The Fall of Ai

The Fall of Ai

And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land: Jos. 8:1

the LORD said... The 8th prophecy in Joshua (Jos. 8:1-2, fulfilled, Jos. 8:3-29). Next, Jos. 8:18. Two predictions to Joshua:

1. I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, city, and land.

2. You shall do to Ai and their king what you did to Jericho and their king (Jos. 8:2).

neither be thou... Six commands—conquest of Ai:

1. Fear not, neither be dismayed.

2. Take all the people of war with you.

3. Arise, go over to Ai.

4. Do to Ai and their king what you did to Jericho and their king (Jos_8:2).

5. Only the spoil and cattle shall you take for yourselves.

6. Lay an ambush for the city behind it.

take all the... This command was different from the advice of the spies (in Jos. 7:3) who told Joshua to take only 2,000 or 3,000 men, suggesting they could easily overcome the city.

And thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou didst unto Jericho and her king: only the spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof, shall ye take for a prey unto yourselves: lay thee an ambush for the city behind it. Jos. 8:2

only the spoil... After Jericho, God let the spoils of war go to Israel, as provided in the law (Num. 31:22-54).

shall ye take... Before the actual plan of battle was revealed to Joshua he was told that the spoil of Ai and also its livestock could be taken by Israel. Jericho had been placed under the ban but Ai was not.

What an irony! If only Achan had suppressed his greedy and selfish desires and obeyed God’s word at Jericho he would later have had all his heart desired and God’s blessing too. The path of obedience and faith is always best.

So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against Ai: and Joshua chose out thirty thousand mighty men of valour, and sent them away by night. Jos. 8:3

The order of events at Ai differed entirely from that at Jericho. The Israelites did not march around the walls of Ai seven times. The city’s walls did not fall miraculously. Israel had to conquer the city through a normal combat operation. God is not limited to any one method of working. He is not and will not be stereotyped in His operations.

And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye shall lie in wait against the city, even behind the city: go not very far from the city, but be ye all ready: Jos. 8:4

he commanded them... Here is Joshua’s strategy for the next conquest (Jos. 8:4-8, Jos. 8:12-19). God Himself commanded this (Jos. 8:2).

shall lie in... Three commands—destruction of Ai:

1. Lie in wait near the city and behind it and be ready.

2. Rise up from ambush and seize the city (Jos. 8:7).

3. When you have taken the city, set it on fire as God has commanded (Jos. 8:8).

And I, and all the people that are with me, will approach unto the city: and it shall come to pass, when they come out against us, as at the first, that we will flee before them, Jos. 8:5

come to pass... The strategy for the capture of Ai was ingenious. It involved placing an ambush behind (west of) the city. God Himself had told Joshua to do this (Jos. 8:2, 8:8).

(For they will come out after us) till we have drawn them from the city; for they will say, They flee before us, as at the first: therefore we will flee before them. Jos. 8:6

drawn them from... The outworking of this plan involved three contingents of soldiers. The first was a group of valiant warriors who were sent by night to hide just west of the city of Ai. Their assignment was to rush into the city and burn it after its defenders had deserted it to pursue Joshua and his army.

Then ye shall rise up from the ambush, and seize upon the city: for the LORD your God will deliver it into your hand. Jos. 8:7

for the LORD... Joshua repeated what God had told him in Jos. 8:1-2, proving his faith in God’s word.

And it shall be, when ye have taken the city, that ye shall set the city on fire: according to the commandment of the LORD shall ye do. See, I have commanded you. Jos. 8:8

ye have taken... The commandment to set the city on fire throws further light on the destruction of Jericho. Evidently, Jericho was also burned, for Jos. 8:2 says Israel should do to Ai and her king what they did to Jericho and her king.

Joshua therefore sent them forth: and they went to lie in ambush, and abode between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai: but Joshua lodged that night among the people. Jos. 8:9

sent them forth... This was the place of Abraham’s second altar after entering Canaan some 470 years before (Gen. 12:7-8). Joshua built an altar in the same vicinity (Jos. 8:30-35).

but Joshua lodged... Joshua stayed with the main body of the army, 35,000 having departed to lie in ambush behind the city (Jos. 8:3-4, 8:12).

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. Jos. 8:10

and numbered the... Inspected or mustered the army ready to march and fight as planned (Jos. 8:3-8).

elders of Israel... The elders of Israel included the heads of the tribes and others chosen for the general council of the nation. They are first mentioned in Exo. 3:16-18 and were prominent in all the events of Israel under Moses, being referred to 42 times in the Pentateuch (Exo. 3:16-18; 4:29; 12:21; 17:5-6; 18:12; 19:7; 21:1-14; Lev. 4:15; 9:1; Num. 11:16-30; 16:25; 22:4-7; Deut. 5:23; 19:12; 21:2-20; 22:15-18; 25:7-9; 27:1; 29:10; 21:9,28; 32:7); 8 times under Joshua (Jos. 7:6; 8:10, 8:33; 9:11; 20:4; 23:2; 24:1, 24:31); only 3 times under the judges, showing the disorganized state of Israel at that time (Jdg. 2:7; 1Sa. 4:3; 8:4); under the kings 35 times (1Sa. 15:30; 30:26; 2Sa. 3:17; 5:3; 17:4, 17:15; 19:11; 1Ki. 8:1-3; 20:7-8; 21:8-11; 2Ki. 6:32; 23:1; 1Ch. 11:3; 15:25; 21:16; 2Ch. 5:2-4; Psm. 107:32; Jer. 26:17; 29:1; Lam. 1:19; 2:10; 4:16; 5:12-14; Eze. 8:1; 14:1; 20:1-3; Joel 1:14; 2:16); and in the gospel period 41 times (Mat. 15:2; 16:21; 21:23; 26:3-59; 27:1-41; 28:12; Mar. 7:3-5; 8:31; 11:27; 14:43, 14:53; 15:1; Luke 7:3; 9:22; 20:1; 22:52, 22:66; Act. 4:5, 4:8, 4:23; 22:5; 23:14; 25:15). Act. 14:23 regarding elders of the church, In the early church elders were the ministers and deacons, or preaching elders and business elders of the local churches.

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. Jos. 8:11

people of war... No doubt this entire force included many thousands of soldiers. Led by Joshua, this army was a diversionary force to decoy the defenders of Ai out of the city.

now there was... The second contingent was the main army which walked the 15 miles from Gilgal late the night before and camped in plain view on the north side of Ai.

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. Jos. 8:12

he took about... This was in addition to the 30,000 of Jos_8:3. The two groups could both have been on the west side of the city, the 30,000 having gone ahead of the main army and the 5,000 being sent later to take part in the ambush and capture of Ai. The whole army came into the valley before the city and stayed there the previous night (Jos. 8:11, 8:13-14). They could not have stayed in Gilgal until the morning of the attack for that would have meant a march of 4 to 6 hours to reach Ai, and the king came out against Israel early in the morning (Jos. 8:13-14).

lie in ambush... The third contingent was another ambush numbering 5,000 men who were positioned between Bethel and Ai to cut off the possibility of reinforcements from Bethel aiding the men of Ai. Joshua was in the valley north of Ai, a deep ravine in the hills.

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. Jos. 8:13

Joshua went that... Joshua was in the valley north of Ai, a deep ravine in the hills.

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. Jos. 8:14

came to pass... The plan worked to perfection. When the king of Ai saw Israel’s army he took the bait.

And Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness. 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. Jos. 8:15, 16

and all Israel... "All Israel" here must be understood in a limited sense, for 35,000 were in other places (Jos. 8:3, 8:12), and some stayed in Gilgal to protect the camp from attack. This helps us to understand "all the people" in Jos. 8:1.

made as if... Ai pursuing the Israelites who pretended defeat, the city of Ai was left unguarded.

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. Jos. 8:17

there was not... This was very foolish, but perhaps such battle plans were unknown to the Canaanites. It would have been wiser to leave the city protected and closed.

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. Jos. 8:18

And the LORD... The 9th prophecy in Joshua (Jos. 8:18, fulfilled, Jos. 8:20-26). Next, Jos. 10:8.

Stretch out the... This was the sign for those in ambush to attack the city (Jos. 8:18-19).

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. Jos. 8:19

the ambush arose... At Joshua’s signal the other troops quickly entered and set the city on fire.

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. Jos. 8:20

men of Ai... The consternation of the men of Ai was complete as they witnessed the billows of flame and smoke rising into the sky. Before they could gather their wits they were caught in a pincer movement of Israelite soldiers and were destroyed.

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. Jos. 8:21

and all Israel... "All Israel" here refers to those following Joshua, not those capturing Ai, or those in the camp at Gilgal, or on the other side of Jordan (Jos. 8:3, 8:12, 8:21-22; 4:13).

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. Jos. 8:22

so they were... By this strategy not one man of Israel was lost. None of Ai and Bethel escaped, and 12,000 were killed (Jos. 8:22-26).

And the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua. Jos. 8:23

And the king... It would have been interesting to see this defeated and proud king brought before Joshua, the humble and rugged servant of God, who was in every way a king himself.

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. Jos. 8:24

in the field... The Canaanites on the battlefield were destroyed first, then those in the city, and finally the city was burned (Jos. 8:24-25, 8:28-29).

And so it was, that all that fell that day, both of men and women, were twelve thousand, even all the men of Ai. Jos. 8:25

all that fell... Nothing is said of the children. According to the law, male children and women who were not virgins were killed, while female children and virgin women were spared as servants and wives for the Israelites (Num. 31:17-18; Deut. 21:10-14).

For Joshua drew not his hand back, wherewith he stretched out the spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai. Jos. 8:26

until he had... This was literally fulfilled (Deut. 7:2; 12:2; 20:17).

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. Jos. 8:27

Only the cattle... For this law see Num. 31:22-54.

word of the... Joshua gave this command in Jos. 8:2.

And Joshua burnt Ai, and made it an heap for ever, even a desolation unto this day. Jos. 8:28

burnt Ai] Just why some cities were destroyed and others spared is not clear unless some were more notorious for idolatry and immorality, and God wanted to make them monuments of His wrath on such sins. Ordinarily, both cities and spoil were to be saved for Israel so that no new cities would have to be built (Deut. 6:10-11; 19:1).

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 carcase 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. Jos. 8:29

king of Ai... Hanging was one method of capital punishment under the law (Deut. 21:22-23; Gal. 3:13). The Septuagint says "double tree," which could either have been a forked tree or an actual gallows. Either way, the body was removed at sundown (cp. Eph. 4:26).

Eleven Examples of Hanging

1. Pharaoh’s baker (Gen. 40:19-23)

2. Heads of rebellion in Israel (Num. 25:4)

3. King of Ai (Jos. 8:29)

4. Ahithophel (2Sa. 17:23)

5. Sons of Saul (2Sa. 21:6-13)

6. Bigthan and Teresh (Est. 2:21-23)

7. Haman and sons (Est. 7:9-10; 8:7; 9:13-25)

8. Judas Iscariot (Mat. 27:5)

9. Christ (Mat. 23:39-43; Act. 5:30; 10:39; Gal. 3:13; 1Pe. 2:24)

10. Two malefactors (Luke 23:39; cp. the hanging of others even after they were dead, Jos. 10:26; 2Sa. 4:12; 2Sa. 21:12-13)

11. Two thieves (Mat. 27:38)

heap of stones... It was customary to heap up stones as crude monuments of important events (Jos. 7:26; 8:28-29; Gen. 31:46-52; Deut. 13:16; 2Sa. 18:17-18). It was also customary for travelers to continue throwing stones on such heaps for criminals. Jews and Muslims for instance, were in the habit of casting stones upon Absalom’s tomb which he set up for himself in the king’s valley (2Sa. 18:18).

Joshua Renews the Covenant

Then Joshua built an altar unto the LORD God of Israel in mount Ebal, Jos. 8:30

built an altar... The solemn and significant religious ceremonies at this location involved three things. First, an altar of uncut stones was erected on Mount Ebal and sacrifices (consisting of burnt offerings and fellowship offerings; cf. Lev. 1:1-17; 3:1-17) were offered to the Lord. Jericho and Ai, in which false gods of the Canaanites were worshiped, had fallen. Israel now publicly worshiped and proclaimed her faith in the one true God.

As Moses the servant of the LORD commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lift up any iron: and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings. Jos. 8:31

As Moses the... After the victory of Ai Joshua did a strange and militarily foolish thing. Instead of securing the central sector of the land with further victories he led the Israelites on a spiritual pilgrimage. Why? Simply because Moses… had commanded it (Deut. 27:1-8).

Without delay Joshua led the men, women, children, and cattle from their camp at Gilgal northward up the Jordan Valley to the place specified, the mountains of Ebal (Jos. 8:30) and Gerizim (Jos. 8:33) which are at Shechem. The march of about 30 miles was not difficult or dangerous since they passed through a sparsely populated area. But how did the Israelites avoid a confrontation with the men of the city of Shechem, a fortress which guarded the entrance to the valley between the mountains?

The Bible does not record every battle of the Conquest and the record of the capture of Shechem may have been omitted. Or the city at that time may have been in friendly hands or it may simply have surrendered without resistance. But why was this location chosen? These mountains are located in the geographic center of the land and from either peak much of the Promised Land can be seen. Here then, in a place that represented all the land, both at the time of entrance into Canaan and also when his leadership was ending (cf. Jos. 24:1), Joshua challenged the people to renew their covenant vows to the Lord.

And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel. Jos. 8:32

And he wrote... Second, Joshua set up some large stones. On their surfaces he wrote a copy of the Law of Moses. How much of the Law was inscribed is not stated. Some suggest only the Ten Commandments were written, while others think the stone inscription included the contents of at least Deuteronomy 5-26. Archaeologists have discovered similar inscribed pillars or stelae six to eight feet long in the Middle East. And the Behistun Inscription in Iran is three times the length of Deuteronomy.

And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on this side the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, as well the stranger, as he that was born among them; half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel. Jos. 8:33

And all Israel... These mountains were only about 30 miles from Gilgal and 20 miles from Ai, but through hostile country (Deut. 11:29). Nevertheless, Joshua fulfilled Deut. 27:2, 27:4-14 as soon as possible, demonstrating his zeal to perform religious duties in the face of pressing affairs of conquest and dangers from surrounding enemies. Soon after this the Gibeonites surrendered (Jos. 9:1-27) and all of Israel was in the hands of Israel (Jos. 10:1-11:24).

And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law. Jos. 8:34

And afterward he... After blessing Israel, Joshua read all the words of the law to them—both the blessings and the curses.

in the book... This proves that the Pentateuch was originally written as one book, not five.

There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them. Jos. 8:35

There was not... Every word of the book of the law of Moses was read to Israel at this time.

the little ones... This is a good example to parents who think that small children do not understand long sermons or Scripture readings. Children understand more than parents think they do. Due to their simplicity of faith and not being influenced by various interpretations previously heard, they often understand better and retain more of the truth than some of the adults.