The others came out from the city to encounter them - The others refers to the Israelites who had been in ambush and burned the city of Ai. Now they came after the men of Ai. So that they were trapped in the midst of Israel, some on this side and some on that side; and they slew them until no one was left of those who survived or escaped - Israel's ambush was like a pincer effect that effectively eliminated the enemy! Yahweh had clearly instructed Joshua in effect to "take no prisoners!" GEORGE BUSH Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 8 22. And the other. Heb. ואלה veëlleh, and these, i. e. those who had formed the ambush. So that they let none of them remain or escape Heb. ‘so that there remained not to them a survivor (i. e. one taken alive) or one that escaped.’ They were all indiscriminately put to the sword, with the single exception mentioned in the next verse. Joshua 8:23 But they took alive the king of Ai and brought him to Joshua. Jos 8:29 10:17 1Sa 15:8 Rev 19:20 Joshua 8 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries ONE EXCEPTION TO TAKING NO PRISONERS But they took alive the king of Ai and brought him to Joshua - Why was the king singled out? We are not told in the text. Clearly he desired death in God's eyes and for some reason he was to die by hanging. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary - Verses 23-29. God, the righteous Judge, had sentenced the Canaanites for their wickedness; the Israelites only executed his doom. None of their conduct can be drawn into an example for others. Especial reason no doubt there was for this severity to the king of Ai; it is likely he had been notoriously wicked and vile, and a blasphemer of the God of Israel. GEORGE BUSH Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 8 23. The king of Ai they took alive. He was reserved for a more exemplary and ignominious death as a warning to other kings who, like him, might be disposed to defy the power of Israel. Joshua 8:24 Now when Israel had finished killing all the inhabitants of Ai in the field in the wilderness where they pursued them, and all of them were fallen by the edge of the sword until they were destroyed, then all Israel returned to Ai and struck it with the edge of the sword. returned to Ai: Jos 10:30-41 11:10-14 Nu 21:24 Joshua 8 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Now when Israel had finished killing all the inhabitants of Ai in the field in the wilderness where they pursued them - While not specifically stated, presumably these persons were the women, children, and elderly who had been in the city but were not warriors. And all of them were fallen by the edge of the sword until they were destroyed - In keeping with God's instruction all were killed. Then all Israel returned to Ai and struck it with the edge of the sword - NLT = "they went back and finished off everyone inside." Apparently not all of the citizens of Ai had fled the city, but they met the same fate as their brethren in the wilderness. GEORGE BUSH Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 8 24. Smote it with the edge of the sword. Heb. לפי חרב lephi ’hereb, with the mouth of the sword. That is, the old men, women, and children who remained in the city, who had not joined in the pursuit, v. 16, 17. Joshua 8:25 All who fell that day, both men and women, were 12,000--all the people of Ai. Joshua 8 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries ENEMY CASUALTY REPORT All who fell that day, both men and women, were 12,000--all the people of Ai - Clearly Israeli forces had far outnumbered the warriors at Ai. Nevertheless Yahweh called for a unique military strategy to defeat them. GEORGE BUSH Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 8 25. Both of men and women. Heb. מאיש ועד אשח mëish ve-ad ishah, from the man to the woman. QUESTION - Why did God command the extermination / genocide of the Canaanites, women and children included? ANSWER - In 1 Samuel 15:2-3, God commanded Saul and the Israelites, “This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.'" God ordered similar things when the Israelites were invading the promised land (Deuteronomy 2:34; 3:6; 20:16-18). Why would God have the Israelites exterminate an entire group of people, women and children included? This is a difficult issue. We do not fully understand why God would command such a thing, but we trust God that He is just – and we recognize that we are incapable of fully understanding a sovereign, infinite, and eternal God. As we look at difficult issues such as this one, we must remember that God’s ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:9; Romans 11:33-36). We have to be willing to trust God and have faith in Him even when we do not understand His ways. Unlike us, God knows the future. God knew what the results would be if Israel did not completely eradicate the Amalekites. If Israel did not carry out God’s orders, the Amalekites would come back to trouble the Israelites in the future. Saul claimed to have killed everyone but the Amalekite king Agag (1 Samuel 15:20). Obviously, Saul was lying—just a couple of decades later, there were enough Amalekites to take David and his men’s families captive (1 Samuel 30:1-2). After David and his men attacked the Amalekites and rescued their families, 400 Amalekites escaped. If Saul had fulfilled what God had commanded him, this never would have occurred. Several hundred years later, a descendant of Agag, Haman, tried to have the entire Jewish people exterminated (see the book of Esther). So, Saul’s incomplete obedience almost resulted in Israel’s destruction. God knew this would occur, so He ordered the extermination of the Amalekites ahead of time. In regard to the Canaanites, God commanded, “In the cities of the nations the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, do not leave alive anything that breathes. Completely destroy them — the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites — as the LORD your God has commanded you. Otherwise, they will teach you to follow all the detestable things they do in worshiping their gods, and you will sin against the LORD your God” (Deuteronomy 20:16-18). The Israelites failed in this mission as well, and exactly what God said would happen occurred (Judges 2:1-3; 1 Kings 11:5; 14:24; 2 Kings 16:3-4). God did not order the extermination of these people to be cruel, but to prevent even greater evil from occurring in the future. Probably the most difficult part of these commands from God is that God ordered the death of children and infants as well. Why would God order the death of innocent children? (1) Children are not innocent (Psalm 51:5; 58:3). (2) These children would have likely grown up as adherents to the evil religions and practices of their parents. (3) These children would naturally have grown up resentful of the Israelites and later sought to avenge the “unjust” treatment of their parents. Again, this answer does not completely deal with all the issues. Our focus should be on trusting God even when we do not understand His ways. We also must remember that God looks at things from an eternal perspective and that His ways are higher than our ways. God is just, righteous, holy, loving, merciful, and gracious. How His attributes work together can be a mystery to us – but that does not mean that He is not who the Bible proclaims Him to be.GotQuestions.org Related Resources: What does it mean that “the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure” (Genesis 15:16)? | GotQuestions.org Multiple sources discussing God's command to Utterly Destroy (in commentary on Numbers 31) Joshua 8:26 For Joshua did not withdraw his hand with which he stretched out the javelin until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai. Jos 8:18 Ex 17:11,12 Joshua 8 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries For Joshua did not withdraw his hand with which he stretched out the javelin until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai - This description reminds one of Moses' raised hands calling forth the Lord's power against the Amalekites. Joshua was faithful to do exactly what the Lord had commanded him to do, and he stayed with it until the task was complete. GEORGE BUSH Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 8 26. For Joshua drew not his hand back, &c. The object of these words seems to be to assign the reason of the utter and unsparing destruction of the people of Ai. The movements of Israel were directed by the uplifted spear of Joshua. As long as that continued stretched out they were to persist in the work of slaughter. When it was let down they were to cease. This shows that the stretching out of the spear was not designed merely as a signal to the men in ambush, for in this case the continuance of the act would have been unnecessary. It was doubtless intended to answer the same end as the uplifted hands of Moses on the occasion before referred to, that is, as a visible sign of the presence and agency of Omnipotence in behalf of his people as long as it continued to be extended. To the judgment of sense there was perhaps little connexion between Joshua’s holding forth his spear and the success of the combatants at a distance, and it might have appeared that he would have been better employed at the head of the army, animating and directing them. But he knew who alone could give the victory, and that a compliance with God’s commands was the surest means of obtaining help from Him. Hence without any apprehensions as to the issue, he maintained his stand before God, and held forth his spear till all his enemies were destroyed. Such is the confidence and perseverance which the Christian is to evince in his conflicts with sin and Satan, notwithstanding the apparently little connexion between his poor efforts and the destruction of such mighty foes. It is perhaps in allusion to this circumstance that the phrase ‘stretching out the hand against’ is employed by the prophets as equivalent to contending with, or fighting against. Thus Is. 5:25, ‘Therefore is the anger of the Lord kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble and their carcasses are torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still,’ i. e. his judgments still continue as did the slaughter of the Aiites while Joshua’s outstretched spear was not withdrawn. Until he had utterly destroyed. Heb. החרים he’herim, had devoted to a curse. Joshua 8:27 Israel took only the cattle and the spoil of that city as plunder for themselves, according to the word of the LORD which He had commanded Joshua. the cattle: Jos 8:2 11:4 Nu 31:22,26 Ps 50:10 Mt 20:15 he commanded: Jos 8:2 Joshua 8 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries TO THE VICTOR GO THE SPOILS Israel took only the cattle and the spoil of that city as plunder for themselves, according to the word of the LORD which He had commanded Joshua Joshua 8:28 So Joshua burned Ai and made it a heap forever, a desolation until this day. a heap: De 13:16 2Ki 19:25 Isa 17:1 25:2 Jer 9:11 49:2 50:26 Mic 3:12 To this day: Jos 4:9 Joshua 8 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries So Joshua burned Ai and made it a heap forever, a desolation until this day - Ai apparently means "heap" and so it literally was memorialized as a heap forever! Grant - The picture is clear. Having been defeated at Ai on one occasion they would not be defeated there again, and to make sure, Joshua obliterated the city. (What the Bible Teaches - Joshua) THOUGHT - This is the only way for the Christian to deal with the cause of defeat in his life. The utter destruction of the obstacle will ensure that it never troubles him again. This was the lesson that Jacob failed to learn when he was returning to Gilgal and dealt with the idols in his household. “Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem” (Gen 35:4). It would have been better to grind them into dust as Josiah did (2Chr 34:4). Buried idols can be resurrected into the Christian’s life; those which are destroyed do not cause problems in the future. (Grant) Desolation (08077)(shemamah noun from shammah - see word study) means desolation or waste and can refer to the condition of land, cities and houses as a result of neglect or devastating war (e.g., Ex. 23:29; Lev. 26:33; Isa. 1:7) and of Israel's idols as a result of God's judgment (Mic. 1:7). It is used figuratively of princes being clothed with devastation under the same conditions (Ezek. 7:27). God's judgment is figuratively referred to as His cup of desolation (Ezek 23:33). Basic to the idea of the root is the desolation caused by some great disaster, usually as a result of divine judgment (Mal 1:3) GEORGE BUSH Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 8 28. Made it an heap for ever. Heb. תל עולם tël ōlâm, an heap of eternity, i. e. an everlasting heap, a perpetual pile of ruins. The meaning is, it was made such for a long time, through a long tract of ages; a frequent sense of the phrase ‘for ever.’ It seems to have been rebuilt about a thousand years afterwards, by the Benjamites, Neh. 11:31, under the name of Aija or Aiya. David