Joshua 6-8 Jericho and Ai

Thoughts

Joshua 6

Jericho was one of the strongest cities in Canaan. It had walls surrounding the city (more of a fortress). But even they were terrified of Israel

God’s unusual battle plan:

• March around the city once a day for six days.
• Seven priests are to carry seven ram’s horns in front of the ark.
• On the seventh day, march seven times, then the priests will blow the trumpets and the people will shout.

The number 7 is mentioned 14 times in this chapter!

Jericho is thought to be 6-9 acres so about 0.5 miles around.

Marching order:

• Armed men in front
• Priests with trumpets
• Ark of the Covenant in the center
• Rear guard at the end

On the 7th day Joshua reminds them that Jericho is under the ban: everything must be devoted to the Lord. Only Rahab and her household are to be spared.

The people are warned not to take anything from the city and everything is to be burned except silver, gold, bronze, and iron (these go into the Lord’s treasury).

All are put to death: young and old, human and animal.

Rahab becomes a part of Israel.

Joshua’s prophetic warning: Anyone who rebuilds Jericho will do so at the cost of his firstborn and youngest son. This curse is fulfilled in 1 Kings 16:34, when Hiel rebuilds Jericho and loses both sons.

Joshua 7

“Israel broke faith.” The Hebrew word: מָעַל (maʿal) is same word for an unfaithful spouse. 

Joshua sends spies to scout Ai (the next major town). It seems like an easy win so only 2,000–3,000 men are sent

36 die, which seems small but the fact that they were even able to be defeated was big for Israel. They expected God to fight with them.

Joshua and the elders tear their clothes and fall before the Ark. He’s worried about God’s name being dishonored if Israel is wiped out.

God tells Joshua to get up and get into action! Find the devoted things and destroy them.
He will not be with them unless the sin is removed.

He saw a robe, silver, and a gold bar and hid them in his tent.

Achan, along with his sons, daughters, and possessions, is taken to the Valley of Achor (עָכַר (‘akar) meaning “trouble”). There he (they?) are stoned and burned.

Joshua 8

God promises victory over Ai and permits the people to take the spoils this time (unlike Jericho). To win they needed to set up an ambush behind the city.

This time Joshua chose 10x the amount of men (30k)

They will also have men in the front of the city to lure the men away and make them think they are retreating.

God tells Joshua to raise his javelin (similar to Moses in Exodus 17) and the hidden troops enter and set the city on fire. As they are trapped between two forces, they are completely destroyed (12k dead)

Joshua builds an altar to God on Mount Ebal, using uncut stones as commanded in the Law (Deut. 27). They offer burnt and peace offerings.

Joshua writes a copy of the Law of Moses on stones and reads it to the people.

Questions

How did Achan see all that he saw from God’s power and still disobey?

Was it easy to tear your clothes?

How was Judah tribe/Achan discovered?

Was Achan’s family killed or did they just watch?

Application

Sometimes God’s plans don’t make sense (to us). I’m sure the Israelites were pretty confused (and Jericho!) by marching around the city for 7 days. There are many times in my life where I am upset or confused by what is going on in my life. But I am able to look back and see just how God was putting together the puzzle. Obedience to God can feel confusing, tiring, or even slow, but He calls us to be faithful even in the confusion. And if we do fail, God is a God of second chances as we see here at Ai.