So about three thousand men went up, but they fled before the men of Ai. So about three thousand men went upThis phrase indicates a specific number of Israelite warriors who were sent to battle against Ai. The number "three thousand" suggests a strategic decision based on the spies' report that only a small force was needed ( Joshua 7:3). In Hebrew, the word for "thousand" is "eleph," which can also mean a military unit or clan, indicating a well-organized group. This reflects the Israelites' confidence in their military strength and God's previous victories. However, it also hints at a potential overconfidence or presumption, as they did not seek God's guidance before this battle. but they fled
The word "fled" in Hebrew is "yanus," which conveys a sense of panic and retreat. This unexpected defeat was a stark contrast to the Israelites' previous victories, such as the miraculous conquest of Jericho. Theologically, this flight signifies a spiritual and moral failure, as it was not merely a military setback but a consequence of disobedience and sin within the camp. It serves as a reminder of the importance of obedience to God and the consequences of sin, even for a chosen people. before the men of Ai
Ai, meaning "ruin" in Hebrew, was a small city compared to Jericho, yet it became a significant obstacle due to Israel's unfaithfulness. The men of Ai, though fewer in number, were able to defeat the Israelites, highlighting the principle that victory in battle is not determined by human strength or numbers but by God's favor and presence. This defeat underscores the need for reliance on God rather than human wisdom or strength. Historically, Ai's location has been debated, but it is generally identified with the archaeological site of et-Tell, which provides context for understanding the geographical and strategic elements of the narrative. Persons / Places / Events 1. JoshuaThe leader of the Israelites, who succeeded Moses and led the people into the Promised Land. He is responsible for the military campaigns to conquer Canaan. 2. IsraelitesThe people of God, descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who are on a mission to take possession of the land promised to them by God. 3. AiA Canaanite city that the Israelites attempted to conquer after their victory at Jericho. The name "Ai" means "ruin" in Hebrew. 4. The Men of AiThe inhabitants of the city of Ai, who successfully defended their city against the initial attack by the Israelites. 5. The Defeat at AiAn event where the Israelites, confident after their victory at Jericho, underestimated their enemy and suffered a defeat due to disobedience and sin within their camp. Teaching Points The Consequences of DisobedienceThe defeat at Ai serves as a stark reminder that disobedience to God's commands can lead to failure and defeat. It is crucial to seek God's guidance and adhere to His instructions. The Danger of OverconfidenceThe Israelites' assumption that Ai would be an easy victory led to their downfall. We must remain humble and reliant on God, recognizing that past successes do not guarantee future victories. The Importance of Community AccountabilityAchan's sin affected the entire community, illustrating the interconnectedness of the body of believers. We must hold each other accountable and address sin within our communities. Repentance and RestorationAfter the defeat, Joshua and the Israelites sought God's guidance, leading to repentance and eventual victory. This teaches us the importance of turning back to God and seeking His forgiveness when we fall short. Bible Study Questions 1. What lessons can we learn from the Israelites' defeat at Ai about the importance of seeking God's guidance before making decisions? 2. How does the account of Ai illustrate the impact of individual sin on a community? Can you think of other biblical examples where one person's actions affected many? 3. In what ways can overconfidence in our spiritual lives lead to failure? How can we guard against this? 4. How does the principle of accountability within the community of believers apply to our modern-day church settings? 5. Reflect on a time when you experienced a setback or failure. How did you seek God's guidance and what steps did you take towards repentance and restoration? Connections to Other Scriptures Joshua 6The victory at Jericho, which contrasts with the defeat at Ai, highlighting the importance of obedience to God's commands. 1 Samuel 15The account of King Saul's disobedience, which parallels the consequences of disobedience seen in the defeat at Ai. Proverbs 16:18This verse speaks to the dangers of pride, which can be connected to the Israelites' overconfidence in their attack on Ai. Romans 6:23The principle that sin leads to death, which is evident in the consequences faced by the Israelites due to Achan's sin. People Achan, Amorites, Canaanites, Carmi, Israelites, Joshua, Zabdi, Zarhites, Zerah, Zerahites, ZimriPlaces Ai, Beth-aven, Bethel, Jericho, Jordan River, Shebarim, Shinar, Valley of AchorTopics Ai, Fled, Flee, Flight, Routed, Thither, ThousandDictionary of Bible Themes Joshua 7:4 5290 defeat Joshua 7:1-5 5836 disgrace Joshua 7:1-7 9210 judgment, God's Joshua 7:1-16 6024 sin, effects of Joshua 7:1-26 6173 guilt, and God
8479 self-examination, examples Joshua 7:2-5 8616 prayerlessness Joshua 7:3-5 4306 minerals
6702 peace, destruction Joshua 7:3-6 5188 tearing of clothes Library Achan's Sin, Israel's Defeat
'But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel. 2. And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth-aven, on the east side of Beth-ei, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai. 3. And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureWhether one Can, Without a Mortal Sin, Deny the Truth which Would Lead to One's Condemnation?
Objection 1: It would seem one can, without a mortal sin, deny the truth which would lead to one's condemnation. For Chrysostom says (Hom. xxxi super Ep. ad Heb.): "I do not say that you should lay bare your guilt publicly, nor accuse yourself before others." Now if the accused were to confess the truth in court, he would lay bare his guilt and be his own accuser. Therefore he is not bound to tell the truth: and so he does not sin mortally if he tell a lie in court. Objection 2: Further, just as …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica Contention Over the Man Born Blind.
(Jerusalem.) ^D John IX. 1-41. [Some look upon the events in this and the next section as occurring at the Feast of Tabernacles in October, others think they occurred at the Feast of Dedication in December, deriving their point of time from John x. 22.] ^d 1 And as he passed by, he saw a man blind from his birth. [The man probably sought to waken compassion by repeatedly stating this fact to passers-by.] 2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Rabbi, who sinned, this man, or his parents, that he should …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel The Eighth Commandment
Thou shalt not steal.' Exod 20: 15. AS the holiness of God sets him against uncleanness, in the command Thou shalt not commit adultery;' so the justice of God sets him against rapine and robbery, in the command, Thou shalt not steal.' The thing forbidden in this commandment, is meddling with another man's property. The civil lawyers define furtum, stealth or theft to be the laying hands unjustly on that which is another's;' the invading another's right. I. The causes of theft. [1] The internal causes …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments Confession of Sin --A Sermon with Seven Texts
The Hardened Sinner. PHARAOH--"I have sinned."--Exodus 9:27. I. The first case I shall bring before you is that of the HARDENED SINNER, who, when under terror, says, "I have sinned." And you will find the text in the book of Exodus, the 9th chap. and 27th verse: "And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the Lord is righteous, and I and my people are wicked." But why this confession from the lips of the haughty tyrant? He was not often wont to …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 3: 1857 Restraining Prayer: is it Sin?
"Thou restrainest prayer before God."--JOB xv. 4. "What profit should we have, if we pray unto Him?"--JOB xxi. 15. "God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you."--1 SAM. xii. 23. "Neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you."--JOSH. vii. 12. Any deep quickening of the spiritual life of the Church will always be accompanied by a deeper sense of sin. This will not begin with theology; that can only give expression to what God works …
Andrew Murray—The Ministry of Intercession The Practice of Piety in Glorifying God in the Time of Sickness, and when Thou Art Called to Die in the Lord.
As soon as thou perceivest thyself to be visited with any sickness, meditate with thyself: 1. That "misery cometh not forth of the dust; neither doth affliction spring out of the earth." Sickness comes not by hap or chance (as the Philistines supposed that their mice and emrods came, 1 Sam. vi. 9), but from man's wickedness, which, as sparkles, breaketh out. "Man suffereth," saith Jeremiah, "for his sins." "Fools," saith David, "by reason of their transgressions, and because of their iniquities, …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety Exposition of the Moral Law.
1. The Law was committed to writing, in order that it might teach more fully and perfectly that knowledge, both of God and of ourselves, which the law of nature teaches meagrely and obscurely. Proof of this, from an enumeration of the principal parts of the Moral Law; and also from the dictate of natural law, written on the hearts of all, and, in a manner, effaced by sin. 2. Certain general maxims. 1. From the knowledge of God, furnished by the Law, we learn that God is our Father and Ruler. Righteousness …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion Of a Private Fast.
That we may rightly perform a private fast, four things are to be observed:--First, The author; Secondly, The time and occasion; Thirdly, The manner; Fourthly, The ends of private fasting. 1. Of the Author. The first that ordained fasting was God himself in paradise; and it was the first law that God made, in commanding Adam to abstain from eating the forbidden fruit. God would not pronounce nor write his law without fasting (Lev. xxiii), and in his law commands all his people to fast. So does our …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety The Knowledge of God
'The Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.' I Sam 2:2. Glorious things are spoken of God; he transcends our thoughts, and the praises of angels. God's glory lies chiefly in his attributes, which are the several beams by which the divine nature shines forth. Among other of his orient excellencies, this is not the least, The Lord is a God of knowledge; or as the Hebrew word is, A God of knowledges.' Through the bright mirror of his own essence, he has a full idea and cognisance …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity Beth-El. Beth-Aven.
Josephus thus describes the land of Benjamin; "The Benjamites' portion of land was from the river Jordan to the sea, in length: in breadth, it was bounded by Jerusalem and Beth-el." Let these last words be marked, "The breadth of the land of Benjamin was bounded by Jerusalem and Beth-el." May we not justly conclude, from these words, that Jerusalem and Beth-el were opposite, as it were, in a right line? But if you look upon the maps, there are some that separate these by a very large tract of land, …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica The Covenant of Works
Q-12: I proceed to the next question, WHAT SPECIAL ACT OF PROVIDENCE DID GOD EXERCISE TOWARDS MAN IN THE ESTATE WHEREIN HE WAS CREATED? A: When God had created man, he entered into a covenant of life with him upon condition of perfect obedience, forbidding him to eat of the tree of knowledge upon pain of death. For this, consult with Gen 2:16, 17: And the Lord commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity The Holiness of God
The next attribute is God's holiness. Exod 15:51. Glorious in holiness.' Holiness is the most sparkling jewel of his crown; it is the name by which God is known. Psa 111:1. Holy and reverend is his name.' He is the holy One.' Job 6:60. Seraphims cry, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of his glory.' Isa 6:6. His power makes him mighty, his holiness makes him glorious. God's holiness consists in his perfect love of righteousness, and abhorrence of evil. Of purer eyes than …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity Second Great Group of Parables.
(Probably in Peræa.) Subdivision F. Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. ^C Luke XVI. 19-31. [The parable we are about to study is a direct advance upon the thoughts in the previous section. We may say generally that if the parable of the unjust steward teaches how riches are to be used, this parable sets forth the terrible consequences of a failure to so use them. Each point of the previous discourse is covered in detail, as will be shown by the references in the discussion of the parable.] …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel Joshua
The book of Joshua is the natural complement of the Pentateuch. Moses is dead, but the people are on the verge of the promised land, and the story of early Israel would be incomplete, did it not record the conquest of that land and her establishment upon it. The divine purpose moves restlessly on, until it is accomplished; so "after the death of Moses, Jehovah spake to Joshua," i. 1. The book falls naturally into three divisions: (a) the conquest of Canaan (i.-xii.), (b) the settlement of the …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Joshua 7:4 NIVJoshua 7:4 NLTJoshua 7:4 ESVJoshua 7:4 NASBJoshua 7:4 KJV
Joshua 7:4 Commentaries
Bible Hub |
