Commentary - Joshua 8:3-9

Bird's-eye view

After the stinging and humiliating defeat at Ai, a defeat brought about by Achan's sin and Israel's subsequent corporate guilt, we now come to the second attempt. The first attempt was characterized by presumption, a failure to consult the Lord, and a cavalier overconfidence. This second attempt is the polar opposite. It is meticulously planned, but the plan is not Joshua's. The strategy comes directly from Yahweh, and it is a strategy of holy deception. God Himself instructs Joshua to set an ambush, to feign retreat, and to lure the men of Ai out of their city to their destruction. This is not a matter of Joshua getting clever after a failure; it is a matter of Joshua getting obedient after a chastisement.

The central lesson here revolves around the nature of holy war. When God's people go to war, they must do so on God's terms, according to His explicit instructions, and for His glory. This includes the methods of warfare. Our modern, sentimental objections to things like deception in battle arise from a failure to understand the ninth commandment in its proper context. Deception in a just war is not bearing false witness against a neighbor; it is a legitimate weapon against an enemy of God. Here, God Himself scripts the play, and Joshua and the people of Israel are called to act their parts faithfully. Their victory will not be a result of their cleverness, but of their obedience to the divine director.

Outline

Context In Joshua

Chapter 7 was the great disruption. After the glorious, miraculous victory at Jericho, Israel was full of swagger. They sent a small force to Ai, assuming an easy victory, and were soundly routed. The reason was sin in the camp, a violation of the herem, the things devoted to destruction. Achan took of the accursed thing, and all Israel suffered for it. After the sin was identified and purged through the execution of Achan and his household, God restored His favor to Israel. Chapter 8 is the direct result of that restoration. God speaks to Joshua again, tells him not to fear, and gives him the green light to attack Ai once more. The narrative is structured to show the sharp contrast between presumption and obedience. Presumption leads to defeat and shame. Meticulous obedience to the word of God, even when it involves feigning defeat, leads to total victory.

Clause-by-Clause Commentary

v. 3 So Joshua rose with all the people of war to go up to Ai; and Joshua chose 30,000 men, valiant warriors, and sent them out at night.

The first word to notice is "So." This is a direct response to the command and encouragement of God in the previous verses. God said, "Do not fear... Arise, go up to Ai." And so Joshua arose. This is the posture of faith. There is no hesitation, no second guessing. The last time they went up to Ai, it was a disaster. Men died. The hearts of the people melted like water. But now, with a fresh word from God, Joshua acts immediately. He musters "all the people of war," not just a few thousand like the first time. This shows a new seriousness. But from this larger force, he selects a special contingent of 30,000 "valiant warriors." The word for valiant here is gibbor, the same word used for mighty men of valor. These are not just any soldiers; they are the elite. And he sends them out under the cover of darkness, which points to the nature of their mission: it is to be a surprise, an ambush.

v. 4 And he commanded them, saying, “See, you are going to ambush the city from behind it. Do not go very far from the city, but all of you be ready.

Joshua is now relaying the battle plan that God gave him. The first part of the plan is the ambush. They are to position themselves behind the city, which means to the west, between Ai and Bethel. Joshua's command is precise. "Do not go very far from the city." Proximity is key. They need to be close enough to strike quickly once the trap is sprung. If they are too far away, the men of Ai might have time to retreat back into their city and shut the gates. The final part of the command is a call to readiness: "all of you be ready." In warfare, readiness is everything. They are to be poised, waiting for the signal, ready to explode into action at the appointed moment. This is a picture of the Christian life. We are to be ready, watchful, waiting for the return of our Lord, poised for action.

v. 5 Then I and all the people who are with me will come near the city. And it will be that when they come out to meet us as at the first, we will flee before them.

Here is the second part of the plan, the ruse. Joshua and the main force will make a frontal approach to the city. This is the bait. They will make themselves visible and appear to be making the same kind of foolish frontal assault that failed so spectacularly the first time. The men of Ai, looking down from their walls, will see the Israelites coming and think, "Here they come again. They haven't learned a thing." Joshua anticipates their reaction perfectly because God has told him what will happen. When the army of Ai sallies forth, Israel will turn tail and run. This feigned retreat is the linchpin of the whole strategy. It requires discipline and courage to run away from the enemy as part of a plan. It is a calculated act of deception, designed to manipulate the enemy's pride.

v. 6 And they will come out after us until we have drawn them away from the city, for they will say, ‘They are fleeing before us as at the first.’ So we will flee before them.

Joshua here explains the psychology of the trap. The enemy will be blinded by their past success. Their pride will be their downfall. They will see the retreat and their immediate conclusion will be, "It's happening again! They are just as weak as before." This is what makes the deception so effective. It plays on the enemy's arrogance. Joshua is so confident in this outcome that he states their internal monologue: "They are fleeing before us as at the first." He repeats the tactic for emphasis: "So we will flee before them." The goal is to draw them far away from the safety of their walled city, to pull them out into the open ground where they are vulnerable. This is a classic military tactic, but here it has divine sanction. It is God using the enemy's pride to destroy them.

v. 7 And you shall rise from your ambush and take possession of the city, for Yahweh your God will give it into your hand.

This is the signal for the ambush force. Once the city is emptied of its defenders, they are to rise up and seize it. Notice the language: "take possession of the city." This is the language of inheritance. This land, this city, is part of what God has promised them. And the basis for their success is not the cleverness of the strategy, but the promise of God. "For Yahweh your God will give it into your hand." This is the foundation of all Christian warfare. We fight, not for victory, but from victory. The outcome has been secured by our God. Our task is to faithfully execute the plan He has given us, trusting that He has already ordained the result.

v. 8 Then it will be that when you have seized the city, that you shall set the city on fire. You shall do it according to the word of Yahweh. See, I have commanded you.”

The task of the ambush party is twofold: seize the city, and then set it on fire. The fire would serve two purposes. First, it would be a signal to Joshua and the main force that the trap had worked. When they saw the smoke rising from the city, they would know it was time to turn and fight the army of Ai. Second, it was an act of judgment. This city was under the ban, the herem. It was to be utterly destroyed as a sign of God's judgment against the wickedness of the Canaanites. Joshua emphasizes the source of this command: "You shall do it according to the word of Yahweh." This is not his idea. This is not wanton destruction. This is holy justice, executed at God's command. He concludes with a personal charge: "See, I have commanded you." As God's appointed leader, Joshua's word carries divine authority. He is holding them accountable to obey.

v. 9 So Joshua sent them away, and they went to the place of ambush and remained between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai; but Joshua spent that night among the people.

The plan is now in motion. The 30,000 men move out and take their concealed position. The geography is important; they are between Bethel and Ai, cutting off any potential help from the neighboring city. They are on the west side, the "behind" of the city from the perspective of the main Israelite camp at Gilgal. While this elite force is moving into position, Joshua remains with the main body of the people. His presence among them that night would have been a source of great encouragement. After the previous defeat, their morale would have been fragile. But seeing their leader, calm and confident in the plan God had given him, would have steeled their nerves for the battle to come. Joshua is not just a general; he is a pastor to his people, leading them in obedience to God.

Application

The first lesson for us is about dealing with failure. Israel failed miserably in their first attempt on Ai because of sin and presumption. But failure is not final with God. After repentance and cleansing, God gives a second chance. He does not just say, "Try again." He gives a detailed, specific plan for victory. When we fail, the path forward is not to simply try harder in our own strength, but to return to the word of God, listen for His instructions, and obey them to the letter.

Secondly, this passage gives us a robust category for lawful deception. In a world at war with God, and in a culture that is increasingly hostile to the faith, we must be wise as serpents. This does not mean we become liars in the ninth commandment sense, bearing false witness against our neighbor. But it does mean that in our conflict with the spiritual forces of darkness and their earthly agents, we are not obligated to hand them our battle plan. Deception against the enemies of God, in the pursuit of a righteous cause, is a God-ordained weapon. God Himself commanded a feigned retreat here. We should not be more pious than God.

Finally, we see a beautiful type of our greater Joshua, the Lord Jesus. The first Adam led us into a disastrous defeat. But the second Adam, Jesus, came with a divine plan to defeat our great enemy. He appeared to retreat; He fled before the enemy, all the way to the cross. Satan and the powers of darkness thought they had won. They saw Him hanging there and said, "He is fleeing before us as at the first." But His death was a feigned retreat. It was the very act that emptied hell of its power and secured our victory. And now, because He has already taken possession of the city, we are called to rise up in His power and live out the victory He has won for us. He has given it into our hand.