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Joshua 7:2

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And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which [is] beside Bethaven, on the east side of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai.

And Joshua {H3091} sent {H7971} men {H582} from Jericho {H3405} to Ai {H5857}, which is beside {H5973} Bethaven {H1007}, on the east side {H6924} of Bethel {H1008}, and spake {H559} unto them, saying {H559}, Go up {H5927} and view {H7270} the country {H776}. And the men {H582} went up {H5927} and viewed {H7270} Ai {H5857}.

Y'hoshua sent men from Yericho to 'Ai, which is next to Beit-Aven, east of Beit-El, telling them to go up and spy out the land. So the men went up, reconnoitered 'Ai,

Meanwhile, Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven to the east of Bethel, and told them, “Go up and spy out the land.” So the men went up and spied out Ai.

And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth-aven, on the east side of Beth-el, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and spy out the land. And the men went up and spied out Ai.

Commentary

Joshua 7:2 initiates a pivotal moment in Israel's conquest of Canaan, immediately following their miraculous victory at Jericho. After the fall of Jericho, Joshua dispatches a reconnaissance team to scout the next strategic target: the city of Ai. This verse sets the stage for a significant setback for the Israelites, highlighting themes of human strategy and the consequences of sin within the camp.

Context

Following the overwhelming and divinely orchestrated triumph over Jericho (see Joshua 6), the Israelites' morale would have been high. Jericho's fall was a testament to God's power and faithfulness. With the initial major obstacle removed, Joshua's attention turned to the central hill country. Ai, a smaller city described as "beside Bethaven, on the east side of Bethel," was strategically located, controlling access to the central highlands. The act of sending spies was a common military practice in ancient times, as seen previously when Moses sent spies into Canaan. However, unlike the detailed divine instructions for Jericho, this mission to Ai appears to be initiated by Joshua himself, without explicit divine command, a subtle but critical distinction that foreshadows the upcoming difficulties due to Achan's sin (unbeknownst to Joshua at this point, as revealed in Joshua 7:1).

Key Themes

  • Reconnaissance and Preparation: Joshua’s decision to send men to "view the country" and scout Ai demonstrates a logical military approach to preparing for battle. It shows an attempt to understand the enemy's strength and the terrain.
  • Human Strategy vs. Divine Guidance: While prudent from a military standpoint, the absence of specific divine instruction for this mission to Ai contrasts sharply with the detailed commands given for Jericho. This highlights a shift from direct reliance on God's unique strategy to a more conventional human approach, which proves insufficient when God's blessing is withheld due to sin.
  • Setting the Stage for Setback: This initial scouting mission ultimately leads to an overconfident assessment by the spies, who report that only a small force is needed to conquer Ai (Joshua 7:3). This overconfidence, combined with the hidden sin of Achan, contributes directly to Israel's unexpected defeat.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "view" or "spy out" used here is ragal (רָגַל), which implies a careful, often clandestine observation, similar to how spies gather intelligence. The geographical markers "Bethaven" and "Bethel" are important for understanding the location of Ai in the central highlands, indicating its strategic significance for controlling routes through the region.

Practical Application

Joshua 7:2 serves as a subtle reminder that even after great victories, vigilance and continued reliance on God are paramount. It illustrates the danger of moving forward based solely on human wisdom or past success, particularly when there might be unaddressed issues (like sin) within the community. For believers today, this verse underscores the importance of seeking God's guidance in all endeavors, even those that seem straightforward or logical from a human perspective. We are called to trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, recognizing that true success comes from His blessing, not merely from efficient planning.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Joshua 18:12 (7 votes)

    And their border on the north side was from Jordan; and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north side, and went up through the mountains westward; and the goings out thereof were at the wilderness of Bethaven.

  • Hosea 4:15 (4 votes)

    Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, [yet] let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Bethaven, nor swear, The LORD liveth.

  • 1 Samuel 13:5 (4 votes)

    And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which [is] on the sea shore in multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven.

  • 1 Samuel 14:23 (4 votes)

    So the LORD saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Bethaven.

  • Genesis 12:8 (3 votes)

    And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, [having] Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.

  • Proverbs 24:6 (3 votes)

    For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors [there is] safety.

  • Proverbs 20:18 (3 votes)

    ¶ [Every] purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.