Joshua 7:3

KJV

And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; [and] make not all the people to labour thither; for they [are but] few.

KJV (with Strong's)

And they returned {H7725} to Joshua {H3091}, and said {H559} unto him, Let not all the people {H5971} go up {H5927}; but let about two or three {H7969} thousand {H505} men {H376} go up {H5927} and smite {H5221} Ai {H5857}; and make not all the people {H5971} to labour {H3021} thither; for they are but few {H4592}.

Complete Jewish Bible

returned to Y'hoshua and told him, "Don't have all the people go up; but let perhaps two or three thousand men go up and attack 'Ai. There's no point in making all the people exert themselves to get there, because there are only a few of them."

Berean Standard Bible

On returning to Joshua, they reported, “There is no need to send all the people; two or three thousand men are enough to go up and attack Ai. Since the people of Ai are so few, you need not wear out all our people there.”

American Standard Version

And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; make not all the people to toil thither; for they are but few.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Joshua 7:3 records the confident but ultimately flawed recommendation from the Israelite spies sent to scout the city of Ai. Following their assessment of Ai's size and defenses, they advise Joshua that only a small contingent of men—specifically two or three thousand—would be sufficient to conquer it, thereby sparing the entire army the unnecessary effort of a full deployment. This counsel, based purely on human observation and military logic, stands in stark contrast to the divine instructions and absolute dependence on God that characterized the preceding miraculous victory at Jericho, setting the stage for a significant and humbling defeat.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows the monumental and divinely orchestrated victory at Jericho, where Israel's success was achieved not through military might but through obedient faith in God's unconventional commands (cf. [Joshua 6:20](/joshua/6-20 "Joshua 6:20 - The Fall of Jericho")). Flush with this recent, miraculous triumph, Joshua dispatches spies to Ai, a smaller city strategically located to the west in the central highlands. The report in [Joshua 7:3](/joshua/7-3 "Joshua 7:3 - The Spies' Report on Ai") marks a pivotal shift from divine instruction to human initiative and assessment. Unbeknownst to the spies or Joshua, a grave sin had already been committed by Achan (detailed in [Joshua 7:1](/joshua/7-1 "Joshua 7:1 - Achan's Sin")), which had broken the covenant relationship and God's favor, rendering Israel vulnerable despite their recent success. This human-centric counsel, devoid of divine consultation, directly precedes the disastrous defeat at Ai, narrated in [Joshua 7:5](/joshua/7-5 "Joshua 7:5 - Israel's Defeat at Ai"), highlighting the immediate consequences of presumption.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Ai (meaning "ruin" or "heap of ruins") was a Canaanite city, likely smaller than Jericho, situated near Bethel in the central Benjaminite territory. Its strategic location on a major east-west route through the central highlands made its capture crucial for controlling the land and dividing Canaan. Ancient warfare often involved reconnaissance, and sending spies was a standard military practice. However, Israel's unique covenant relationship with Yahweh meant that military strategy was often superseded by divine command and dependence. The cultural context of the time also involved a strong emphasis on the spoils of war, which, in Israel's case, were subject to specific divine regulations, particularly concerning "devoted things" (herem), as seen at Jericho. The spies' confidence reflects a common human tendency to underestimate perceived weaker opponents and to rely on conventional military wisdom, a wisdom that proved insufficient for a people whose victories were meant to be demonstrations of God's power.
* **Key Themes:** The spies' recommendation in [Joshua 7:3](/joshua/7-3 "Joshua 7:3 - The Spies' Report on Ai") is a critical turning point that introduces several profound themes. Firstly, it underscores the stark contrast between **human confidence and divine dependence**. After the supernatural victory at Jericho, where God alone secured the triumph, the spies' reliance on human observation and logic demonstrates a dangerous shift away from seeking God's counsel. Secondly, it highlights the peril of **underestimating challenges** and fostering complacency. By deeming Ai's inhabitants "but few," they cultivated an overconfident mindset that neglected the spiritual realities at play. Thirdly, though not explicitly stated in this verse, it subtly foreshadows the **consequences of unaddressed sin**. The flawed counsel and subsequent defeat are direct repercussions of Achan's hidden transgression (cf. [Joshua 7:11-12](/joshua/7-11 "Joshua 7:11-12 - God's Judgment on Achan's Sin")), illustrating how individual disobedience can undermine the entire community's spiritual standing and military success. Finally, the entire narrative arc of Ai, beginning with this verse, powerfully emphasizes the **absolute necessity of seeking God's counsel** in all endeavors, especially after spiritual victories, rather than presuming continued success based on past achievements or human calculations, a lesson echoed throughout the book of [Joshua](/joshua/1 "The Book of Joshua - Conquest and Inheritance").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **returned (Hebrew, שָׁוּב _shuv_):** This verb signifies a turning back, a return to a previous state or place. Here, it indicates the completion of the spies' reconnaissance mission and their presentation of findings to Joshua. The word itself is neutral, but the content of their return report reveals a turning away from the posture of absolute dependence on God that characterized the Jericho campaign.
* **smite (Hebrew, נָכָה _nakah_):** This strong verb means "to strike, to smite, to beat, to kill." It conveys the intention of a decisive and destructive military action. The spies' use of this term reflects their confidence in achieving a complete victory, implying an easy conquest that would eliminate the enemy. The profound irony lies in the fact that Israel would soon be "smitten" by Ai.
* **few (Hebrew, מְעַט _me'at_):** This adjective means "a little, a few, a small amount." Its use here is central to the spies' flawed assessment. By describing Ai's inhabitants as "but few," they dismiss the enemy as insignificant, leading to a dangerous underestimation of the task at hand and a presumption of effortless victory. This word encapsulates their human-centric, superficial evaluation.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him":** This opening clause establishes the setting: the spies have completed their mission and are now delivering their report to the leader, Joshua. It sets the stage for the critical advice that follows, indicating that this is official counsel from trusted scouts.
* **"Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai":** This is the core of the spies' recommendation. They advise against deploying the entire army, suggesting that a small contingent of 2,000-3,000 men would be sufficient to conquer Ai. This counsel is based on their human observation of Ai's size and defenses, reflecting a purely military calculation rather than a spiritual inquiry. It directly contrasts with the full mobilization and divine strategy employed at Jericho.
* **"[and] make not all the people to labour thither":** This phrase provides the rationale for their recommendation. The spies advocate for efficiency and conservation of resources, arguing that a full deployment would be an unnecessary burden or "labour" for the entire army. This practical, human-centered reasoning further underscores their oversight of the spiritual dimension of the conflict.
* **"for they [are but] few":** This final clause is the spies' justification for their confident, albeit flawed, assessment. Their perception of Ai's population as small and insignificant leads them to conclude that the city poses minimal threat, thus requiring only a small force. This statement encapsulates their overconfidence and the dangerous underestimation of the enemy, which ultimately proves disastrous for Israel.

#### Literary Devices
Joshua 7:3 is rich with **Irony**. The spies' confident assertion that Ai's inhabitants "are but few" and that a small force will "smite Ai" stands in stark contrast to the impending reality of Israel's humiliating defeat at the hands of this very "few" enemy. This dramatic irony highlights the chasm between human perception and divine reality. The verse also employs **Foreshadowing**, subtly hinting at the disaster to come. The overconfidence and lack of divine consultation, especially after the supernatural victory at Jericho, create a sense of unease, signaling that something is amiss and that the human-devised plan will not succeed. Furthermore, there is a strong **Contrast** established between the methodology of the Jericho campaign (total dependence on God, unconventional warfare) and the proposed strategy for Ai (human assessment, conventional military logic), which serves to emphasize the spiritual decline and its dire consequences.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Joshua 7:3 serves as a powerful theological pivot, shifting the narrative from God's miraculous intervention at Jericho to a profound lesson in human presumption and the consequences of spiritual negligence. The spies' confident, human-centric assessment of Ai's weakness, devoid of any recorded consultation with God, highlights the critical theme of **dependence on divine counsel versus reliance on human wisdom**. After experiencing God's overwhelming power, Israel quickly reverts to a worldly mindset, demonstrating the human tendency to forget past deliverances and trust in visible strength rather than invisible grace. This verse underscores that true victory for God's people is never a matter of superior numbers or strategic brilliance alone, but always a result of His presence and leading. It also subtly introduces the theme of **corporate responsibility for individual sin**, as the spies' flawed advice, born of a general spiritual complacency, occurs against the backdrop of Achan's hidden transgression, which had already severed God's favor from the community.

* [Proverbs 3:5](/proverbs/3-5 "Proverbs 3:5 - Trust in the Lord") - "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
* [Psalm 20:7](/psalms/20-7 "Psalm 20:7 - Trust in the Name of the Lord") - "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God."
* [1 Samuel 17:47](/1_samuel/17-47 "1 Samuel 17:47 - The Battle is the Lord's") - "And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands."

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Joshua 7:3 offers a timeless cautionary tale for believers. It reminds us that past spiritual victories, no matter how grand, do not guarantee future success if we abandon our dependence on God. The spies' overconfidence, rooted in a superficial assessment and a lack of divine consultation, led to a disastrous outcome. In our own lives, whether in personal decisions, ministry endeavors, or corporate church life, there is a pervasive temptation to rely on our own wisdom, experience, or resources, especially after a season of success. This verse challenges us to consistently seek God's guidance through prayer, His Word, and the counsel of the Holy Spirit, rather than presuming that our logic or past achievements are sufficient. It calls us to cultivate a posture of humility and constant reliance on God, recognizing that true success is defined by His will and His power, not by our human calculations. The story of Ai teaches us that even seemingly small challenges can become insurmountable obstacles when God's presence and favor are absent due to unaddressed sin or a lack of spiritual discernment.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **After a significant spiritual victory, how might we be tempted to rely on our own strength or wisdom rather than continuing to seek God's guidance?**
* **What "small" challenges in your life or ministry might you be underestimating, and how might that lead to complacency?**
* **In what areas of your life are you currently relying more on human logic and assessment than on divine counsel?**
* **How can we cultivate a deeper posture of humility and dependence on God in our daily walk?**

### FAQ
**Why did Joshua send spies to Ai after the miraculous victory at Jericho, and why was their advice flawed?**

Answer: Joshua sent spies to Ai as a standard military practice, a common reconnaissance strategy in ancient warfare. This was not inherently wrong, as he had also sent spies to Jericho (cf. [Joshua 2:1](/joshua/2-1 "Joshua 2:1 - Spies Sent to Jericho")). However, the flaw in their advice stemmed from two critical issues. First, their assessment was purely human and logical: Ai appeared small ("but few"), suggesting an easy victory, leading them to recommend a minimal force. This overlooked the spiritual dimension of Israel's warfare, which required divine leading, not just human strategy. Second, and more critically, neither the spies nor Joshua consulted God before making this decision. After the supernatural triumph at Jericho, there was a dangerous presumption of continued success based on human observation rather than divine command. Unbeknownst to them, Achan's sin had already broken fellowship with God (cf. [Joshua 7:1](/joshua/7-1 "Joshua 7:1 - Achan's Trespass")), rendering Israel vulnerable. Their advice, though seemingly logical, was spiritually blind and ultimately led to defeat.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The narrative of Joshua 7:3, with its emphasis on human overconfidence leading to failure, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus. The spies' flawed assessment of Ai, based on visible strength and human logic, stands in stark contrast to the spiritual discernment required for true victory. In Christ, we see the ultimate embodiment of divine dependence and perfect obedience. Unlike the Israelites who presumed success, Jesus consistently relied on the Father, declaring, "I can do nothing on my own" ([John 5:30](/john/5-30 "John 5:30 - Jesus' Dependence on the Father")). His victory over sin and death was not achieved through human might or strategic brilliance, but through humble self-sacrifice on the cross, an act that seemed like weakness to the world but was God's ultimate power ([1 Corinthians 1:25](/1_corinthians/1-25 "1 Corinthians 1:25 - God's Foolishness is Wiser")). The "few" inhabitants of Ai proved insurmountable to an overconfident Israel, but Christ, by Himself, decisively defeated the "strong man" and plundered his house ([Mark 3:27](/mark/3-27 "Mark 3:27 - Binding the Strong Man")), triumphing over spiritual principalities and powers ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Powers")). For believers, the lesson of Ai is not merely about seeking God's counsel, but about recognizing that our true strength and victory come solely through our union with Christ, who is our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption ([1 Corinthians 1:30](/1_corinthians/1-30 "1 Corinthians 1:30 - Christ Our Wisdom")). We are called to fight our battles not with human confidence, but with the spiritual weapons provided by Him, acknowledging that "the battle is the Lord's" ([1 Samuel 17:47](/1_samuel/17-47 "1 Samuel 17:47 - The Battle is the Lord's")) and that in Christ, we are "more than conquerors" ([Romans 8:37](/romans/8-37 "Romans 8:37 - More Than Conquerors Through Christ")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.