Joshua 7:1-9--Israel Defeated at Ai

Joshua 7:1-9
English Standard Version

Israel Defeated at Ai
7 But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things, for Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things. And the anger of the LORD burned against the people of Israel.

2 Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, east of Bethel, and said to them, “Go up and spy out the land.” And the men went up and spied out Ai. 3 And they returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not have all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not make the whole people toil up there, for they are few.” 4 So about three thousand men went up there from the people. And they fled before the men of Ai, 5 and the men of Ai killed about thirty-six of their men and chased them before the gate as far as Shebarim and struck them at the descent. And the hearts of the people melted and became as water.

6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the LORD until the evening, he and the elders of Israel. And they put dust on their heads. 7 And Joshua said, “Alas, O LORD God, why have you brought this people over the Jordan at all, to give us into the hands of the Amorites, to destroy us? Would that we had been content to dwell beyond the Jordan! 8 O LORD, what can I say, when Israel has turned their backs before their enemies! 9 For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it and will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what will you do for your great name?”

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Right out of the gate, the text tells us why this defeat is going to happen, and it's happening exactly the way the LORD told them it would happen in 6:18, "18 But you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel a thing for destruction and bring trouble upon it. "

We also see that Joshua is still sending out spies--this time they spied out the area around Ai.  When they returned, the spies told him that the city was small enough that it could easily be taken by only 3000 men and that not all the people needed to go up.  While this was their pride speaking, it is good that not all the men of Israel went up, or the losses may have been much greater, for the LORD was angry with them for the sin of Achan, and 36 of the 3000 men died that day (1.2% of the soldiers they sent that day fell in battle).  Some people look at the loss of 36 men and shrug and ask what the big deal is since there are always casualties in war, but this is no ordinary war between kinds--this is the war that God is fighting against the Canaanites and their gods.  He promised to protect all the Israelites if they were careful to obey everything He said (both in the book of Deuteronomy and that He spoke through Joshua).  Any defeat they experienced was a sign that the LORD was not with them, and they could not win in their own strength even when their size and strength were in their favor.  If the LORD wasn't with them, they didn't have a chance.

So then, the hearts of the people melted like water--a phrase we saw not that long ago used of the Canaanites when they saw the Israelites cross over the Jordan River at flood stage and they knew that there was nothing they could do to stop their impending doom.  Now the Israelites felt the same way because, whether they knew it or not, the sin of Achan and the presence of those devoted things in the camp marked the whole camp for destruction.  It was just as the LORD had told them it would be.

Joshua doesn't know why this is happening though and he falls on his face night and day before the Ark of the LORD, he and the elders of Israel, and they were in mourning as is symbolized by putting dust on their heads.  Joshua asked the question they were all thinking--"Why did you bring us all this way only to let them destroy us?"  Joshua added that they would have been happy to have dwelt in the land on the east side of the Jordan if they would have known that was as far as the LORD would be with them, for they even said at Mt. Sinai that they did not want to make this journey if the LORD would not be with them, though He warned them that if He went with them, then they would come under His judgment when the camp fell into sin.

Joshua is now at a loss for how he can encourage the people and how the name of the LORD might be restored among them when they people believe that the LORD is out to destroy them all.  Joshua says that all the Canaanites will hear of this defeat and they will imagine that now is the time for them to attack.  If that happened then all of Israel may be cut off, and Joshua asks what might happen to the name of the LORD then?  Joshua is talking to the LORD just like he heard Moses talk to the LORD, and the LORD was not angry with Moses or Joshua.  In fact, I'm sure the LORD was pleased that they kept the focus on His glory and His great name.  Neither fully understood that the LORD must keep at least certain people form the nation of Israel alive to fulfill His covenant to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (and even the covenant that He made with Adam).  There would be a King that was coming from the line of Judah that would be greater than Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and Aaron put together.  He would also be greater than all the kings of Israel including David and Solomon, for the Promised One would be the very Son of God.  God must keep His covenant with His people, but right now they realize that they are no longer being blessed and protected by Him and they don't know why because Achan's sin was kept a secret from everyone except those in his own family and clan who have been actively hiding it from everyone else.