The Bible Says Commentary on Joshua 8

Joshua 8 records the LORD's instructions and encouragement to Joshua and Joshua's corresponding obedience, resulting in Israel's victory over Ai, a small Canaanite town near Beth-Aven, east of Bethel. Per God's commands, Joshua entrusts thousands of his soldiers to lie in ambush west of the city. Meanwhile, he stays in the camp with the main fighting force to launch a full-frontal assault on the enemy, dragging them away from the city to allow the ambush to unfold. When Joshua is ready to fight his foes, he raises his javelin toward Ai, and the warriors in ambush seize it and burn it. Once the Israelites finish killing all the people of Ai, they hang the king's corpse on a tree until evening. Then, they take it down and build a rock cairn over it at the entrance of the city gate. When the people return to camp, they build an altar on Mount Ebal, offering burnt offerings and peace offerings to God to renew their treaty covenant with Him in the Promised Land. The chapter's outline is as follows:

1. The LORD urges Joshua to be brave as he leads the Israelite army to attack the city of Ai a second time. He instructs His covenant people to destroy Ai and keep the spoils of war (vv. 1-2).
   
   
2. Joshua commands 30,000 warriors to lie in ambush west of Ai at night. Meanwhile, he and the rest of the people stay in the camp to launch a full-frontal assault and flee before the enemy, dragging them away from the city to allow the 30,000 soldiers to seize it (vv. 3-9).
   
   
3. After commissioning 30,000 soldiers to set an ambush west of Ai, Joshua instructs a second contingent of 5,000 men to set an ambush between Bethel and Ai. Meanwhile, he and the main fighting force launch a full-frontal assault and flee before their foes, dragging them away from the city to trap them (vv. 10-17).
   
   
4. The LORD instructs Joshua to raise his javelin toward Ai, symbolizing Israel's victory. Once Joshua stretches out his javelin, the soldiers in ambush seize the city and burn it, confusing the Canaanite warriors who pursue them. God’s people kill the enemy but bring their king alive to Joshua (vv. 18-23).
   
   
5. After Israel's victory over Ai, the people take the spoils for themselves and hang the king’s corpse on a tree until evening. At sunset, they take his body down from the tree and set rocks over it at the entrance of the city gate to serve as a memorial (vv. 24-29).
   
   
6. When the Israelites return to camp, they climb Mount Ebal and build an altar to the LORD in response to the command of Moses in Deuteronomy 27:1-13. At that time, God renewed His covenant/treaty with His people inside the Promised Land (vv. 30-35).