Jos. 8: Joshua vs. Ai II: This Time, It's Biblical

Joshua 8:26 "For Joshua did not draw back the hand that held out his javelin until he had destroyed all who lived in Ai."

Another military victory for Joshua. This time they get it right. This time, God is in on the plan, rather than Joshua just sending dudes out to take over a city. They use some strategy this time out, setting an ambush. The men of Ai, confident in their recent victory over Israel, probably assume its more of the same when Israel sends men up against them and then flee again. But this time, Israel had more dudes west of Ai. When the men of Ai pursued Joshua's men, the ambush dudes waltzed right in and burnt the bejeebers out of Ai. Then the men turn around and see their city burning. Can you imagine that?

Then Israel slaughters them. Then Israel slaughters whoever is left in the city. Then Israel is allowed to plunder the city. Achan should have just waited, man. He got greedy too soon.

A mystical God thing of note in this chapter is how Joshua was instructed to point his javelin at Ai, and the ambush started, and the city was leveled. And for as long as Joshua held his javelin up, Ai was demolished.

Then Joshua hangs the king of Ai, the enemy of Israel on a tree in complete humiliation, and in the evening, throws his corpse down on the city gate. Seems kind of extreme, and I have no idea if God sanctioned that, or if the Bible is simply recording this. Anyway, this would freak me out, if I had any lingering thoughts about taking on Israel.

Then Joshua renews the covenant with God and Israel. He gives a refresher course.

Jos. 7: Everybody Must Get Achan Stoned

Joshua 7:12 "That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.

Well, Israel does what they do. After taking down Jericho, someone disobeys, and swipes some plunder from the ruins for themselves. It was Achan, grandson of Zimri. Hmm...Zimri...we've heard that name before. It wasn't that Zimri, who was boning a Midianite chick while God was punishing Israel for sexual immorality and idolatry. That Zimri was a Simeonite. This Zimri was a Judah...ite.

Anyway...God was not pleased. Which isn't good.

So the next city in the crosshairs was a rather diminutive town called Ai. The scouts told Joshua they'd only need a few thou to overrun it. So Joshua sends out his men, and the people of Ai kick their butts all the way back to the quarries. It was Israel's turn for their hearts to melt like water. If they couldn't take down Ai, then this would hearten the neighboring lands and give them confidence to attack Israel.

I'm sure Joshua knew what would happen if there was sin in the camp. Moses had to have told Joshua what would be the underlying reason of a military defeat. And Joshua reacted to this defeat in a ... less than heroic fashion. He was confused. He was upset. What was happening? What about what God had promised? Well...disobedience broke the covenant. God was held to ... the curses. But this was a lesson that Joshua probably had to learn the hard way. He learned here that being a leader is not easy, even with God on your side.

And God tells Joshua, "What did you expect? There's sin in the camp." The Israelites were "liable to destruction." How could God continue to be on the side of the Israelites if there was that kind of sin in the camp? It needed to be eliminated. And Joshua had to take action immediately. So the next day, Joshua has each tribe step forward, and see who stole from God.

Can you imagine being Achan, and the fear and dread that must have gripped him? I tried putting myself in his place when he found out Joshua was going to scour the Israelites, tribe by tribe, clan by clan until the thief was revealed...but I didn't want to. He had to have seen what happened to Korah back in Numbers 16. God took offenses against him pretty seriously.

Ach...anyway, Achan is stoned, and his family is stoned. And then burned. And then rocks are heaped up as a reminder not to steal from God.

Achan admitted what he did, but it was only under duress. Would he have admitted to it on his own accord, if Joshua hadn't brought the hammer down? Probably not. I don't know. Even when he knew he was going to be busted, he didn't repent.