Joshua 8 (4)

Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Stretch out the spear that is in your hand toward Ai, for I will give it into your hand.” And Joshua stretched out the spear that was in his hand toward the city. So those inambush arose quickly out of their place; they ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand, and they entered the city and took it, and hurried to set the city on fire. And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and behold, the smoke of the city ascended to heaven. So they had no power to flee this way or that way, and the people who had fled to the wilderness turned back on the pursuers. Now when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city and that the smoke of the city ascended, they turned back and struck down the men of Ai. Then the others came out of the city against them; so they were caught in the midst of Israel, some on this side and some on that side. And they struck them down, so that they let none of them remain or escape. But the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua. Joshua 8.18-23

Reflect.
1.  Everyone seems to have known exactly what to do. What does this suggest about preparations for this battle, up and down the ranks of Israel? 

2.  Does it seem strange to you that the text offers no further mention of Bethel (cf. v. 17)? Why or why not?

Think about it.
God Himself directs the springing of the trap. He instructs Joshua to give the signal that will cause those in ambush to carry out their mission. We have not been made aware of this instruction thus far, but clearly it was communicated to the 35,000 who were in concealment between Ai and Bethel.

Joshua must have been standing on some prominence, perhaps under a banner or flag which identified him. All eyes would have been on him to know when to move. Once God spoke to Joshua and he gave the signal, the course of the battle for Ai changed.

Those in ambush entered the empty city and set it on fire. The smoke from Ai became the signal for the bulk of Israel’s army, fleeing eastward into the wilderness, to stop, turn, and confront the Canaanites. The people of Ai (and Bethel?) seeing the smoke rising from their cities, would have returned to them, except that blocking their way were the “rear guard” and “others” – 35,000 troops. Now the Canaanites were in a cross-fire in front and behind. Mountains penned them in on the north and the south, and the Israelites carved them up from the east and the west. The only survivor was the king of Ai.

We admit that this was brutal – the destruction of an entire population. But when we remember the kind of people the Canaanites were, and the tendency of the people of Israel toward accommodation of pagan ways, at this point in Israel’s history, such destruction was essential. 

Meditate and discuss.
1.  Our text does not tell us what happened to Bethel, which means “house of God.” We may assume a similar consequence for them as for Ai. My sense is that the mention of Bethel here is to remind the readers – as it would have reminded the Israelites – that God had given this land to their father, Jacob. How can you see this from Genesis 28.10-22?

2.  Why was it essential that “all Israel” (v. 21) should be involved in this battle?

3.  We note that the destruction of the king of Ai is saved to last. All his servants are defeated first, then he is defeated. Can you see in this a foreshadowing of Jesus’ ministry, both in His incarnation and at His final coming? Explain.

“You will read in the Holy Scriptures about the battles of the just ones, about the slaughter and carnage of murderers, and that the saints spare none of their deeply rooted enemies. If they do spare them, they are even charged with sin, just as Saul was charged because he had preserved the life of Agag king of Amalek. You should understand the wars of the just by the method I set forth above, that these wars are waged by them against sin. But how will the just ones endure if they reserve even a little bit of sin?” Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD)

Lord, let me be at war with sin in every part of my body, soul, and life, and help me today to…

Pray Psalm 97.
Glorify and magnify God, and seek His aid to help you in hating all sin and living in His light.

Psalm 97 (Darwall: Rejoice, the Lord is King!)
Rejoice, the Lord is King! O earth, lift up your voice; 
Be glad, you islands, shout and sing: Rejoice! Rejoice!
Refrain v. 9
Beyond, above all gods and nations be exalted, God of love!

His just and righteous throne ‘mid clouds and darkness stands; 
His fiery wrath consumes His foes in every land.
Refrain

Earth trembles at the sight of Jesus’ holy face; 
The mountains melt before His might and praise His grace.
Refrain

The heav’ns above declare His glorious righteousness; 
And tribes and peoples everywhere His Name confess.
Refrain

While Zion gladly sings, let all be brought to shame
Who to vain idols worship bring and scorn His Name.
Refrain

All you who love the Lord, despise sin’s wicked ways!
Praise Him Who guides us by His Word through all our days.
Refrain

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006).