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SURVEY OF BIBLE HISTORY
Dealing with Sin & the Victory that Followed
Joshua Lesson 9; Works well with Jensen’s Chapter 6

Written by Dr. Lester Hutson

Copyright - Lester Hutson - 1998
This material is copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced without the express written permission of Dr. Lester Hutson.

Joshua 7 - 8

5. The sin that brought about the Israeli defeat at Ai, was committed by one man, Josh. 7:1-15:

a. You will remember that at the fall of Jericho, the men of Israel were to destroy everything in the city, except the silver, gold, brass, and iron. These were to be brought into the house of the Lord, Josh, 6:18-19. In fact, anyone taking anything for himself was cursed of God.

b. Although Achan, a man of the tribe of Judah (Josh. 7:1) took a change of clothes, 200 shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold for himself, and hid it
in the earth under his tent, Josh. 7:21.

c. God told Joshua in Chapter 7 vs 11-12 that the Israeli defeat at Ai was a direct result of this man's sin. One man's sin brought the wrath of God against a whole congregation, Josh.7:l. God viewed it as a problem of the whole nation. Josh. 7:11.

d. Believer, what a vivid lesson that your sin does not affect you, and you alone. Quite often we delude ourselves into thinking it does. One hears a lot these days about "victimless crimes"; and out of the mouths of even believers, come such words as "It's not hurting anybody but me". Sin does hurt the one who commits it, usually more than anyone else. Achan died for his sin, Josh. 7:25. But, his family suffered, too. They died with him. And Josh. 7:5 says 36 Israeli soldiers died as a result of Achan's sin. Think of the anguish and suffering that produced in the families of those who died. The reputation and integrity of the whole Israeli nation was brought into question as a result of Achan's sin, Josh 7:7. And, here's a whole nation in defeat, with one of history's alltime great generals lying on his face in the sand, as a result of Achan's sin.

The person who tells himself that his sin does not hurt anybody but himself is ignorant or lying. Eor example, the drunkard, who thinks his drinking isn't hurting anybody but himself, is causing untold heartache (and often economic misery) for his parents, his mate, his children; and often society in general in the form of wrecks, broken homes, and people maimed and killed. One sinner in a Church can bring defeat after defeat to a whole Church. "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump", I Cor. 5:6. As did Achan in Josh. 7:15, one man can bring folly to a whole congregation.

Sin in the lives of believers is the greatest hindrance to the work of God, and the cause of constant defeat in Churches and the Christian family as a whole.

6. God instructed Joshua to isolate the sin problem and eradicate it, Josh, 7:16-26: As the people were marched by Joshua, the lot (Urim & Thummim)fell on one tribe, then one family in that tribe, then one man in that family, Josh. 7: 16-18, Achan was the man taken.

b. He confessed the sin, Josh. 7:20-21, and was stoned and burned with his family. All their belongings were burned, and a great heap of stones was erected over their ashes, Josh.7:24-26.

c. The point is that sin must be completely eradicated. It cannot be tolerated. This incident in the valley of Achor was a vivid object lesson to all the people of Israel.

7 Covetousness was the root of Achan's sin:

a. By his own admission in Josh. 7:21. he coveted material goods· "When I saw among the spoils a qoodly Babylonish qarmet,and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of qold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them and behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it,"

b. To covet is to delight in, desire, or lust after someone or some thing· When it comes to things that belong to someone else; and to material goods in this world, God says plainly, "thou shalt not covet", Ex. 20:17, and Rom. 7:7. Now when it comes to the good things of God, the Bible says "covet earnestly- the best gifts,1 Cor.12:31· But of earthly goods, Col. 3:2 says, "Set your affection on things above, not on things of the earth". In fact, to fall in love with , and desire, lust after, or delight in the goods of this world is a very dangerous pursuit, for as Paul wrote, "the love of money is the root of all evil, which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows", I Tim, 6;10.

Achan surely did that. He coveted the material spoils at Jericho; and it was a grievous sin before God, which cost him everything that was dear and precious to him, including his life. As we have seen, his sin also hurt lots of other people. This story should be a sobering warning about the subtlety of covetousness, the disastrous results it produces, and how offensive it is to God. Believer, don't let yourself start desiring and delighting in the goods of this world. It's a downhill trip for sure.

No doubt it would be wise for every one of us to pause long enough for a soul searching look at just how much delight in, and desire for, (covetous ness) this world's goods is already in us.

8. After the sin that brought about the defeat was properly addressed, God instructed Joshua to again attack Ai, this time with a promise of victory, Josh. 8.

a. Remember that from Jericho, two separate valleys led up to Ai, which by either valley was 13 miles. The Is-raeli base camp at Gilgal was 2 miles further to the east. The rise in elevation from Jericho to Ai was 3200 feet; and the canyon valleys were extremely rocky and rugged. Passage up the valley floors was impossible; but in both cases, narrow trails followed the high sides of the canyons.

From Ai, anyone approaching the city from either trail would be easily visible. Remember that Ai sat atop a low hill immediately between where the two valleys topped out of the rugged slopes and on to the highlands plateau. Ai commanded a wide view of all areas to the east, south, and north. Only to the west was there a hidden area. Bethel, which was only a mile to the west, was not in view because of the continuing gradual rise in elevation and a ridge between the two cities.

b. Though the victory was from God, it came only after extremely hard work, and extraordinary military genius by Joshua. Remember that God does not give us victories until after we've done all he has given us the ability and sense to do. God helps those who help themselves. (Sometimes when victory comes after we've done all we can, we tend to credit the victory to ourselves and not God.)

Joshua was instructed by God to set an ambush against Ai, So Joshua took 30,000 soldiers (v. 3) and marched them in the night to Ai. The soldiers marched under cover of night to prevent their detection by the people of Ai. It was important that the ambush party gain the rocky hiding place west of Ai without being detected or raising suspicions. This they could not do by following either of the two valley trails leading up from Jericho.

Although it was possible to follow the ridge between the two valley ravines for a distance, cut northwest across the northern valley, and climb steadily upward coming around the north side of Ai behind the cover of a mountain. This route would have been rough and very slow (in places about a mile an hour); and would have required the men to march single file at times. John Garstang gives this geography in his book on Joshua and Judges, section 6. By starting the climb from Jericho before dark, the men could have been in place near Ai by daybreak.

Upon arrival, 5000 of the soldiers were sent into the rocky depression behind the ridge between Ai and Bethel, vs 9. The remaining 25,000 soldiers,

along with the priests and Joshua, stayed in full view of the city across the valley on the north side, V. ll. As if to attack, Joshua then moved his army into the valley, V. 13, The King of Ai saw it, and launched a counter attack, unaware of the 5000 men hidden on the west side, V. 14. as all the people of Ai rushed down the hill to attack Joshua, Joshua retreated, drawing the people of Ai farther and farther from the city, and to lower and lower elevations down the rugged, rocky, terraced hillside, V. 16, Every man of Ai, along with all the men of Bethel, left the city in pursuit of Joshua, thinking to do to Israel as they had done in the first attack, V. 17,

Although, when the people of Ai were drawn sufficiently away from the city, joshua stretched out his spear; and the 5000 men of the ambush arose and rushed down from their position above Ai, and set fire to the city, Vs. 18-19.

The people of Ai and Bethel were caught in a vise. Joshua and the main army turned on them, and the 5000 men from above came down on them. Not one of the 12,000 people of Ai survived, Joshua 8:20-26.

C. The king of Ai was taken captive and brought to Joshua, who hanged him on a tree, Josh. 8:29. What a tremendous reverberation resounded throughout all the land of Canaan to all the enemies of the Lord.

D. The remainder of Joshua 8 records how Joshua and the people moved northward about 18 miles to Shechem (between Mt. Ebal and Mr. Gerizim), erected an altar of uncut stones, and there sacrificed unto God and blessed the people. He also read all the law of Moses, warning of all it’s curses and blessings.

VICTORY AT AI

1. How many people committed the sin that brought Israel's defeat at Ai?

2. Name the only four items which were to be kept from Jericho.

3. What was to be done with the four items from Jericho?

4. What did Achan do?

5. What does Israel's defeat, because of Achan's sin, do to the idea that no one else suffers for another's sin?

6. What can one sinful member do to a whole church?

7. What did God tell Joshua to do about this sin problem?

8. How was Achan isolated?

9. What was done to Achan?

10. What root problem caused Achan to commit this sin?

11. Describe covetousness.

12. Are there areas of covetousness in you?

13. After the matter with Achan was settled, what did God comand Joshua?

14. Describe the distance and terrain between Jericho & Ai.

15. Describe the natural defense posture of Ai.

16. Though God assured victory for Israel at Ai, what was required for them to claim it?

17. How many Israeli soldiers were involved in the second assault on Ai?

18. Why did Joshua move his army into position by night?

19. What route did Joshua take to Ai, and why?

20. Explain how Joshua took the people of Ai in a vise, and destroyed them.

"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"