College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Joshua 8 - Introduction
A DIGEST OF CHAPTER 8
Plans for attacking Ai again. After God encouraged Joshua, he laid plans for attacking Ai a second time. On this occasion he decided to use ambushes behind the city. The main attacking force was instructed to retire from before the city expecting that the men of Ai would come out to chase them. When the men of Ai were out of the city, those who had been set in ambush would be able to go in and take the city.
The conquest of Ai, Joshua's strategy worked very effectively, He set a second ambush to make sure that there would be a sufficient force to take the city after the main attacking force had withdrawn. In this way the city was completely destroyed.
The altar erected on Mount Ebal, In keeping with the instructions Moses had given, the people of Israel went to the center of Canaan and erected an altar. Joshua served the Lord. He led the people to worship God in an acceptable way.
LESSONS FOR LEARNING
1.
Trust and obey. The song which is sung so often in church by this title carries a lot of meaning with it. There is no other way to be happy with God but to trust and obey. Joshua found this out as he made his second expedition against Ai. When the people had failed to obey God, they were defeated. When they purged the sin from the camp, God said to Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed. I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land (Joshua 8:1). When Joshua obeyed God, he was able to capture the city.
2.
To fight against God is to lose. This lesson was learned by the men of Ai and Bethel as they went out to fight against the armies of Israel. They did not even take the precaution of leaving a guard in the city. We read, There was not a man left in Ai or Bethel. : and they left the city open, and pursued after Israel (Joshua 8:17). Since they had won the first battle, they thought ultimate victory would surely be theirs. This is true in the spiritual realm as well as in the area of military engagements. Gamaliel had the wisdom to advise his colleagues to be careful, lest haply ye be found even to fight against God (Acts 5:39).
3.
To God belongs the glory. After the people had successfully attacked Ai, Joshua led them to Mount Ebal where they built an altar, wrote on it the Law of Moses, offered thereon burnt offerings unto the Lord, and sacrificed peace offerings. Moses had commanded them to do this before he died, and Joshua kept faith with Moses. It was the natural thing for them to do after God had given them such complete victories at Jericho and Ai. Every Christian ought to give God thanks whenever a victory is won in the name of Christ.
TEN QUESTIONS ON CHAPTER 8
1.
Was Israel allowed to take spoil of war from Ai?
2.
How many men did Joshua put in the first ambush?
3.
How many men did Joshua put in the second ambush?
4.
From what city did soldiers come to help the men of Ai?
5.
What weapon of war did Joshua hold in his hand as a signal?
6.
How many people of Ai fell in the battle?
7.
By what means was the king of Ai killed?
8.
Where did Joshua lead the people to erect an altar?
9.
What did Joshua write on the stones of the altar?
10.
Before what other mountain did half the people stand?