Joshua 8:9-29

The Conquest of Ai Joshua 8:9-29

9Joshua therefore sent them forth; and they went to lie in ambush, and abode behind Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai: but Joshua lodged that night among the people.

10 And Joshua rose up early in the morning, and numbered the people, and went up, he and the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai.
11 And all the people, even the people of war that were with him, went up, and drew nigh, and came before the city, and pitched on the north side of Ai: now there was a valley between them and Ai.
12 And he took about five thousand men, and set them to lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city.
13 And when they had set the people, even all the host that was on the north of the city, and their liers in wait on the west of the city, Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley.
14 And it came to pass, 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, before the plain; but he wist not that there were liers in ambush against him behind the city.
15 And Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness.
16 And all the people that were in Ai were called together to pursue after them: and they pursued after Joshua, and were drawn away from the city.
17 And there was not a man left in Ai or Bethel, that went not out after Israel: and they left the city open, and pursued after Israel.
18 And the Lord said unto Joshua, Stretch out the spear that is in thy hand toward Ai; for I will give it into thine hand. And Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand toward the city.
19 And the ambush arose quickly out of their place, and they ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand: and they entered into the city, and took it, and hasted and set the city on fire.
20 And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and, behold, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that way: and the people that fled to the wilderness turned back upon the pursuers.
21 And when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city, and that the smoke of the city ascended, then they turned again, and slew the men of Ai.
22 And the other issued out of the city against them; so they were in the midst of Israel, some on this side, and some on that side: and they smote them, so that they let none of them remain or escape,
23 And the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.
24 And it came to pass, when Israel had made an end of slaying all the inhabitants of Ai in the field, in the wilderness wherein they chased them, and when they were all fallen on the edge of the sword, until they were consumed, that all the Israelites returned unto Ai, and smote it with the edge of the sword.
25 And so it was, that all that fell that day, both of men and women, were twelve thousand, even all the men of Ai.
26 For Joshua drew not his hand back, wherewith he stretched out the spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.
27 Only the cattle and the spoil of that city Israel took for a prey unto themselves, according unto the word of the Lord which he commanded Joshua.
28 And Joshua burnt Ai, and made it a heap for ever, even a desolation unto this day.
29 And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until eventide: and as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his carcass down from the tree, and cast it at the entering of the gate of the city, and raise thereon a great heap of stones, that remaineth unto this day.

7.

Why did Joshua number the people? Joshua 8:10

After Joshua had sent forth the thirty thousand men to lie in ambush on the west side of Ai, he stayed with the main army himself through the night. Early in the morning he rose up and prepared his soldiers for battle. In this preparation he numbered them and evidently set them in groups and battalions so that they might wage an orderly battle. At this time Joshua must have decided how many men he would take with him in the main force. The others would be left behind to protect the women, children, and supplies of the Israelites.

8.

Who were the elders of the people? Joshua 8:10

The elders of Israel are not military tribunes who were called elders because of their superiority in military affairs; but, as in every other case, the heads of the people who accompanied Joshua as counselors. Neither were these elders to be compared with the officers of the New Testament church. They were the people who had reached an age in life where their experience and wisdom fitted them for places of leadership. It was to these that the younger men looked for their guidance and counsel.

9.

Was a second ambuscade sent out? Joshua 8:12

Joshua evidently sent out two different groups to besiege the city and take it by surprise. After he had placed the troops on the northwest to come in behind the city opposite the direction of the attack of the main body of the Israelite army, he evidently foresaw a need for another group to cut off any possible assistance from Bethel and sent them to take up their positions southwest of Ai. Some commentators believe that a scribal error has been made here, but without sufficient grounds.

10.

Did the men of Bethel help the men of Ai? Joshua 8:12

It is evident from verse twelve and other references that the inhabitants of Bethel, which was a very short journey from Ai, took part in the battle. Probably this was in consequence of a treaty which the king of Ai had made with them in the expectation of a renewed and still stronger attack on the part of the Israelites. Later on the kings in the South banded together in what has been called the southern coalition. At least five kings were in this league. Still later the kings in the North grouped themselves together under the leadership of Jabin, king of Hazor. Once again several kings entered into this league, It is not unusual to find these kinds of coalitions, and it was a very natural thing for Bethel and Ai to enter in to this kind of an agreement.

11.

Where did Joshua station himself? Joshua 8:13

Joshua evidently exposed his army in a valley which lay to the east of Ai. He must have placed himself on some promontory where his signal could be seen by those who were in the ambush. It is quite possible that he had stationed other lookouts who could pass along the signal; but wherever the army was, it must have been in a place which encouraged the king of Ai to attack.

12.

Why did the Israelites flee? Joshua 8:15

The king of Ai was anxious to enter into the second battle with Israel. Their position was not strategically advantageous to them, and so the king felt he could win another victory. Moreover, he had defeated these men in the first skirmish, and he was not at all hesitant to join battle with them again. Joshua and the Israelites pretended they were being beaten again. They fled back toward the Jordan Valley and the wilderness from which they had come.

13.

Why did the Canaanites leave Ai unprotected? Joshua 8:17

The first battle between the men of Ai and the Israelites had been won by the Canaanites. In the second engagement it appeared the victory was also going to be won by the king of Ai. For that reason, he mustered all his men to pursue after them. He wanted the second victory to be complete. In doing this he drew out all his men both from Ai and from Bethel. There was not a single soldier left to guard the city.

14.

How could the ambush see ?Joshua 8:19

The raising of the javelin would probably be visible at considerable distance. It may have been provided with a small flag, as both earlier and later commentators assume. Joshua himself would hardly be in the midst of the flying Israelites, but would take his station as commander upon some height on one side. The men in ambush would have scouts posted to watch for the signal, which had certainly been arranged beforehand. They would relay the information to the others.

15.

Why were the men of Ai without power? Joshua 8:20

The original language used the word hands for power. When the ambush went into Ai and set it on fire, the sight of the city burning left the men of Ai without strength. They were so surprised and shocked that they were thrown into confusion. They did not know which way to turn. There were Israelites behind them and Israelites in front of them. Others were probably guarding the routes of escape on either side. The victory was complete for the Israelites. The sight of the city burning had a different effect upon the men of Israel. This was a signal to them to begin the slaughter of the Canaanites As a result, the Israelites did not let any of the men of Ai escape.

16.

What was done with the king of Ai? Joshua 8:23

The king of Ai was taken alive as a prisoner of war. The soldiers brought him to Joshua. Joshua was in the midst of the engagement and did not want to take time to give an order with regard to the disposition of the king at that time. Later on we read that the king of Ai was hanged (Joshua 8:29). His body was left there until evening. It was then taken down and buried. The law had been given in Deuteronomy 21:22-23 with regard to such matters. The king of Ai was hanged upon a tree and then his body may have been suspended on a stake (see Numbers 25:4) until the evening. At sunset Joshua had him taken down and thrown at the entrance of the town gate. A heap of stones was piled upon him.

17.

How many men of Ai were killed? Joshua 8:25

The total casualty list of the men of Ai numbered twelve thousand both of men and of women. These were all the inhabitants of the city. Joshua's campaign was a campaign of total annihilation, and he followed the commandment of the Lord completely. There is never any evidence that he enjoyed the bloody conquest which he waged, but it was the only way to eradicate this festering sore from the face of the earth. The cup of iniquity of the Canaanites was full, and God's vengeance fell upon them.