Bible Commentaries
Joshua 8

Verses 1-29

Israel Defeats Ai Joshua 8:1-29 records Israel’s defeat of Ai.

Joshua 8:2 And thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou didst unto Jericho and her king: only the spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof, shall ye take for a prey unto yourselves: lay thee an ambush for the city behind it.

Joshua 8:2 Comments - The spoils of Jericho had been a type of firstfruits offering unto the Lord. Now, the rest of the spoils of war would be for Israel.

Joshua 8:26 For Joshua drew not his hand back, wherewith he stretched out the spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.

Joshua 8:26 Comments - Joshua follows Moses’ style by holding up his spear (Exodus 17:9-11), knowing the battle would favour Israel.

Exodus 17:9-11, “And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.”

Joshua 8:29 And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until eventide: and as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his carcase down from the tree, and cast it at the entering of the gate of the city, and raise thereon a great heap of stones, that remaineth unto this day.

Joshua 8:29 “as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his carcase down from the tree” - Comments - Note that Moses commanded the bodies that were hanged to be removed so that they do not hang in a tree all night (Deuteronomy 21:22-23).

Deuteronomy 21:22-23, “And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree: His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.”

Joshua 8:30-35 Israel Renews Its Covenant with the Lord Comments - Joshua 8:30-35 records the account of Israel renewing its covenant with the Lord.

Joshua 8:33 And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on this side the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, as well the stranger, as he that was born among them; half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel.

Joshua 8:33 Comments - This action was commanded by Moses (Deuteronomy 11:29; Deuteronomy 27:12-13).

Deuteronomy 11:29, “And it shall come to pass, when the LORD thy God hath brought thee in unto the land whither thou goest to possess it, that thou shalt put the blessing upon mount Gerizim, and the curse upon mount Ebal.”

Deuteronomy 27:12-13, “These shall stand upon mount Gerizim to bless the people, when ye are come over Jordan; Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin: And these shall stand upon mount Ebal to curse; Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.”