Joshua 8:1-9 | The Way of Scripture

Joshua 8:1-9

What changes when the Lord sends Joshua against Ai again?

Berean Standard Bible

1 Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid or discouraged. Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. See, I have delivered into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land. 2 And you shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king, except that you may carry off their plunder and livestock for yourselves. Set up an ambush behind the city.” 3 So Joshua and the whole army set out to attack Ai. Joshua chose 30,000 mighty men of valor and sent them out at night 4 with these orders: “Pay attention. You are to lie in ambush behind the city, not too far from it. All of you must be ready. 5 Then I and all the troops with me will advance on the city. When they come out against us as they did the first time, we will flee from them. 6 They will pursue us until we have drawn them away from the city, for they will say, ‘The Israelites are running away from us as they did before.’ So as we flee from them, 7 you are to rise from the ambush and seize the city, for the LORD your God will deliver it into your hand. 8 And when you have taken the city, set it on fire. Do as the LORD has commanded! See, I have given you orders.” 9 So Joshua sent them out, and they went to the place of ambush and lay in wait between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai. But Joshua spent that night among the people.

What is the context?

The Lord renews the command to attack Ai and tells Joshua not to fear. This time the whole army is involved, and the city’s plunder and livestock may be taken, unlike the devoted property at Jericho.

Joshua orders an ambush behind the city while he and the approaching force draw the defenders out through an apparent retreat. Those waiting are to seize and burn the city when it is left open.

The renewed promise is accompanied by concrete instructions and preparation. Permission to take plunder now does not make Achan’s earlier act permissible; the distinction is what the Lord had commanded in each case.

How is this passage commonly understood?

Wesley understands the later five thousand in ambush as part of the thirty thousand mentioned here. The USCCB notes discuss other proposals about the numbers, including a textual error or a military-unit sense. The BSB quotation retains its stated numbers. These alternatives should not be collapsed into a claim that one exact troop arrangement has been proved.

What is our position?

We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.

Where can I study this further?

No deeper study linked yet.

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