Joshua 7:1-5

The Israelites Beaten Joshua 7:1-5

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 Bethaven, on the east side of Bethel, 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 not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labor thither; for they are but few.
4 So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai.
5 And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.

1.

Who was Achan? Joshua 7:1

Achan is described as the son of Carmi. The head of his family was Zabdi, who was an heir of Zerah, a leading man in the tribe of Judah, Achan is called Achar in 1 Chronicles 2:7, and Zabdi is called Zimri in 1 Chronicles 2:6. These names are very similar and are evidently forms of the same names. By this one sinful act, Achan fell into disgraceful infamy. His name became synonomous with covetousness and sin. It was especially shameful for the man to be of the tribe of Judah, the leading tribe among the people of Israel, and set this bad example. Judah led in the order of march. If Achan were a soldier and marching in the forefront of the host of Israel, he would have access to the spoils of war before many others would reach them. Hence, as a leader, he had greater temptation. Although the value of the materials which he took were not great, the fact that his sin was committed after God had granted wonderful victories to the people and promised them full use of the land of Canaan makes it especially despicable.

2.

Where was Ai? Joshua 7:2

This town was situated east of Bethel. Bethel was originally called Luz (Genesis 28:19), a place on the border of Ephraim and Benjamin (Joshua 16:2; Joshua 18:13). It is frequently mentioned and was well known at a later time as the city in which Jeroboam established the worship of calves. The site was inhabited again after the captivity. Ai has been preserved in the very extensive mound called et-Tell, about one and one-half miles from Bethel, and on the east of the road which leads from Jerusalem to Sichem (Nablus).

We may say this of Ai:

1.

It dominated the road to Jerusalem

2.

It commanded the approaches to the country

3.

It involved the fate of Bethel

Of the name we may say Ai means the heap. An everlasting toumbe, says Wycliffe; in Hebrew, Tel, always appears with the article, the Tel, or the Heap. For a long time modern archaeologists sought in vain for the site of Ai. A likely location was excavated in 1933 by Mme. Judith Marquet-Krause, and most recently Dr. Joseph Callaway of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. After two seasons of excavations at Khirbet et-Tell, a height near Deir Dibwan, Israel, Dr. Callaway reported it is now possible to dismiss speculation about locating Ai at a site other than this one (Evidence on the Conquest of Ai, Journal of Biblical Literahtre, Volume LXXXVII, Part III, September, 1968, p. 315).

3.

Where was Bethel? Joshua 7:2 b

Bethel was ancient Luz (see Genesis 28:19; cf. Genesis 12:8; Genesis 13:3-4; Genesis 35:7). It was named by Jacob (see Genesis 28:19; Genesis 35:14-15). This was the name used after the conquest (Joshua 16:1-2; Judges 1:22-26). Bethel lay about one and one half miles west of Ai. The location was about twelve miles north of Jerusalem. Near here Abraham had camped (Genesis 12:8; Genesis 13:3). The name means house of God. Bethel belonged to the Benjamites as they settled in the land, but its history was dominated by the people of Ephraim. The area is dominated by ruins now called Beitin, excavated in 1934 by a joint expedition of the Pittsburgh Zenia Theological Seminary and the American Schools of Oriental Research under the direction of William Albright.

4.

Why did the spies suggest sending only a few warriors? Joshua 7:3

Once again Joshua had used the usual military strategy in spying out the city to be attacked. These men had gone up and looked over the situation at Ai. When they came back, they suggested it would be unnecessary to send all six hundred thousand soldiers of Israel against the city, It was their recommendation that only two or three thousand soldiers would be a sufficient force to take Ai. The basis of their suggestion was the fact that there were only a few people in the city. They were also flushed with victory at Jericho and must have felt invincible.

5.

What was the result of the attack? Joshua 7:5

Following the advice of the spies, Joshua sent about three thousand men to attack Ai. They fled from before the people, and the men of Ai smote about thirty-six of them. They chased them away from the city and attacked them all the way down from the heights to which they had ascended. The hearts of the people of Israel now melted and became as water even as before the hearts of the Canaanites had melted for fear of the approaching invaders.

6.

Where was Shebarim? Joshua 7:5 b

Shebarim was the name of the place where the Israelites were beaten by the men of Ai. The name comes from the root which means to break to pieces or destroy. The area has not been definitely located in modern times, but it must have been somewhere near Ai on the slope which went down to the east from the height on which Ai was located.