Joshua 8.
ONCE sin is judged, God’s word to His people is, “Fear not, neither be dismayed.” Yet the attack upon Ai is greatly changed from the simple procedure at Jericho. Now, all the people must go up to the little city, and “thirty thousand mighty men of valor” are sent at night to be in ambush, while the remainder of the people are to approach the city openly. These are to appear to run away for their lives, so drawing the men of Ai out of the place after them, and then the Israelites in ambush were to enter the town and destroy it, the end being, the destruction of all the people of Ai.
All of this was a rebuke to the pride and self-confidence shown in the first attack upon Ai. It has been truly remarked that more pains are needed to return into the path of blessing, than to have avoided the evil, but the simplicity of faith and its strength can be regained in no other way.
It does not appear that the ambushed men saw Joshua’s stretching out his spear (verses 18, 19); it seems rather to be an illustration of God’s directing His people unseen, and perhaps unrealized by those He acts upon.
There is no rebuilding Jericho and Ai (verse 28). Ai, which means “heap” becomes a heap forever. There can be no restoration of Satan’s rule.
Joshua here by two acts signifies that he has taken possession of the land in God’s name.—first, by his commanding that the body of the king of Ai be taken down at sunset, as Deuteronomy 21:22, 2322And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree: 23His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance. (Deuteronomy 21:22‑23) ordered: and second, in the building of the altar unto the Lord God of Israel in Mount Ebal, which served both as a witness and a bond between the people and their God who gave them the land. Evidently divine strength and human weakness had both, to be brought out first, otherwise the altar might have been built as soon as the promised land was entered (Deuteronomy 27: 1-8).
All that Moses had commanded was read to the people, —the law, the blessings and the curses (See Deuteronomy 27:11-2011And Moses charged the people the same day, saying, 12These shall stand upon mount Gerizim to bless the people, when ye are come over Jordan; Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin: 13And these shall stand upon mount Ebal to curse; Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. 14And the Levites shall speak, and say unto all the men of Israel with a loud voice, 15Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the Lord, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen. 16Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen. 17Cursed be he that removeth his neighbor's landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen. 18Cursed be he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way. And all the people shall say, Amen. 19Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen. 20Cursed be he that lieth with his father's wife; because he uncovereth his father's skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen. (Deuteronomy 27:11‑20).
ML 07/19/1925