Question 1

Why does God tell Joshua, "Fear not, neither be thou dismayed" at Ai?

Accepted Answer

God speaks these words to Joshua right after Israel’s earlier defeat at Ai, which came because of sin in the camp. Joshua and the people would have felt ashamed, afraid, and unsure if God was still with them. By saying, “Fear not, neither be thou dismayed,” God is lifting Joshua’s heart and reminding him that the failure was not the end of the story. God had dealt with the sin, and now He again promises His presence and victory if they obey His command. It is both comfort and a call to move forward in faith.

Question 2

What is the importance of the ambush and fake retreat against Ai?

Accepted Answer

The ambush and fake retreat show that God uses both His power and wise planning. This time the city is not taken by a miracle like Jericho, but through strategy that God Himself commands. Israel pretends to run away so the men of Ai leave the city unguarded, and the hidden soldiers go in and set it on fire. This teaches that trusting God does not mean ignoring planning or effort. Instead, God often works through careful steps, timing, and patient obedience, while still being the One who truly gives the victory.

Question 3

What does it mean when Joshua stretches out the spear toward Ai?

Accepted Answer

When God tells Joshua to stretch out the spear toward Ai, it is both a sign of faith and a signal to the army. God says, “for I will give it into thine hand,” tying the raised spear to His promise of victory. As Joshua holds out the spear, the men in ambush know it is time to rise, enter the city, and burn it. Joshua keeps his hand outstretched until the battle is finished. This shows steady trust in God’s word, and it keeps the people’s eyes on God’s promise rather than their own strength or skill.

Question 4

Why was Ai and its people completely destroyed in this passage?

Accepted Answer

The complete destruction of Ai, including its king, is pictured as an act of God’s judgment on a wicked city. Israel is not acting on personal anger but carrying out what God has commanded in this time of taking the land. The burning of the city, the killing of its people, and the hanging of the king all underline how seriously God treats sin and rebellion against Him. This is hard to read, but it shows God’s holiness. It also warns Israel not to turn to the same sins, since the same God judges His own people when they disobey.

Question 5

Why could Israel keep the spoil and cattle of Ai but not of Jericho?

Accepted Answer

At Jericho, God had said that the spoil was devoted to Him, and taking it brought judgment on Israel when one man disobeyed. At Ai, God now gives a different command and allows the people to keep the animals and goods. This shows that God decides what is set apart for Him and what He gives for their use. It also shows that if Israel had waited and obeyed before, they would have received plenty in God’s time. The spoil of Ai becomes a kind of reminder that what God allows is safe, and what He forbids will only bring trouble.

Question 6

What does this passage teach about God’s guidance and human planning?

Accepted Answer

This passage shows that God’s guidance and human planning are not enemies. God gives the promise, the overall command, and even the kind of strategy to use. Joshua then organizes the soldiers, divides them into groups, sets the ambush, and leads from the front. The success does not come from the plan alone, nor from sitting still and waiting for a miracle, but from planning under God’s word. For believers today, it encourages using wisdom, thought, and effort while staying humble and dependent on what God has clearly said.

Question 7

Who is the king of Ai, and why is he hanged on a tree?

Accepted Answer

The king of Ai is the leader of the city that fights against Israel. He is taken alive, which makes him stand out from the rest of the people who are killed in battle. Joshua later has him hanged on a tree until evening, then taken down and buried under a large heap of stones at the city gate. Hanging him publicly shows God’s judgment on the ruler of a city that opposed His people and ways. Taking the body down at sunset follows God’s command that the body of one hanged should not remain on the tree overnight.

Question 8

How does Joshua’s victory over Ai speak to people who feel they have failed?

Accepted Answer

The story of Ai comes right after a painful defeat and the uncovering of hidden sin. At first Israel runs from Ai, but later, under God’s fresh command, they face the same city again and this time win. This shows that failure is not the end when sin is confessed and dealt with. God does not throw Joshua away but encourages him and uses him again. For someone who feels they have failed badly, this passage shows that God can restore, guide, and still work through a person who listens, turns from sin, and walks forward in obedience.

Joshua 8:1

And the Lord said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land:

The Conquest of Ai

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Joshua 8:1

And the Lord said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land:

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The Conquest of Ai

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