Joshua 8:28

_AND JOSHUA BURNT AI, AND MADE IT AN HEAP FOR EVER, EVEN A DESOLATION UNTO THIS DAY._ Joshua burnt Ai, and made it an heap for ever, х_ TEEL_ (H8510), heap of ruins]. "For ever" often signifies a long time (Genesis 6:3). One of the remarkable things with regard to the Tell we have identified with Ai is its name-the Tell, or the heap of stones-a name which to this day remains (Van de Velde). A DESOLATION UNTO THIS DAY - probably a gloss by Ezra, or some later editor....

23-29 God, the righteous Judge, had sentenced the Canaanites for their wickedness; the Israelites only executed his doom. None of their conduct can be drawn into an example for others. Especial reason no doubt there was for this severity to the king of Ai; it is likely he had been notoriously wicked and vile, and a blasphemer of the God of Israel....

Verse 28. _UNTO THIS DAY._] This last clause was probably _added_ by a later hand....

EXPOSITION THE CAPTURE OF AI.— JOSHUA 8:1 FEAR NOT. Joshua was down cast at his former failure, and well he might. "Treacherous Israelites are to be dreaded more than malicious Canaanites" (Matthew Henry). TAKE ALL THE PEOPLE OF WAX WITH THEE. Not, as has been before stated, because 3,000 men were too few to take the city, for the capture of Jericho was a far greater marvel than that of Ai with this number of men. The true reason is indicated by Calvin, and is indeed suggested by the words "Fear not, neither be thou dismayed." It was to reassure the people, whose hearts had "melted and become as water." Sometimes God calls upon His people for a display of faith, as when He led them through the Jordan, or commanded them to compass Jericho seven days. But

AND JOSHUA BURNT AI,.... The whole city, fire being only set before to a few houses, to make a smoke as a signal; he did with it as he had done with Jericho, for so he was ordered, Joshua 8:2; AND MADE IT AN HEAP FOR EVER; that is, for a long time, for it appears to have been rebuilt, and to have been inhabited by the Jews, after their return from their Babylonish captivity, Ne 11:31; [EVEN] A DESOLATION UNTO THIS DAY; to the time of the writing of this book; and by what has been just observed, it appears that Ezra could not be the writer of it, since this city was inhabited in his time....

8. THE OVERTHROW OF AI CHAPTER 8 _ 1. The advance commanded (Joshua 8:1)_ 2. The strategy of Joshua (Joshua 8:3) 3. Ai's defeat (Joshua 8:14) 4. Joshua's obedience (Joshua 8:30) Sin confessed, judged and put away restored communion with the Lord. If any burden remained upon the mind of Joshua, it was removed by the repeated words of comfort and cheer. “Fear not, neither be thou dismayed.” The failure is no longer mentioned, but instead, comfort and assurance is given and victory promised. He deals in the same gracious way with us, whenever we have failed and humbled ourselves before Him in self-judgment. H

CAPTURE OF AI. Here we have the second and the successful attempt to take Ai. That two accounts have been combined is obvious. In Joshua 8:3 Joshua sends 30,000 men as an ambuscade against the city; in Joshua 8:12, he sends 5000 men. No doubt 30,000 is an error for 3000. The writer of 20, who tells us that the whole population of Ai was 12,000, is also the writer of Joshua 8:3. We may take it that he was far more likely to write 3000 than 30,000. In Joshua 8:17 the words and Bethel are an unintelligent insertion of a late editor. They are not in the LXX, and if the ambush was between Bethel and Ai, it is difficult to see how the inhabitants of Bethel could com

HEAP. Its only name to-day is "Tell". the Heap....

_a heap_ "an everlasting toumbe," Wyclif. Heb. a "_Tel_," always with the article, _The Tel_, or _Heap_. "For a long time modern explorers in vain sought for the site of Ai, where they knew it must have stood. "The inhabitants of the neighbouring villages," writes Canon Williams, "declared repeatedly and emphatically that this was _Tel_and nothing else. I was satisfied that it should be so when, on subsequent reference to the original text of Joshua 8:28, I found it written that -Joshua burnt Ai, and made it a _Tel_for ever, even a desolation unto this day." There are many _Tels_in modern Palestine, that land of _Tels_, even _Tel_with some other name attached to it to mark the former site. But the site of Ai has no other name -unto this day." It is simply _et-Tel= the Heap_, -par excellence"....

_VER._ 28. _AND JOSHUA BURNT AI,_ &C.— After giving up the city to plunder, according to the express command of God, Joshua caused it to be burnt to ashes, leaving there only a heap of stones, which was to be seen even to the time of writing this book. See ver. 11. 26. As to the expression _an heap for ever,_ it is well known that it should not be understood in strictness. When the Hebrews say a thing will last _for ever,_ it almost always signifies, that it will last a very long time, and nothing more. Thus we find that the city of Ai had been rebuilt, and was inhabited at the time of Esdras and Nehemiah. Ezra 2:28. Nehemiah 11:31....