Joshua was encouraged by the Lord. The first loss against Ai did not keep him from mobilizing his fighting men and marching towards Ai. The first loss also helped Joshua to approach the same problem differently. What do we learn from our mistakes?
“Afterwards, Joshua read all the words of the law…to the whole assembly of Israel…including…children, and the aliens…”
Joshua performs iteration 2 of the Do’s and Dont’s of the Law. My wife some times asks my children this question: How many times do i have to tell you?. Well, there it is. At least twice!
Joshua took efforts to read the law to the people. God’s word can guide us and lead us in our daily walk.
It is interesting to read how much God is instructing Joshua even to the tiniest bit of detail.( probably even the color the shirt !) .This time they are allowed to take the plunder from the city. After Achan’s experience I’m sure the wealth would not have caused coveting, just shared among them.
(v1) I “have delivered” into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city and his land.
-(6:2) I “have delivered” Jericho into your hands, along with its King and its fighting men.
-God doesn’t say I “will deliver” into your hands, before even Joshua and Israelites go against them, God says I “have delivered” into your hands, as if everything is already over! (John 13:19) ” I’m telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am”!
Israelites turn back and win the battle!- it indicates, we could face spiritual set backs at times when we disobey God; knowingly or unknowingly. Need to stay on at His feet and understand what was wrong, take corrections and proceed.
35 There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel , with women , the little ones , and the strangers who were living among them.
– this emphasize the need for revisiting the scripture again and again to help us not to get deviated
Any adult reading of Chap.8 has to begin with Chap.6,7 or even 5. Admittedly the text is complex and nuanced and cannot be understood without some knowledge of ancient near east. But one helpful point to take home is King Yahweh has entered Canaan territory and he continues to lead his people by toppling of cities and kings and making monuments out of them.
1. He is interested in wiping out not just the people but their culture and their history along with it.
2. King Yahweh has landed sending terror into the hearts of His own people and the local towns and their kings.
3. Joshua understand this and renews the covenant in the final verses 30-35 by writing out the Mosaic covenant. This explains why Israelites heart melted. They knew they are in the midst of something awful.
4. Verse 30-35 is like a flash news happening in a live telecast of sports. The writer is more interested in talking about covenant obedience than military victory. Joshua seems extremely cautious in sending this message.