And Jehovah said to Joshua, Fear not, neither be dismayed. Take with thee all the people of war, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land.
Israel had just lost a battle to a small town, because one man had hidden stolen goods in the camp. With that sin judged and put away, God spoke to Joshua again — with comfort instead of blame, and with the victory promised before the fighting even started.
After the Sin Was Dealt With
The command to go up comes at a precise moment — after the evil in the camp had been dealt with. One writer traces the sequence from the defeat back to its cause and forward again to restoration.
H Forbes WitherbyMen once used for God are at times set aside by God. They go on as before in their work, but win no victories. The story of Ai unveils the cause — hidden evil is in the camp. Then these same servants rise again. After a time of defeat, they become people of power once more — with God and with people. The story of Ai lets us into that secret too: they have been before God, and have humbled themselves.
Another writer describes what changed on God's side once the matter was settled.
William KellyThey had gone out in self-confidence; they had received a most serious check. But now the sin had been dealt with, and the Lord was free to act for them.
The Outcome Given Before the Battle
God tells Joshua that He has already given him the king, the people, the city and the land. The fight is real, but the result is not in doubt.
Leslie M. GrantNow the Lord gives Joshua clear instructions for attacking Ai. How different they were from the plans Joshua used at first! God tells Joshua not to be afraid, but to take with him all the men of war, not only three thousand. It was God who would deliver them into the hand of Joshua, so there was no doubt of their gaining the victory.
"Take All the Fighting Men"
Israel's own plan had been to send a few thousand men and spare the rest the climb. God's order overturns that calculation word for word.
H Forbes WitherbyHow differently the battle was now to be fought from the way Israel had first proposed to overthrow Ai! They had said, "Do not make the whole people toil up there." The Lord said, "Take all the fighting men with you." As the thousands of Israel rose to battle, every soldier had to remember this: no enemy is too small to take seriously. Israel's strength and courage were in the Lord alone.
Sending a whole army against one small village carried its own message about the strength Israel had been proud of.
The Bible TreasuryEven after faith is back in its place, God gives them victory. But He also makes them feel how wrong it was to forget Him. They had been lifted up because of their might. So when Ai was taken, God put that strength to shame. Every warrior must go, and they must set an ambush. What a display of force and strategy to take a little city! God knows how to put shame on worldly strength and confidence. He allows, and even commands, its full display, and then will not use it.
A Different Lesson From Jericho
At Jericho the walls fell before a blow was struck. Here God prescribes an ambush, a feigned retreat, and exact obedience in every detail.
William KellyGod demanded even more care at little Ai than at Jericho. Every detail of the preparations had to be obeyed exactly.
Writers see the two cities as pictures of two different fights.
Leslie M. GrantGod had given total victory over Jericho, which pictures the world as a system of evil. At Ai it was different. God was still behind everything Israel did, but now they had to fight in several ways. Ai stands for the small worldly things that slow a believer's growth. These things look small, but overcoming them makes a believer grow.
The Road Back: Toil and Humbling
Israel had wanted to spare itself the effort. In the end the whole nation toiled up the hill, and won by pretending to run away.
H Forbes WitherbyIsrael did "toil up there" — some to the ambush, others to the front. When we treat our mistakes lightly and sin on purpose in our service, God uses hard work to press home the lessons we ignored. He does this even after He has shown us our faults and forgiven us. Not only did Israel labour up to Ai; God made them victorious through humiliation. By apparent defeat, by fleeing before their foes, they won their success.
Because the whole army went, the victory belonged to all of them together, in varied tasks.
H. L. RossierThere is diversity in the action and service, but it is action in common. The body is one, the parts are joined together, and Joshua with his spear is the bond of union. If the unity is lost sight of, defeat is the result.
Summary
- Cleared — God spoke of victory again only after the sin in the camp was dealt with. Then He was free to act for His people.
- Called — "Do not fear" is not a telling-off. It is a fresh commission. God restores the servants He had set aside, once they humble themselves before Him.
- Committed — God handed over the city, its king and its land in advance. Israel's obedience carried out a settled result; it did not gamble on one.
- Corrected — The order to bring every fighting man overturned Israel's "it's only a small place." It also put shame on the strength they had trusted.
- Costly — The way back ran through the climb up the hill and a pretended retreat. Small enemies called for more care and exact obedience than Jericho ever did.