Joshua 8:23-24 – But the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him near to Joshua. When Israel had finished killing all the inhabitants of Ai in the open wilderness where they pursued them, and all of them to the very last had fallen by the edge of the sword, all Israel returned to Ai and struck it down with the edge of the sword.
Chapter 8 deals with the conquest of the city of Ai. As we studied in our last post, God spoke to Joshua and confirmed that he was once again going to fight for Israel, since the devoted things had been removed from the nation.
God then proceeded to give Joshua a plan for capturing Ai – he was to set an ambush behind the city.
So Joshua instructed the troops marching towards the gates to fake a retreat. Once the enemy chased after them, the detachment of men hidden behind Ai rushed out, took the city, set it on fire, then turned and attacked the rear guard of Ai's army. At the same time, the soldiers who were faking a retreat turned and began to fight in earnest. The troops of Ai were caught in the middle of the two groups and slaughtered by Israel.
The Israeli forces also captured the king of Ai and brought him to Joshua. As the leader of his kingdom, he was singled out for intentional public disgrace and reproach. His execution was to be a warning to the other kings of Canaan.
That being accomplished, the troops headed back to Ai where they destroyed every person who was left in the city – men, women and children.� None of them were spared; all were destroyed.
While that may seem harsh to those in our culture, we should remind ourselves that the decision to kill everyone in the city was not made by Joshua or the army commanders. It had been mandated by God, the righteous judge, who knows the hearts of every person. Israel was simply the minister of his justice.
Joshua 8:25 – And all who fell that day, both men and women, were 12,000, all the people of Ai.
When the scripture says that those slain were 'all the people of Ai', it does not mean only the inhabitants of that city but rather all the people associated with it.� As you recall from our last post, the nearby town of Beth-el sent a detachment of soldiers to assist the army of Ai.� Based on the narrative in scripture, we know that the soldiers of Beth-el perished alongside the men of Ai and they are included in the phrase 'all the people of Ai'.�
Joshua 8:26 – But Joshua did not draw back his hand with which he stretched out the javelin until he had devoted all the inhabitants of Ai to destruction.
As we noted in our last post, Joshua was standing on high ground with his javelin in his hand when the battle began. Many scholars believe he had a flag, ensign or banner secured to the javelin. When the time was right, God signaled Joshua to stretch out his javelin toward Ai. This was the signal for Israel to stop their fake retreat, turn around, and begin earnestly fighting the enemy.
Scripture tells us that Joshua 'did not draw back his hand' until all the people of Ai were dead. What is meant by that?
- Some people think it means that the entire army, as directed by Joshua, did not stop their attack until all of their enemies were slain.
- Others say that once Joshua raised his spear, he did not lower his hand/weapon until the battle was over and the city was taken.�
Again, as we mentioned in our last post, if this was the case the circumstances would have been very similar to the battle between Israel and Amalek. During that battle, as long as Moses kept his arms/hands in the air Israel was victorious, but whenever he put his arms/hands down, Israel's enemies were victorious. Moses had people who actually assisted him by holding his arms up during the battle. Could it be that Joshua had that kind of assistance too?
In either case, it was clear that God was assisting Israel in the battle and that he should be praised and worshiped for the victory.�
Joshua 8:27 – Only the livestock and the spoil of that city Israel took as their plunder, according to the word of the Lord that he commanded Joshua.
Once the people had been destroyed, the men of Israel went into the city and looted it. They brought all the plunder to the priests and elders, who then divided it up equally between all the men of Israel; the share of the man who went to battle was the same as the share of the man who stayed behind.
Thus, the wealth of the wicked was given to the just (Proverbs 13:22). Israel used the livestock, money and other treasure to sustain them until the Promised Land was taken and they could return to more civilian pursuits like farming or shepherding.
Joshua 8:28 – So Joshua burned Ai and made it forever a heap of ruins, as it is to this day.
As we noted earlier in this chapter, God instructed Joshua to treat Ai in the exact same manner as he did Jericho, with the exception of the spoil. This meant that Ai was to be destroyed and burned, just as Jericho was. It also meant that the soldiers could take anything and everything of value from the city.
Once the city had been emptied of all that was worth taking, Israel set the place on fire until it was nothing more than a heap of ashes.
We know that Joshua spoke a curse over anyone that would rebuild the city of Jericho. Nothing of that kind is mentioned in connection with Ai, yet we find no more mention of it in scripture which seems to indicate that it was never rebuilt.
Now is a good time for us to notice that Jericho and Ai are the only two cities in Canaan whose capture is fully detailed. The conquest of these two cities is believed to be an example or a blueprint of all the rest of the battles fought by Israel as she claimed the Promised Land. Let's examine that in greater detail.
- In the battle of Jericho, we find that the miraculous hand of God is very prevalent.� God goes before his people and does things they cannot do.� In these cases, Israel's army has a 'lesser' role in the victory, although they are still actively involved in the outcome.
- In the battle of Ai, we find the opposite.� The labor of Israel is more prominent; God either chooses not to use miraculous intervention or his intervention is hidden from view.� However, this does not mean that Israel stood alone.� We know she was assisted by God at every step, even though there were times when her army had a more traditional role in the conquest of an enemy.
Together, these two victories give us a picture of the partnership between Israel and God in the taking of the land.
In our world today, there are still demonic strongholds that need to be conquered by the church. We can expect for these battles to be similar to those fought by Israel under Joshua (and Moses). In every instance, the victory will be obtained by a partnership between the church and Holy Spirit.
What is our role in the partnership?
- We must be well prepared for battle by having on the full armor of God (Galatians 6).��
- We must never be afraid or dismayed; we must trust God fully because he fights on our side (Joshua 1:9).
- We must always listen and follow the instructions of God, just as Joshua did (Joshua 8:2) even if those commands don't make sense in the natural realm.
- We must always remember that the battle is first won in the spiritual realm through prayer and fasting (Zechariah 4:6).� Victory is the result of God's Spirit, not our own strength or intelligence.� Once victory is established in the spiritual realm, it will be manifested in the natural realm.�
What is God's role in the partnership?
- God directs the battle and enforces the victory.� If a miracle is needed, he will provide one whether it be financial, political, military, provisional (water, food, etc) or even weather related (Joshua 10:11)!
Joshua 8:29 – And he hanged the king of Ai on a tree until evening.� And at sunset Joshua commanded, and they took his body down from the tree and threw it at the entrance of the gate of the city and raised over it a great heap of stones, which stands there to this day.
It was now time for the punishment of the King of Ai, who was said to be notoriously wicked and a blasphemer of Jehovah. His blasphemy of God no doubt reached a high point after Ai's first victory against Israel.
This man did not die an honorable death in battle. Instead, he was brought before Joshua like a criminal who is taken to court and sentenced to death as a malefactor or criminal.
Although his body was hanged on a tree as a public display, he was most likely dead before being placed there.� Back in the times of ancient Israel it was not customary to hang people alive as we would picture today.� Criminals worthy of death were killed another way (often by strangling), and their bodies hung up for display after death.
Deuteronomy 21:22-23 - And if a man has committed a sin worthy of death, and he is to be put to death, and you hang him on a tree: His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but you shall surely bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that your land be not defiled, which the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance.
According to the command of God, the body was taken down at the end of the day and thrown in the entrance to the destroyed city. Some scholars feel this was because the entrance to the city was the place where he sat in judgment of others; it represented the seat of power where he made unrighteous decrees and where he blasphemed the Lord of Hosts. Therefore, it was fitting for him to be cast there after his untimely death.
A heap of stones was placed over the body. The heap was a testimony to the eventual end of the wicked; those who rebel against God will fall under his judgment. It was also a testimony that God was alive and well and fighting on behalf of his people.
Joshua 8:30-31 – At that time Joshua built an altar to the Lord, the God of Israel, on Mount Ebal just as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the people of Israel, as it is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, "an altar of uncut stones, upon which no man has wielded an iron tool." And they offered on it burnt offerings to the Lord and sacrificed peace offerings.
Verses 30-35 have caused a difference opinion among students of the scriptures.�
On the one hand, verses 30-35 seem quite out of place. Israel has only recently crossed the Jordan River and has only taken two cities on the edge of the Promised Land.
It is difficult to imagine that Israel would pause at this point and undertake the solemn events which occurred on Mount Ebal, because that mountain is located in the center of the country – territory that is still under the control of the Canaanites.
Furthermore, the distance from Gilgal (the home base of Israel) and Mount Ebal is approximately 30 miles.� Those who feel these verses are out of place say it would be almost impossible for the nation to march 30 miles into enemy territory and spend time observing these rites on Mount Ebal without being attacked by one or more enemies.
Those who believe this theory also point out that the very next narrative (the deception of the Gibeonites) which takes place in Joshua 9:1, clearly takes place in the context of a spirit of fear which has come upon the people of Gibeon due to the conquest of Jericho and Ai.�
Those who hold to this opinion believe that this passage, Joshua 8:30-35, should actually be at the end of Joshua chapter 11, as a climax to the record of Joshua's victories. They believe the events on Mount Ebal took place much later in the history of Israel.
Others believe that the events described in verses 30-35 did, in fact, occur just after the conquest of Ai and before the deception of Gibeon.
Those who hold this opinion point out that with the conquest of Ai, Israel gained possession of a major thoroughfare – the road to Shechem. They also believe that much of the land directly north was wooded and sparsely inhabited. When combined with the fact that a renewed fear of Israel had fallen upon the people of Canaan, it would not have been a problem for the entire nation of Israel to travel to Mount Ebal just after the fall of Ai.
Furthermore, proponents of this theory believe there is a definite reason behind the events taking place at this specific time. Their reasoning goes something like this:
The purpose of the conquest of Canaan was to establish a nation that lived by the laws of God. This nation would be an example of God's love and power to the rest of the world. Through their example, they would draw other nations (people) into a relationship with God.
In keeping with that purpose, God gave Israel a divine opportunity to proclaim/announce/establish his Word in the heart of the country almost immediately after they entered it. �
This was significant because once God's law was established/proclaimed in the land, Israel then moved forward to remove all those who rebelled against it. Thus, it was vital that the law of God be publicly proclaimed in the land immediately.
Both theories have compelling points. Which do you believe is true?
While you are making up your mind, let's examine what took place at Mount Ebal in more detail.
During the lifetime of Moses, God commanded that three things should occur after Israel entered the Promised Land:
- They were to go to Mount Ebal, build an altar there and sacrifice to the Lord.�
- They were to erect stone pillars, cover them with plaster, and write the law of God upon them.�
- They were to listen to the priests call out the blessings and curses. ��
We find these commands in Deuteronomy:
Deuteronomy 27:4-5 - Therefore it shall be when you are gone over Jordan, that you shall set up these stones, which I command you this day, in mount Ebal, and you shall plaster them with plaster. And there shall you build an altar unto the LORD your God, an altar of stones: you shall not lift up any iron tool upon them.
First, let's discuss the altar. It had to be of uncut stones, which was the standard way of making an altar to God. According to scripture, if man cut or shaped the stones in any way with iron tools, the altar would be polluted (Exodus 20:25).
The purpose of the altar was to offer burnt offerings (atonement for sin) and peace offerings (worship, fellowship, communion with God) to the Lord:
Deuteronomy 27:7 - And you shall offer peace offerings, and shall eat there, and rejoice before the LORD your God.
Previously, this had been done when the covenant was established between God and Israel (Exodus 24:5). By the observance of these same rites, Israel was effectively renewing their covenant with God in the Promised Land.
Joshua 8:32 – And there, in the presence of the people of Israel, he wrote on the stones a copy of the Law of Moses, which he had written.
Unlike the altar, the stone pillars could be shaped by iron tools.� We are not told how many of them were actually erected, but there was quite a bit of writing to do.� Once the pillars were formed and erected, they were covered with 'plaster' which probably contained a mixture of lime and other elements.� At some point, the law of God was inscribed into the surface.� Thus, a public record of the law of God was created in the center of the Promised Land.
Deuteronomy 27:8 - And you shall write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly.
But what, exactly, was written on the stones? The stones definitely did not contain the totality of the law; it would be an almost impossible task to put the entire Pentateuch on the stones. Besides, it would be too much for anyone to stand there and read! We can be sure that the Ten Commandments were definitely written on the pillars, but was there anything else?
In the context of Deuteronomy 27 & 28, the 'law' refers to the blessings and curses which were announced during this solemn occasion (you can go back and read them yourself). Therefore, it is assumed that these same blessings and curses were also written on the stone pillars. Thus, the blessings for obeying God (and the curses for rebellion) were clearly spelled out for everyone who lived in the Israel.
This brings up an interesting point – It could be said that if the priesthood or the children of Israel fell into sin, the rocks would cry out/testify to the truth of God's law!
Joshua 8:33 – And all Israel, sojourner as well as native born, with their elders and officers and their judges, stood on opposite sides of the ark before the Levitical priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, half of them in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, just as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded at the first, to bless the people of Israel.
Now we come to the third command that God gave Israel when she entered the Promised Land – the reading of the blessings and curses.
If we go back and examine the original command given through Moses in Deuteronomy 27, we find that six of the tribes of Israel were to stand upon Mount Ebal. These six tribes were Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali (Deuteronomy 27:13). The tribes were probably stationed near the base of the mountain.
The other six tribes – Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph (Ephriam and Manasseh) and Benjamin – stood on the base/lower slopes Mount Gerizim, which was directly opposite Mount Ebal.�
The priests and the Ark of the Covenant were in the valley between the two mountains.
When everything was quiet, Joshua began by reciting the blessings first. After each blessing was spoken by the Joshua, the entire nation of people would shout 'amen'.
After all the blessings had been spoken aloud, Joshua moved on to read the curses. Again, there was a pause after each curse where the children of Israel would shout 'amen'.
The word 'amen' actually means 'so be it'. By saying 'amen' the children of Israel were acknowledging the consequences they would face based on whether or not they followed the law.
Joshua 8:34-35 - And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessing and the curse, according to all that is written in the Book of the Law. There was not a word of all that Moses commanded that Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, and the women, and the little ones, and the sojourners who lived among them.
It is good to note that the entire nation of Israel was present during this time.� As the blessings and curses were read, everyone from the oldest and most respected elder to the youngest child was included.� This showed that no one was exempt from the consequences of either obeying or disobeying the law.� Those in positions of power such as judges or officers were just as much under the law as the lowliest hand maid.�
Second, we note that everyone, even strangers who desired to live in the land, were included under the law. This was an encouragement to all proselytes who acknowledged Jehovah as God. It was also a foreshadowing of the age of grace, when Gentiles would be welcomed into the kingdom of God.
Please note:� God's intentions are to bless his people.� If anyone fell under a curse, it was due to their own disobedience. God very plainly laid before them life and death, blessings and cursing (Deuteronomy 30:19) and it was up to them to make the choice.� That hasn't changed; we still have the same choice today! ��
Did you know that Israel was required to have a public reading of the Law once every seven years (Deuteronomy 31:10-11)?
Did you also know that when Israel entered the era of the kings, each king was supposed to write his own personal copy of the law (Pentateuch) with his own hand (Deuteronomy 17:18-20), so that he would know the law and be reminded to live by it? What a great idea – I wish we could get our government leaders to do the same!
Let me offer you some encouragement:
In today's post, we noted that Jericho and Ai are examples or blueprints of the way God's people partner with him on earth. Sometimes, the work of God is more obvious, especially when he works a miracle on our behalf. At other times, the labor of God's people is more evident, even though God is still with them at every step.
We also noted that in the world today, there are demonic strongholds that need to be vanquished. This will occur through a similar partnership between God and his people, the church.
Personally, I believe this is one reason why Satan tries so hard to cause strife and divisions within the body of Christ. Think about this: Scripture tells us that one child of God can cause 1000 enemies of God to run, but two children of God can cause 10,000 to flee (Deuteronomy 32:30). There is power in unity!
One of the signs of Christian maturity is that we are able to overlook minor faults or differences of opinion which would otherwise cause strife or division among the members of the church. When we do so, we promote unity in the body.
I encourage you to begin practicing unity within your own church congregation. There are some things that we can just agree to disagree on! In other words, don't let small insignificant differences of opinion stop you from joining your brothers and sisters in fighting spiritual battles together.
Let me offer you some relief:
In our relationship with God there are some things that only he can do.
For instance, you can share the gospel with someone, but only Holy Spirit can activate that word in the heart of a person and cause them to be saved. You can pray for someone in faith, but only God can heal them.
I know people who don't want to share the gospel or pray for others, because it seems like nothing happens when they do.
If that describes you, let me give you some relief – you don't have to be stressed out. Just stick to doing your own job (sharing/praying) and let God worry about his (producing results).
When you learn to follow the commands of God and stand in faith, you will be free from worry and doubt.
Let me offer you some strength:
Our lesson today makes it obvious that God places a high premium on both his word and our relationship/fellowship with him.
In ancient Israel, copies of the law were kept in the tabernacle and were read to the people by the priests. Aren't you glad that things have changed? Now, each one of us can have our own copy of God's word. We have paper copies, electronic copies and even audio recordings of it. We are more blessed by access to the word of God than ever before!
The same is true of our fellowship with God. In ancient Israel, people fellowshipped with God through the prescribed festivals/feasts that occurred during the year, as well as through offerings and sacrifices.� But today, we can fellowship with God anytime!� Because of the sacrifice of Christ, we have unlimited, open access to his presence.� We can fellowship with him through prayer, fasting, communion, praise and worship.�
God has blessed us far over and above the privileges that Israel enjoyed, so take advantage of those blessings.� As we spend more time in his presence, he will strengthen us for whatever battles lie before us (Psalms 18:39)! ��