A Journey Through The Old Testament - Elmer Towns

The sin of Achan would cost Israel thirty-six lives and their only humiliation in their
conquest of Canaan (v. 5). In addition to the sin of Achan, it has been suggested the initial loss at
Ai was due to two other tactical errors. First, Joshua erred in sending only a few men to the small
city. The name Ai means “ruin” and may have been applied to the city by the Israelites much as
one might speak of a small place today as a “little dump.” Joshua’s actions suggest he may have
begun depending on human strength rather than God. Second, there is no hint of prayer seeking
the will of God concerning Ai before the initial assault. Perhaps if that prayer had been offered
first, the sin of Achan would have been discovered earlier.
Achan had dedicated himself to the work of God with the rest of Israel in a death pact. By
the drawing of lots, he was revealed to be the cause of Israel’s problems. He gave God glory by
confessing his sin (see v. 19). Because he had broken the conditions of the death pact by
disobeying the clear command of Joshua, he and his family were stoned in a valley which
eventually bore his name. He was buried under the heap of stones that killed him together with
the garment, gold, and silver which he had stolen from Jericho.
The battle of Ai (8:1-35)
With the sin of Achan resolved, Israel could return to the work of conquering the
Promised Land. This time Joshua involved all the army. He set a total of 35,000 men on the
north and west sides of the city in two ambush parties. Then he led the rest of the army into a
valley to fight the king of Ai. Joshua then feigned a defeat and retreat. When the people of Ai
and the neighboring city of Bethel saw the army of Israel retreating, they left their cities
unguarded and went into the valley to fight. This gave the two ambush parties an opportunity to
destroy the cities. As the men of Ai and Bethel saw the city of Ai burning, they lost what
enthusiasm they may have had for the battle. Knowing they had already lost, they looked for an
escape, but even those who made it to the mountains were caught and killed. Some 12,000
residents of Ai were killed in battle, and the king of Ai was hung. His carcass was placed under a
heap of stones at what had formerly been the gate to the now-burned city.
No mention is made in the took of Joshua as to how Joshua defeated the king of Bethel,
but it is generally assumed he was defeated in this battle. The two cities were near each other and
appear to have been allied together in the battle against Joshua (v. 17). Recent archeological
investigations in the region near Bethel have resulted in the discovery of ruins thought by some
to be the true site of Ai. There is evidence at this sight that the city was burned about the time of
Joshua’s conquest of Canaan.
PERSPECTIVE
The central campaign was successful because it divided the enemy in the Promised Land.
The Amorites in the south were cut off from the Canaanites in the north. Joshua concluded this
part of his battle strategy by building an altar on Mount Ebal. Recent archeological research on
Mount Ebal has resulted in the discovery of an altar some believe to be Joshua’s altar. There he
divided his army, half on Mount Gerizim, the other half on Mount Ebal, “and afterward he read
all the words of the Law, the blessings and the cursings, according to all that is written in the
Book of the Law” (8:34).
TWENTY-SEVEN