Joshua 8
Summary for Josh 8:1-13: 8:1-13 a The first attempt to conquer Ai had been done without consulting God; the second attempt would be made at God’s command and direction. Before the second attempt, God spoke to Joshua again and gave him a strategy. More importantly, in light of Israel’s recent disaster, God gave him encouragement and a promise. 8:1 b Do not be afraid or discouraged: God gave Joshua similar encouragement before sending him against Jericho (6:2 c).8:2 d Unlike other ancient nations, who went to war to gain wealth, Israel served as God’s agent of judgment upon the Canaanites; the plunder and the livestock were incidental.
• The strategy for capturing Ai was to plan an ambush. Joshua executed God’s simple instructions well.
• behind the town: On its west side (8:12 e).
8:3 f set out to attack Ai: This first sentence provides a summary; details are filled in over the next several paragraphs.
• The Hebrew words translated 30,000 might mean 30 units (see study note on Exod 12:37) or 30 chieftains. As the battle developed, this group would wait in ambush until Joshua called them out (Josh 8:18-19 g).
Summary for Josh 8:4-9: 8:4-9 h Joshua told the select squad what to expect from Israel’s main army. Because this special unit would be separated from Joshua’s command for nearly forty-eight hours, they needed to understand exactly what to do. Israel’s success in this second attempt on Ai depended on the precise timing of their rush into the town.
Summary for Josh 8:11-13: 8:11-13 i That the main army marched in front of the town indicates that Joshua did not try to hide them from the defenders of Ai. The main army came from the east and ended the day camped on the north side of Ai. The men in ambush were west of Ai, between Ai and Bethel.
8:14 j The king of Ai ... and all his army were recklessly eager to repeat their heroics of the previous battle. As Joshua and Israel had learned, such overconfidence is dangerous.
8:15 k Joshua and the Israelite army fled as in the first attack (7:4-5 l).
8:17 m not a man left in Ai or Bethel: Much of an individual soldier’s gain from warfare was his share of the spoils taken from the defeated enemy or a reward given by his king for each enemy he killed.
• The warriors of Bethel likely joined those of Ai because they also feared Israel’s advance.
Summary for Josh 8:18-19: 8:18-19 n Israel succeeded in this second attack on Ai because this time God directed the battle.
8:28 o Prior to its destruction, Ai was called by an unknown name. The writer of Joshua always referred to it as Ai (meaning “ruin”), the name it was given after its destruction.
8:29 p The public executions of the kings (see also 10:26 q; 11:10 r, 12 s) emphasized that Israel was God’s agent in the judgment of the leaders and people of Canaan for their wickedness.
• At sunset: See Deut 21:22-23 t.
• that can still be seen today: See Joshua Book Introduction, “Author and Date.”
Summary for Josh 8:30-31: 8:30-31 u Archaeologists have recently discovered an altar ... on Mount Ebal built of uncut stones and not shaped with iron tools. However, no inscription was found with it (8:32 v).
• Burnt offerings and peace offerings were prescribed in the laws of sacrifice that God gave Moses while Israel was still at Mount Sinai (Lev 1 w, 3 x). Moses gave specific commands for this ceremony (see Deut 11:26-32 y; 27:1–28:68 z).
8:32 aa Joshua fulfilled Moses’ command to set up stones and coat them with plaster (Deut 27:2-8 ab). After the plaster hardened, the instructions (Hebrew torah) would permanently be on public display at the first location where Israel formally worshiped the Lord after entering the land. The public display of laws occurred in other places; the best-known example is the famous Code of Hammurabi, which that king set up in Babylon.
Summary for Josh 8:33-35: 8:33-35 ac This ceremony marked the formal possession of the land, even though major campaigns against the Canaanites were still to come. The ritual of sacrifice and reading of the law highlighted the promises and obligations of God’s covenant with them and anticipated the eventual possession of all of Canaan. 8:33 ad The town of Shechem, located between Mount Gerizim to the south and Mount Ebal to the north, guarded the pass between the two mountains. Although the covenant renewal ceremony took place at Shechem, neither Joshua nor Judges records that Israel conquered the town.
• With every Israelite involved and the Ark positioned in the valley between the two groups, this ceremony was a promise to keep the covenant God had made with Israel at Sinai.
8:34 ae blessings ... curses: See Deut 27–28 af.
8:35 ag Old Testament religion was not just for the men of Israel; the entire assembly included the women and children.
• The foreigners who lived among the Israelites included people who came out of Egypt with Israel in the Exodus (Exod 12:38 ah, 48-49 ai). These converts had accepted the Lord as their God and joined Israel when they saw the great things God had done for Israel.
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