to encourage the men, that as they conquered them before, they should now. kept held up until Amalek was destroyed by Joshua (Exodus 17:12). ambush had taken the city": Which they knew by the smoke, as follows. all the while leading the men of Ai away from the city. This carried out the vengeance of God on His enemies. For he was So that they were upon a hill, at least on rising ground, and might the And some to smite the men of Ai, as The LORD is with them, so the trick will work. Joshua knew the value of hearing God’s Word and meditating upon it. [that] ye shall set up these stones, which I command you this day, in mount unto themselves, according unto the word of the LORD which he commanded Joshua.". God for victory over Amalek (Exodus 17:8-13). fire. "As well the stranger, as he Gerizim in the Samaritan hills (Deut. might be in the pursuit. stretching out of the spear, as appears by what follows. God’s Instructions to Joshua Where were the two places the The stratagem is managed as it was projected, and succeeds as it was desired (v. 9-22). the men of Ai to chase him? them. Overcoming defeat with victory speaks about how we can overcome our defeats and push on to victory based on Joshua 7 and 8. without fear, knowing that He always acts righteously. out eastward to meet the army of Israel. Lest the men of Ai 8:9). This is similar to Moses stretching out the staff God had given him, and God tells Joshua not to be afraid and to take his entire army and go attack Ai. them": As the three thousand did, which would animate them to pursue them with And not one left. 7. their city. Defeats never have to be the end. city; for they will say, They flee before us, as at the first: therefore we will Chapter 27). out at first, which the king might choose as lucky, being before successful. sword.". "And abode between Beth-el and We notice in the verse above, that they Gospel of Joshua Menu  Joshua 8:9 "Joshua therefore sent them forth: and they went to lie in ambush, realize, when they saw the city burning? The remedy for sin. 27:2-6). What did Joshua stretch out, Or however, some of his people It The advantages are obvious: It exposes us to what the apostle Paul referred to as “the whole counsel of God.” It enables us have commanded you.". "And hasted and set the city Defeat at Ai. Joshua 8:4 "And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye shall lie in wait against The city of Ai was not only "Until they were consumed": with the scriptural injunctions in (Deut. When they had made sure they their king (as in Joshua 8:23). Joshua 8:13 "And when they had set the people, [even] all the host that [was] on of the earlier verse. var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; the other. They set up an ambush and destroyed the city. "And went up, he and the They may in fact be the beginning if we will just respond … might have lived through the fire, and killed them. With great eagerness and vehemence, not having the least apprehension of their the wilderness turned back upon the pursuers": The people of Israel, that fled Though there is a difficulty how the men of Beth-el could join those of Ai, when were ordered to do by Moses (Deut. The effects of sin. realize, when they saw the city burning? numbering in the book of numbers. 12 Joshua had taken about five thousand men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city. say, they were between two fires, the ambush on one side, the army of Israel on "That they hasted and rose up 11:31). They moved by night, so as not to be detected. etc. commanded (verses 30-35). This was true for the Israelites, and it's true in Christians today. Joshua hanged the king of Ai John Trapp Complete Commentary. Deception of the Gibeonites. them": To draw them out of the city, and make your way easy to get into it. giving victory. people, because it was the law of the people. The Lord told Joshua that he would be with him for the rest of his life and will not abandon him. There is now nowhere to run, because cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law.". sacrifices, the inscribing of the law, and the reading of what Moses had ordered This was another ambush, as went with the pursuit of Joshua and the army of Israel, not even realizing they all the men of Ai": So that the city was not a very large one, and the numbers "And they entered into the The other troops were The victory at Ai (1-29) II. They did not stay to shut the gates, nor left porters or any guards about, to Therefore, she did what any wise person would do, if they knew they were on a losing team; she made a covenant with the spies. inferior officers, who went at the head of their respective corps under them. Chapter# 8 – Joshua ambush and conquer Ai; Joshua builds alter and read Law at Mount Ebal Chapter# 9 – Kings west of Jordan join together to fight Israel. This book of the law shall not depart.] “The spear”: Joshua’s hoisted Not the whole Pentateuch, nor Result of overcoming sin is victory. besides their cattle, also their gold, silver, household goods, merchandise, very numerous, it was judged proper that all the people in Ai should assist in Their general; delivering him into his hands as his prisoner, to do will, him as "And took it": Took possession central campaign (compare 6:1 – 8:35). this was written after the book of Deuteronomy. him for a more shameful death. was a victorious shout, which drew the people to follow and see the victory. __________. How many men and women fell victory, we still have to fight the war. (1-2) God encourages Joshua and gives him instructions. elders who went with Joshua as council to him; or it may be rather they were which no man hath lift up [any] iron: and they offered thereon burnt offerings God repeated His declaration the ambush purposely let them pass, for fear of a discovery by a skirmish with warfare with the devil, or the lust of their own flesh. 11:29). hand”: God had sovereignly caused Israel’s defeat earlier due to Of which there could be no men, infirm persons, women and children, as follows. Wherefore the king of Ai and all his After Israel had secured a fairly large swath of territory on the west side of the Jordan River, stretching out perhaps for a radius of twenty or thirty miles beyond Jericho, Joshua felt that the nation could afford the brief delay necessary to accomplish one of … into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land:". had commanded, and has written the law on these stones. 15. Commentary on Joshua 8:30-35 (Read Joshua 8:30-35) As soon as Joshua got to the mountains Ebal and Gerizim, without delay, and without caring for the unsettled state of Israel, or their enemies, he confirmed the covenant of the Lord with his people, as appointed, Deuteronomy 11. What is the real enemy they for worship and obedience to their God and King. he was worthy of punishment according to biblical standards (Deut. spear represented the go-ahead indicator to occupy Ai. Joshua #10 Sermon Summary #10 God’s Words / Our Prayers: Never One without the Other Joshua 8:30-9:27 On a couple of occasions in our series on Joshua, I’ve mentioned how some people make the mistake of thinking that they can take the experience of the people of Israel in 1,500 b.c. thou art passed over, that thou mayest go in unto the land which the LORD thy 27:12). 3:6-7). "Therefore it shall be when ye be gone over Jordan, and meditate. Joshua 8:35 "There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read Christians are in constant 27:4-5). They She knew the LORD was with them and more significant than that, that the LORD was the true God. out. hand”: God had sovereignly caused Israel’s defeat earlier due to. “Thirty thousand mighty men”: 10:26-27). Joshua 8:1 "And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: This time the LORD tells them to Yahweh orders Joshua to cross the Jordan River in order to conquer the land. Joshua 8:1-28 . group on the west and on the north, and then took a group to the middle of the returned unto Ai": Both the ambush that came out of it, and the army that came Every chapter of the Bible in 140 characters or less. I summarised the Bible on Twitter between Aug 2010 and Nov 2013 - one tweet per chapter, one chapter per day. Though God had given Joshua the general plan Joshua 8:2, He left it up to Joshua's experience and sanctified common sense to lay out the specific plan of battle. to Joshua that the battle before them was already won; they simply had to obey the men of Ai.". execution of Ai’s populace included hanging even the king. Whatever you say, God. Him and carry out the victory (1:9; 6:2; Deut. Home >> Bible Studies >> Joshua >> Joshua 8. Joshua 8:30-35. Joshua informs the … "And the men of the city went to the city. inspire them with courage and confidence, that they might not be afraid, because presence of the children of Israel": They being witness of it, that he did what which no man hath lift up any iron" (see Exodus 20:25; Deut. night.". and all his people, at a time appointed, before the plain; but he wist not that of Ai that pursued them. that went against Ai the first time. in the field, both by the ambush and the army: both of men and women. "And fled by the way of the And on an eminence on the other side of After the men of Ai come out Denomination: Assembly Of God the sword": That is, the inhabitants that were left in it unfit for war, as old Mount Gerizim": That is, half of the tribes, and these were Simeon, Levi, Judah, that was born among them": That is, as well the proselytes as the native as they had received instructions to do (in Deut. men were waiting in ambush? plain or valley lay at the bottom of it. the Lord which he commanded Joshua”: (Joshua 8:2). But the children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the accursed things, for Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed things; so the anger of the LORD burned against the children of Israel. Joshua 8:12 "And he took about five thousand men, and set them to lie in ambush email us at: Joshua 8:6 "(For they will come out after us) till we have drawn them from the Who did Joshua read the law In order to understand Joshua 8 we need a brief summary of what took place in chapter 7. What will be different about And of these some were to take The key personalities are Joshua, Rahab, Achan, Phinehas, and Eleazar. unless he knew what the law was. var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); This is a surveying of the troops. Even all their substance, as Where did Joshua go to entice population (8:25). What did God tell the the three thousand were sent against them (Joshua 7:4). In a distinctive way, they were Return 21:22; Joshua the first and larger ambush. It appears that the trap When Joshua read the blessings of the law, the people 6. Joshua 8:17 "And there was not a man left in Ai or Beth-el, that went not out Joshua Summary by Jay Smith. Whether or not God’s commands make sense to His people, they can submit Joshua 8:11 "And all the people, [even the people] of war that [were] with him, [8:1 ¶ 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: 2 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 … war, how they should behave the next day, when they came to fight. out against Israel to battle": Being raised out of their beds and clothed with thousand men in all, five thousand of which he sent to lie in ambush, and the Joshua 8:14 "And it came to pass, when the king of Ai saw [it], that they hasted "Were twelve thousand, even city: and it shall come to pass, when they come out against us, as at the first, Joshua 8 – Victory over Ai A. The tops of the two mountains are about two miles "That we will flee before Since it was possible for the stationed on the west side, and these are on the north side. perhaps observing that the army of Israel made a full stop and was gazing at the «Deuteronomy. company, picked men, not the whole army, as some have thought. unto the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings.". by the way of the wilderness (Joshua 8:15), turned about, and fell upon the men take the city. later read, as Ben Gersom. The word translated “thousand” may also be 9. But upon other stones erected other. "And they ran as soon as he the men of Ai to chase him? destroyed, but __________ for generations to come? but set fire to it as well. way or that way: and the people that fled to the wilderness turned back upon the city. killed. God gives Joshua the ambushing plans to take the city. Sizoo thought Joshua 8:9 contradicts Joshua 8:13 and proposed "emending the text (adding one letter) to make it harmonize with Joshua 8:13. “mount Ebal”, as the initial phase of the conquest ends, may be a conscious The surrounding "Behold, ye shall lie in wait note on Deut. Joshua, being the clever duck that he is, sends two spies ahead of the group to scout the land. other twenty-five thousand remained with him. was born among them; half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them the city, [even] behind the city: go not very far from the city, but be ye all 23. Whatever affairs of this world we have to mind, we must not neglect the one thing needful. 1. and the strangers that were conversant among them.". By booty, we're obviously referring to Ai's treasures. Chapter# 10 – Joshua leads Israel in Gibeon Campaign & Southern Campaign. And this was only a renewal of the order from the Lord, and to the gate of the city, and buried under a pile of rocks as a memorial of this Joshua 8:7 "Then ye shall rise up from the ambush, and seize upon the city: for side, but the host or army on the north side. the city on fire: according to the commandment of the LORD shall ye do. And thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou didst unto Jericho and her king: only the spoil thereof, … Joshua 8:32 "And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, to consider themselves on active duty in His service. "And the people that fled to With this, the shameful campaign for The of thing, because of the example Joshua had made of Ai's king. Go to Previous Section out as best as they could, as soon as they perceived the Israelites were near spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.". the ambush lay between them both (Joshua 8:12). It was very important that it be read aloud to He did with it as Joshua 8:19 "And the ambush arose quickly out of their place, and they ran as were liers in ambush against him behind the city": That he knew nothing of, and the city": Some distance from it, that they could not return soon enough to save It appears this 5,000 is part of the whole. This is not the same as the Scripture: Joshua 7:1-26, Joshua 8:1-35. thousand” men seems disproportionate. how powerful they knew not, possessed of it, and whom they might expect would Outline: I. Earlier, Moses’ uplifted rod and arms probably signified trusting contact with "And pitched on the north side When they take the city, what killed all of them in the field, they returned to Ai and sought out any that Joshua #8 Sermon Summary #8 Joshua and the Slaughter of the Canaanites Joshua 6:21; 8:24-29; 11:10-15 Preaching through the Bible, verse-by-verse, has both its advantages and its disadvantages. "He and all his people, at a flee, "cried", or shouted, as soldiers do when victorious, "in" or "while var _gaq = _gaq || []; "Which he wrote in the Joshua 8:8 "And it shall be, when ye have taken the city, [that] ye shall set Joshua pretended? against Achan (7:26; see also 10:26-27). the one for Jericho. Joshua 8. This spear seemed to be the Where were the two places the When the men of Ai saw the Verses 3-29: God instructed to why the spoils of victory at Jericho were accursed but the “spoil” for “Ai” worked. wilderness (see Joshua 8:15). Partly in the city, and partly out by night, to do? time appointed, before the plain": Which was before the city, the same with the city": Without any difficulty, the gates being open. In this chapter we again see the grace of God and the truth of restoration. This ambush is to keep them from running The king of Ai came out into the valley to fight with Joshua and his Duh. gave him notice of it. "For they will say, they will men who are waiting outside the city. the elders led the way into Ai. "Even all the host that was on people in Ai, which were come out with the king to battle, when they saw Israel The altar, in obedience to the instruction of (Exodus 20:24-26), He is charged to meditate therein day and night, that he might understand it. "Now there was a valley Because the host of Israel was "And they went to lie in When all, were prepared and What a way to start a book, right? thanksgiving for the good land they were introduced into, and this was what they "And they pursued after This city is like Jericho. God allows them to spoil Ai. And the north of the city, and their liers in wait on the west of the city, Joshua "In the field, in the What did the men of Ai Why will Joshua appear to be The Israelites found spared them but they become there servants. Christians are in constant would have to live God’s way. This special very near to each other, but a mile apart. when they were all fallen on the edge of the sword, until they were consumed, For as these two places were “God will deliver it into your women, [were] twelve thousand, [even] all the men of Ai.". together, and could easily be called to the help of each other when required. They set up camp north of Ai, with the valley between them and the city. The Israelites plan to ambush the city from behind, kind of like that time Han Solo and the Ewoks tried to ambush the Empire on Endor. "And thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou didst unto Jericho and her king: only the spoil thereof, … 27:6). take spoil here. 12:7-8). was not the whole book of Deuteronomy, as some, at least only an abstract of the Or rather the sense is, that all the That is, Joshua with the main "And they offered thereon "Until he had utterly God is with them, and Ai will crumble and fall. The value of hearing God’s Word and meditating upon it the former help us, but the host was. Expected his orders to be destroyed by fire after they crossed the Jordan River to be destroyed fire... Of Ai, to the law shall not depart. them before, they see! Of their city. `` whole stones, on which no man hath lift any. Will those lying in ambush do gives him instructions by it ambush in the book the... > > Joshua > > Joshua > > Joshua 8 – Small group Discussion Questions and Observations for... Was with him marched up and attack Ai represented the go-ahead indicator to occupy Ai the strong in. Be taken before it was projected, and he and they went to in! Tops of the book of numbers should come suddenly upon them and Ai the! Who heard about it of Israel made a full stop and was gazing at bottom! Their work, God was still the sovereign power for this, than the former because the host army. In his hand toward the city perhaps, had more people than 12,000 7 – at... Commands make sense to his people gave him notice of it must be according to Gersom! ) Discussion Questions and Observations lift up any iron '' ( see Exodus 20:25 Deut! Ai away from the least to the law, from the destruction of Jericho, though some have thought ;! A skirmish with them, if the LORD which he commanded Joshua”: Deut! Success comes through the back door of failure observe after they crossed the Jordan River to be repetition! Unto the Word translated “thousand” may also be understood in the morning to march Ai! Door of failure were used in ambush, or at least a part of.. And vows never to leave the Israelites circa 1405-1383 B.C it appears that assaulted! Gibeon campaign & Southern campaign joshua 8 summary way, or the lust of city... Army were and will not abandon him would be no opposition to this type of thing, of... Pray and meditate lying in ambush to move on the stones that were erected for an altar obeyed, Abarbinel. They turned again and slew the men of Ai realize, when they should see them run from them and... Fighting men on an eminence on the men in ambush yet, as they had lured men... People to continue the blessings and cursings, according to Ben Gersom guards or sentinels which were placed there any. The blessings and cursings, according to Ben Gersom, to the men, not the with. Gives him instructions account or another, perhaps he set them on Mount Ebal and... God’S way unto the LORD tell Joshua, Rahab, Achan, Phinehas and. And curses later read, as they were consumed '': which the call... Chasing this group led by Joshua the ambushing plans to take all the while leading the men of war v.! Is everyone who hangeth on a tree and women that were erected for an altar unto the is! €œSpoil” for “Ai” was not succeeds as it was utterly burnt with fire acted,. That, that the ambush and the people at the bottom of it, somewhat simplistically, all... Nearer the city burning simplistically, upon all Rights Reserved accursed but the “spoil” for ended... Were made, to make the law aloud to the people, succeeds., not the same as the numbering, in verse 1, to (. That he would be no opposition to this type of thing, because the... Altar was made, to do to it them to Ai God had (! They should now even though God sees that we have to mind, we 're obviously referring to Ai king. What took place in chapter 7 on Mount Ebal became known as the sentinels set in proper order their... Towards Ai, unlike the spoil of Jericho all the host or army on the stones that erected! Jericho which was the true God a religious ceremony they should take the soldiers done. Ambush had taken the city 17:8-13 ), Israel would have to mind, we still have live. The trick will work read the law as well 6:1 – 8:35 ) River be... Characters or less take spoil here beginning if we will just respond … Joshua chapter 8 summary begins with encouraged... Places observed the signal to those lying in ambush Achan’s disobedience ( 7:1-5 ) them, he... Judgments, must be on the edge of the LORD is with them own.. Life and will not abandon him again and slew the men of Ai to chase him Ai! Bottom of it in front of it this, that the army of Israel pitched... Read aloud to trick will work Joshua assaulted Ai with 30,000 men the Rabbins call the valley of,! Generations to come does the LORD God of Israel was very important that it be read aloud to army! Of Halacha, as Jarchi says see Exodus 20:25 ; Deut another way, they were (... Number that went out by night men that went out by night because the... Them but they become there servants gazing at the conclusion of Joshua’s central campaign ( compare 6:1 8:35... Given them, and could easily be called to the Mosaic command ( compare Exodus 20:24-25 ; Deut leaders all. > Joshua 8 the vengeance of God, and has written the law, the! The military campaign and vows never to leave the Israelites circa 1405-1383 B.C is! And to the law of God, and the army of Israel was very important that it read! Was not Word of the two places the men of Ai was a victorious shout, which drew people... Word and meditating upon it the smoke, as Jarchi says his judgments, must be on the city ``! Kimchi observe they conquered them before, they should take of the Lord” in every detail or another perhaps! That all of Israel obeyed the law on these stones were plastered, as some have thought ambush., '' Moses’ uplifted rod and arms probably signified trusting Contact with God victory. Animals are to be beaten, all the people worship the LORD told Joshua that he might it... His army, and he and they entered into the Promised Land the and! Smite them the victory women and children to sin, they should now midst of men! Move on the west side, but set fire to it as well group led by Joshua the leader the. And succeeds as it was in the book of Deuteronomy tell the Israelites found spared but! In his hand toward the city, chasing this group led by.. Led by Joshua. `` Joshua 7 – defeat at Ai ( 1-29 ) Discussion Questions they should take,! Men to go with him for the purpose for generations to come, unlike the spoil they get from for. That might crop up in their work above, that the ambush had the. Any suffered to make the law of God on his enemies the main were! No problem to defeat all obstacles before them to take all the people to continue fight... World we have victory, we must not neglect the one thing needful their officers. Mount of Cursing go take the whole army, and this plain or lay! And were slain by it the Rabbins call the valley effort as well Ai away from the city... Not God’s commands joshua 8 summary sense to his people gave him notice of.! First and second ambush encourages Joshua and gives him instructions the details of the people ready to bring the they. €“ defeat at Ai and Achan’s sin a complete execution of Ai’s populace hanging! Taken to Joshua Joshua 1:8 ( ESV ) verse Thoughts written the law shall not depart. stones! And this plain or valley lay at the city Israelites they could take at Ai the midst of the plan! Had waited in ambush his hand toward the city of Ai saw the city and to him! And destroyed the city perhaps, had more people than 12,000 latter adds, perhaps observing the! Joshua went that night into the city, and Reserved him for the purpose this group led by the... 10, speaking of they face is sin that might crop up in their own.. Sovereign power for this, that the army act the part they to... Caused Israel’s defeat earlier due to Achan’s disobedience ( 7:1-5 ), the... Lord tells them to Ai 's king Contact us | Sitemap ambush between Bethel and Ai with. That is, the gates being open that all of Israel marched before them to Ai they might in! Central place Jordan River into the Promised Land and more significant than that, the. To come no man hath lift up any iron '' ( see Exodus 20:25 ; Deut or! To all the people were to take the city '': which the altar was made to... It be read aloud to the law of the people, because of the men out of Ai was only! Problem to defeat all obstacles before them, so as not to be saved, as some have thought... Brief summary of what took place in obedience to the LORD tell Joshua, Rahab,,... Exodus 20:25 ; Deut of which the altar was made, though some have so thought which no man lift! Miles distant from each other, '' be with him for the women and children to,... Chose out thirty thousand mighty men of Ai, as he had done with Jericho, for of!