Defeat at Ai

The Story

After Jericho, the next city looked easy. Joshua’s spies came back from the little town of Ai and said, “Let not all the people go up.” Two or three thousand men would be plenty.

So about three thousand went up to Ai. And they ran. The men of Ai chased them down the hill and killed thirty-six of them. The army that had just watched the walls of Jericho fall now had hearts that “melted, and became as water.”

Joshua tore his clothes and lay on his face before the ark until evening. “Wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan?” he asked God.

God told him to get up. There was a reason for the defeat. Someone had disobeyed. At Jericho, God had said everything in the city was to be devoted to Him. But a man named Achan had secretly taken a beautiful robe, silver, and a bar of gold and buried them under his tent.

The sin was dealt with. Then God spoke to Joshua again: “Fear not, neither be thou dismayed.” Go up to Ai. I have given it into your hand.

This time, Joshua followed God’s plan, and Israel won.

Reflection