Joshua 7:3

_AND THEY RETURNED TO JOSHUA, AND SAID UNTO HIM, LET NOT ALL THE PEOPLE GO UP; BUT LET ABOUT TWO OR THREE_ _ THOUSAND MEN GO UP AND SMITE AI; AND MAKE NOT ALL THE PEOPLE TO LABOUR THITHER; FOR THEY ARE BUT FEW._ Let not all the people go up ... for they are but few. Since the population of Ai amounted to 1,200 (Joshua 8:25), it was a considerable town; though in the hasty and distant reconnoitre made by the spies, it probably appeared small in comparison of Jericho; and this may have been the reason of their proposing so small a detachment to capture it....

1-5 Achan took some of the spoil of Jericho. The love of the world is that root of bitterness, which of all others is most hardly rooted up. We should take heed of sin ourselves, lest by it many be defiled or disquieted, Hebrews 12:15; and take heed of having fellowship with sinners, lest we share their guilt. It concerns us to watch over one another to prevent sin, because others' sins may be to our damage. The easy conquest of Jericho excited contempt of the enemy, and a disposition to expect the Lord to do all for them without their using proper means. Thus men abuse the doctrines of Divine grace, and the promises of God, into excuses for their own sloth and self-indulgence. We are to work out our own salvation, though it is God that works in us. It was a dear victory to the Canaanites, whereby Israel was awakened and reformed, and reconciled to their God, and the people of Canaan ha...

The total population of Ai was about twelve thousand Joshua 8:25. It could therefore hardly muster three thousand warriors....

EXPOSITION THE DEFEAT BEFORE AI.— JOSHUA 7:1 COMMITTED A TRESPASS IN THE ACCURSED THING. The word מָעַל, here used, signifies originally to _cover, _whence מְעִיל a garment. Hence it comes to mean to act deceitfully, or perhaps to steal (cf. the LXX. ἐνοσφίσαντο_, _a_ _translation rendered remarkable by the fact that it is the very word used by St. Luke in regard to the transgression of Ananias and Sapphira. But the LXX. is hare rather a paraphrase than a translation). It is clearly used here of some _secret _act. But in Le Joshua 5:15 it is used of an _unwitting _trespass, committed בִּשְׁגָגָה, in error of fact, but no

AND THEY RETURNED UNTO JOSHUA, AND SAID UNTO HIM, LET NOT ALL THE PEOPLE GO UP,.... After they had reconnoitred the place, they came back to their general, and gave it as their opinion, that there was no need for the whole army to go up against the city: BUT LET ABOUT TWO OR THREE THOUSAND MEN GO UP AND SMITE AI; such a number they judged were sufficient to take it: [AND] MAKE NOT ALL THE PEOPLE TO LABOUR THITHER; carrying their tents, bearing their armour, and going up hill: FOR THEY [ARE BUT] FEW; the inhabitants of Ai, men and women making but twelve thousand; Joshua 8:25....

7. ACHAN'S SIN AND ISRAEL'S DEFEAT CHAPTER 7 _ 1. The defeat of Israel (Joshua 7:1)_ 2. The source of the defeat revealed (Joshua 7:6) 3. The transgressor found out (Joshua 7:16) 4. The judgment of Achan (Joshua 7:24) The insignificant place Ai brings defeat. Joshua sent men to view Ai. What authority was given to him to do so? There was no need to send spies once more, for the Lord had said, that the whole land was given to them. They report Ai a place without walls and recommend that only two or three thousand men be sent up. Defeat follows. Ai means “ruins.” It is mentioned for the first time in...

VII. ACHAN'S TRESPASS, ISRAEL'S DEFEAT, ACHAN'S PUNISHMENT. Joshua 7:1. The name should probably be Achar. The narrative presents no difficulties till the end of the chapter, where Achan's punishment is recorded. Joshua 7:2. Ai: probably 2 miles SE. of Bethel (p. 31). Joshua 7:9. And what wilt thou do for (or on account of) THY GREAT NAME? The meaning is that if Israel is destroyed there will be none to worship Yahweh; an interesting example of the ancient belief in the close connexion between the deity and his worshippers. Joshua 7:19. GIVE. LORD: _ i.e_., tell the truth, _cf._...

GO UP. go toilingly thither. MEN. Hebrew. _ish_. App-14....

_VER._ 3. _LET ABOUT TWO OR THREE THOUSAND MEN GO UP AND SMITE AI_— There was a little presumption in this counsel; Ai was well situated, strong, and guarded by twelve thousand men; so that there was no probability (humanly speaking) of carrying it with two or three thousand men. God, nevertheless, permitted Joshua to listen to this bold piece of advice, and he followed it. Had not this been the case, either the inhabitants of Ai would not have ventured to sally from their city; or if, in going out against the Israelites, they had beaten a more considerable detachment of them, the crime of Achan would have cost the nation too many citizens, and his punishment would have thrown it into too great a consternation....

_The Israelites Beaten Joshua 7:1-5_ But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel. 2 And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east side of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai. 3 And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labor thither; for they are but few. 4 So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai. 5 And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the