Joshua 7:2

from Jericho to Ai The country of Canaan seems in the time of Joshua to have been broken up into a number of small territories, each governed by an independent chief or "king," who extended his rule from his fortified citadel to the district round. In Joshua 12:7-24, we find mention of no less than 32 such "kings." A series of sieges, therefore, rather than of pitched battles, might be expected to characterise the campaigns of Joshua.

which is beside Beth-aven Ai had been already mentioned in Genesis 12:8, in connection with the history of Abraham, who is said to have removed from Shechem "to a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Haion the east." Though smaller than Jericho, Ai was a position of great importance; (a) It dominated the road to Jerusalem, then called Jebus, and was situated only a few hours distant; (b) It commanded the approaches into the heart of the country, and especially the fertile district of Samaria; (c) Its fall virtually involved that of Bethel. Beth-aven lay between Bethel and Michmash (1 Samuel 13:5; 1 Samuel 14:23). In Hosea 4:15; Hosea 5:8; Hosea 10:5, the name is transferred, with a play upon the word characteristic of the prophet, to the neighbouring Bethel, once the "house of God," but then the house of idols, or "naught."

the east side of Beth-el Bethel, formerly Luz (Genesis 28:19), was an ancient Canaanitish royal city. The name Bethel existed, it would seem, as early as the time of Abraham, who removed from the oaks of Mamre to the "mountain on the east of Bethel" (Genesis 12:8). Here he built an altar, and hither he returned from Egypt with Lot before their separation (Genesis 13:3-4). Even in those early times a distinction seems to have been drawn between the "city" of Luz and the consecrated "place" in its neighbourhood (Genesis 35:7) called "Bethel" by Jacob (a) Genesis 28:19, (b) Genesis 35:14-15, which name does not appear to have been appropriated to the city itself till after the conquest by Joshua (Joshua 16:1-2; Judges 1:22-26).

Go up and view the country So important did the Hebrew leader deem the position of Ai that he resolved to repeat the tactics already pursued at Jericho, and to send spies to "view the country." For the use of "view" = to "survey," "review," comp. Ezra 8:15, "and I viewedthe people and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi;" and Hall, Henry V., "Before whose arriuall the kyng was departed from Wyndsor to Winchester, entending to haue gone to Hampton and to haue vewedhis nauie." Shakespeare, Henry Josh v. 4. 21,

"Therefore, I say,"tis meet we all go forth

To viewthe sick and feeble parts of France."

See Bible Word Book, pp. 511, 512.