But Joshua Spent That Night Among the People

  [316 words] “So Joshua sent them out. And they went to the place of ambush and lay between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai, but Joshua spent that night among the people. Joshua arose early in the morning and mustered the people and went up, he and the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai” (Josh. 8:9-10 ESV). Israel had been defeated by Ai on an earlier occasion (cf. Jos. 7:1ff). Mistakes had been made, including a transgression of God’s command (Achan had taken of the accursed items of Jericho), a failure to seek the Lord’s counsel, and no leadership presence when the battle was waged. But Israel learned quickly from those mistakes as evidenced by the disposal of sin (7:10ff), hearing and heeding God’s instructions (8:1-2), and the presence of her leaders the second time around (8:1, 3-10). Complete and total victory was the result…