Chapter 8 & 9
Faithful God & Unfaithful People
Bethany Covenant Church
Fall 2014
Attack On Ai – Spiritual Warfare
Chapter 8
“Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid; do not be
discouraged. Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai.
For I have delivered into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city
and his land. 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 an ambush behind the city.”” (Joshua 8:1–2, NIV)
always
gives
His
to
those
• “Do not God
be afraid;
dosay
notgobearound
discouraged.”
(Deuteronomy
did God
not
Ai,best
but said
to defeat Ai.1:21, NIV)
who leave
the
choice
with Him.
King,
people,
city
&
land
already
delivered. 31:8, NIV)
• “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy
• “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will
be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9, NIV)
“So Joshua and the whole army moved out to attack Ai. He chose thirty
thousand of his best fighting men and sent them out at night with
these orders: “Listen carefully. You are to set an ambush behind the
city. Don’t go very far from it. All of you be on the alert. I and all those
with me will advance on the city, and when the men come out against
us, as they did before, we will flee from them.” (Joshua 8:3-5, NIV)
A change from the first
attack on Ai.
“They will pursue us until we have lured them away from the city, for
they will say, ‘They are running away from us as they did before.’ So
when we flee from them, you are to rise up from ambush and take
the city. The LORD your God will give it into your hand. When you have
taken the city, set it on fire. Do what the LORD has commanded. See to
it; you have my orders.” Then Joshua sent them off, 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 with the people.” (Joshua
8:6–9, NIV)
Joshua was not going to repeat the
mistake he made before.
“Early the next morning Joshua mustered his army, and he and the
leaders of Israel marched before them to Ai. The entire force that was
with him marched up and approached the city and arrived in front of it.
They set up camp north of Ai, with the valley between them and the city.
Joshua had taken about five thousand men and set them in ambush
between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city. So the soldiers took up
their positions—with the main camp to the north of the city and the
ambush to the west of it. That night Joshua went into the valley.” (Joshua
8:10–13, NIV)
Wait, Joshua already sent 30,000 men in verse 3
to set an ambush???
“When the king of Ai saw this, he and all the men of the city hurried
out early in the morning to meet Israel in battle at a certain place
overlooking the Arabah. But he did not know that an ambush had
been set against him behind the city. Joshua and all Israel let
themselves be driven back before them, and they fled toward the
wilderness.” (Joshua
The8:14–15,
king tookNIV)
the bait: Pride
goes before the fall.
“They are the most in
danger who are least
aware of it.”
“All the men of Ai were called to
pursue them, and they pursued
Joshua and were lured away
from the city. Not a man
remained in Ai or Bethel who did
not go after Israel. They left the
city open and went in pursuit of
Israel.” (Joshua 8:16–17, NIV)
Ai had reinforcements
in anticipation of a
second attack.
“Then the LORD said to Joshua,
“Hold out toward Ai the javelin
that is in your hand, for into your
hand I will deliver the city.” So
Joshua held out toward the city
the javelin that was in his hand.
As soon as he did this, the men
in the ambush rose quickly from
their position and rushed
forward. They entered the city
and captured it and quickly set it
on fire.” (Joshua 8:18–19, NIV)
“The men of Ai looked back and saw the smoke of the city rising up
into the sky, but they had no chance to escape in any direction; the
Israelites who had been fleeing toward the wilderness had turned
back against their pursuers. For when Joshua and all Israel saw that
the ambush had taken the city and that smoke was going up from it,
they turned around and attacked the men of Ai.” (Joshua 8:20–21,
NIV)
“Those in the ambush also came out
of the city against them, so that they
were caught in the middle, with
Israelites on both sides. Israel cut
them down, leaving them neither
survivors nor fugitives. But they took
the king of Ai alive and brought him to
Joshua.” (Joshua 8:22–23, NIV)
“When Israel had finished killing all the men of Ai in the fields and
in the wilderness where they had chased them, and when every
one of them had been put to the sword, all the Israelites returned
to Ai and killed those who were in it. Twelve thousand men and
women fell that day—all the people of Ai. For Joshua did not draw
back the hand that held out his javelin until he had destroyed all
who lived in Ai. But Israel did carry off for themselves the livestock
and plunder of this city, as the LORD had instructed Joshua.” (Joshua
8:24–27, NIV)
“So Joshua burned Ai and made it a permanent heap of ruins, a desolate
place to this day. He impaled the body of the king of Ai on a pole and
left it there until evening. At sunset, Joshua ordered them to take the
body from the pole and throw it down at the entrance of the city gate.
And they raised a large pile of rocks over it, which remains to this day.”
(Joshua
8:28–29,
NIV)
““And if a man has committed a crime punishable by
This is the 2d large pile
death . . . , and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not
of rocks with dead
remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the
people at the bottom.
same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. You shall
not defile your land that the LORD your God is giving you
for an inheritance.” (Deuteronomy 21:22–23, ESV)
Jericho
•
•
•
•
Week of marching during daylight
Visible to the enemy
God’s character,
Interceding miracle
nature and message
United army attacked
never change, but his
Ai
methods do change.
• Preparation during night
• Partly hidden, partly visible to
enemy
• No miracle
• Divided army attack
Israel’s army
Ai’s king
• Pride
• Underrating the
enemy
• Pride
• Underrating the
enemy
Ambush Your Inner Ai
• The lesson is to go deal with the sin issue and then go back to the Ai
in your life.
• The promise land is full of hills and valleys, and so is your life.
• Failure is not final, God gives second chances
• Enemy’s triumph is only temporary
• Let God build your strategy and be your strength
• Go back and defeat the sin that defeated you.
“Then Joshua built on Mount Ebal an altar to the LORD, the God of
Israel, as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded the
Israelites. He built it according to what is written in the Book of the
Law of Moses—an altar of uncut stones, on which no iron tool had
been used. On it they offered to the LORD burnt offerings and
sacrificed fellowship offerings.” (Joshua 8:30–31, NIV)
What happened to Shechem and
other city along the way?
Shechem defiles Dinah
• Jacob buys land from Hamor King of
Shechem; pitches his tent and builds
an alter (Genesis 33)
• One day Jacob’s daughter Dinah goes
to visit the women of Shechem
• Dinah is defiled by the prince of
Shechem; his name is Shechem
• Jacob and his sons are indignant, but
Shechem wants to marry Dinah
• Jacob’s sons tells Hivities they must be
circumcised to marry into the nation of
Israel (Genesis 34)
Shechem defiles Dinah
“All the men who went out of the city gate agreed with Hamor and his
son Shechem, and every male in the city was circumcised. Three days
later, while all of them were still in pain, two of Jacob’s sons, Simeon
and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, took their swords and attacked the
unsuspecting city, killing every male. They put Hamor and his son
Shechem to the sword and took Dinah from Shechem’s house and left.”
(Genesis 34:24–26, NIV)
Several
centuries later
“There, in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua wrote on stones a
copy of the law of Moses. All the Israelites, with their elders,
officials and judges, were standing on both sides of the ark of the
covenant of the LORD, facing the Levitical priests who carried it.
Both the foreigners living among them and the native-born were
there. Half of the people stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half
of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the LORD
had formerly commanded when he gave instructions to bless the
people of Israel.” (Joshua 8:32–33, NIV)
Instructions
from Moses
“When you have crossed the Jordan into the land the LORD your
God is giving you, set up some large stones and coat them with
plaster. Write on them all the words of this law when you have
crossed over to enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, . . .
And when you have crossed the Jordan, set up these stones on
Mount Ebal, . . . , and coat them with plaster. Build there an altar to
the LORD your God, an altar of stones. Do not use any iron tool on
them.” (Deuteronomy 27:2–5, NIV)
“Afterward, Joshua read all the
words of the law—the blessings
and the curses—just as it is written
in the Book of the Law. There was
not a word of all that Moses had
commanded that Joshua did not
read to the whole assembly of
Israel, including the women and
children, and the foreigners who
lived among them.” (Joshua 8:34–
35, NIV)
Sequel to Battle:
• This comes after major victories
• In the geographic middle of the
promise land
• People can see much of the
land yet to conquer
• In the middle of Joshua’s time
of leadership
The Gibeonite Deception
Chapter 9
“Now when all the kings west of the Jordan heard about these
things—the kings in the hill country, in the western foothills, and
along the entire coast of the Mediterranean Sea as far as Lebanon
(the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites
and Jebusites)—they came together to wage war against Joshua and
Israel.” (Joshua 9:1–2, NIV)
The Hivites were from four cities, one of which was
Gibeon. They were also called Gibeonites:
These city-states did not always get along together, but
they
a confederation
to fight not
Israel.
“Except
forbuilt
the Hivites
living in Gibeon,
one city
made a treaty of peace with the Israelites, who took
them all in battle.” (Joshua 11:19, NIV)
“However, when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done
to Jericho and Ai, they resorted to a ruse: They went as a delegation
whose donkeys were loaded with worn-out sacks and old wineskins,
cracked and mended. They put worn and patched sandals on their
feet and wore old clothes. All the bread of their food supply was dry
and moldy.” (Joshua 9:3–5, NIV)
Fabricated the evidence to
support their testimony.
“Then they went to Joshua in the
camp at Gilgal and said to him and
the Israelites, “We have come from
a distant country; make a treaty
with us.” The Israelites said to the
Hivites, “But perhaps you live near
us, so how can we make a treaty
with you?” “We are your servants,”
they said to Joshua. But Joshua
asked, “Who are you and where do
you come from?”” (Joshua 9:6–8,
NIV)
God had
warned Israel
about treaties
The truth was that they were
just 3 days away and in the path
of where Israel was going.
“When the LORD your God brings you into the land you are
entering to possess and drives out before you many nations—
the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites
and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you—and
when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you and you
have defeated them, then you must destroy them totally. Make
no treaty with them, and show them no mercy. Do not
intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons
or take their daughters for your sons,” (Deuteronomy 7:1–3, NIV)
But, compare
this:
“When you march up to attack a city, make its people an offer of
peace. If they accept and open their gates, all the people in it shall be
subject to forced labor and shall work for you. If they refuse to make
peace and they engage you in battle, lay siege to that city. When the
LORD your God delivers it into your hand, put to the sword all the
men in it. As for the women, the children, the livestock and
everything else in the city, you may take these as plunder for
yourselves. And you may use the plunder the LORD your God gives
you from your enemies. This is how you are to treat all the cities that
are at a distance from you and do not belong to the nations nearby.”
(Deuteronomy 20:10–15, NIV)
“They answered: “Your servants have come from a very distant
country because of the fame of the LORD your God. For we have
heard reports of him: all that he did in Egypt, and all that he did to
the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan—Sihon king of
Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth.”
(Joshua 9:9–10, NIV)
Notice they make no
mention of Jericho
or Ai. Why not?
“And our elders and all those living in
our country said to us, ‘Take provisions
for your journey; go and meet them and
say to them, “We are your servants;
make a treaty with us.” ’ This bread of
ours was warm when we packed it at
home on the day we left to come to you.
But now see how dry and moldy it is.
And these wineskins that we filled were
new, but see how cracked they are. And
our clothes and sandals are worn out by
the very long journey.”” (Joshua 9:11–
13, NIV)
1) They were from a far country
2) Their clothing and food
3) They were important envoys
sent by elders on a peace
mission
4) They were “your servants.”
5) They came because of the
fame of the Lord of Israel.
“The Israelites sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the LORD.
Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the
leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath.” (Joshua 9:14–15, NIV)
U.S.
Constitution,
Article
II, Section
II, Clause II
This
is again Joshua’s
failing.
He believed
he evidence and did not seek counsel
“He [the President]
shall
have Power, by and
from the
Lord.
with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to
make Treaties, provided two thirds of the
Senators present concur;”
Israel later broke
treaty with
Gibeonites
“During the reign of David, there was a famine for three successive
years; so David sought the face of the LORD. The LORD said, “It is on
account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the
Gibeonites to death.” The king summoned the Gibeonites and spoke
to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not a part of Israel but were
survivors of the Amorites; the Israelites had sworn to spare them, but
Saul in his zeal for Israel and Judah had tried to annihilate them.)” (2
Samuel 21:1–2, NIV)
“David asked the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? How shall I make
atonement so that you will bless the LORD’s inheritance?” The
Gibeonites answered him, “We have no right to demand silver or gold
from Saul or his family, nor do we have the right to put anyone in Israel
to death.” “What do you want me to do for you?” David asked. They
answered the king, “As for the man who destroyed us and plotted
against us . . . , let seven of his male descendants be given to us to be
killed . . . .” So the king said, “I will give them to you.”” (2 Samuel 21:3–
6, NIV)
Back to Joshua
“Three days after they made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites
heard that they were neighbors, living near them. So the Israelites set out
and on the third day came to their cities: Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth and
Kiriath Jearim. But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders
of the assembly had sworn an oath to them by the LORD, the God of
Israel. The whole assembly grumbled against the leaders,” (Joshua 9:16–
18, NIV)
“Truthful lips endure
The dilemma is that
forever, but a lying tongue
Israel has made a treaty
They wanted the spoils of war
with people who were
lasts only a moment.”
under a death sentence.
(Proverbs 12:19, NIV)
“but all the leaders answered, “We have given them our oath by the
LORD, the God of Israel, and we cannot touch them now. This is what we
will do to them: We will let them live, so that God’s wrath will not fall on
us for breaking the oath we swore to them.” They continued, “Let them
live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers in the service of the
whole assembly.” So the leaders’ promise to them was kept.” (Joshua
9:18–21, NIV)
Hivites become
servants to
Israel
Noah
• Shem,
Japheth,
Ham
Ham
• Cush,
Egypt, Put,
and Canaan
Canaan
Hivites
• Sidon,
Heth,
Jebusites,
Amorites,
Girgashites,
Hivites,
Arkites,
Sinites,
Arvadites,
Zemarites,
Hamathites
• Gibeonites
“he said, “Cursed be
Canaan! The lowest
of slaves will he be
to his brothers.””
(Genesis 9:25, NIV)
“Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, “Why did you
deceive us by saying, ‘We live a long way from you,’ while actually
you live near us? You are now under a curse: You will never be
released from service as woodcutters and water carriers for the
house of my God.”” (Joshua 9:22–23, NIV)
It appears Joshua mitigated
the punishment from
serving all Israel, to serving
the house of the Lord.
“Cursed be Canaan”
is revisited.
“They answered Joshua, “Your servants were clearly told how
the LORD your God had commanded his servant Moses to give
you the whole land and to wipe out all its inhabitants from
before you. So we feared for our lives because of you, and that
is why we did this. We are now in your hands. Do to us
whatever seems good and right to you.”” (Joshua 9:24–25, NIV)
The enemies of God also read scripture.
“So Joshua saved them from the Israelites, and they did not kill
them. That day he made the Gibeonites woodcutters and water
carriers for the assembly, to provide for the needs of the altar of
the LORD at the place the LORD would choose. And that is what
they are to this day.” (Joshua 9:26–27,
NIV) issue causes more
But the treaty
problems for Joshua in chapter 10.
The point is Joshua admitted the mistake
and found away to make it work to Israel’s
advantage. They later became temple
servants and grafted onto Israel.
Bibliography
• Be Strong, Wiersbe, Warren W., Be Commentary Series.
• The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Campbell, Donald K.
• Opening Up Joshua, Ellsworth, Roger, Opening Up Commentary.
• Matthew Henrys Commentary on the Whole Bible: Henry, Matthew.
• Warren W. Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament
Wiersbe, Warren, W.
• Commentary on the Book of Joshua, Calvin, John, and Henry
Beveridge.
• The Teachers Bible Commentary, Philbeck, Ben F.
• The Books of History, Smith, James E., Old Testament Survey Series.
• Joshua’s Spiritual Warfare, Clarke, Thomas B.