In the book of Joshua, we learned how, “Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east side of Bethel, and spoke unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai. 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 labor there; for they are but few. So there went up there of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai”, and in chapter seven and verse five of the book of Joshua, we learn how, “the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men” where we read,
And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.
The verse reads, “And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men:” Joshua or the writer said, “and the men of Ai” which means “and the male human beings who belonged to Ai or Aija or Aiath or Hai whose name means ‘heap of ruins’ and was a city lying east of Bethel and beside Bethaven near Jericho and the second city taken on the invasion of Canaan” “smote of them” or “struck, hit, beat and killed among them, the men of Israel” “about thirty and six men” which means “around thirty six male human beings”. Joshua or the writer shared how the males from “Ai” slew thirty-six of the warriors of Israel.
The verse continues, “for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down:” Joshua or the writer added the words, “for they chased them” which means “because, since and on account that they, the men from Ai, pursued, ran after and put to flight them, the people of Israel” “from before the gate” or “separate and apart from the entrance or portal opening” “even unto Shebarim” which means “indeed to Shebarim whose name means the breaches which was a place in Palestine”, “and smote them” or “and struck, hit, beat and killed them, the men of Israel” “in the going down” which means “on the slope, steep place and descent”. Joshua or the writer shared how the men of “Ai” pursued after the warriors of Israel to the portal of their city to “Shebarim” and killed them all the way down the slope.
Finally the verse says, “wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.” Joshua or the writer concluded this verse with the words, “wherefore the hearts” or “therefore, then and on this account the souls, minds and wills” “of the people” which means “belonging to the human beings of Israel” “melted” or “dissolved, wasted away and grew faint and fearful”, “and became as water” which means “and existed similar and in likeness to flowing and transitory liquid”. Joshua or the writer ended this verse by sharing how the defeat from the men of “Ai” affected the souls and minds of all the people of Israel.
When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Joshua or the writer how the men of “Ai” began to slaughter the people of Israel, and thirty six men from Israel died. They put the men of Israel to flight and chased them through the portal opening of their city, to the city of “Shebarim” and all the way down the hill. This was a major blow to the people of Israel, and it caused all of them to be faint of “heart”. We should remember, they did not pray before they attacked. God wants to be involved in our pursuits, and even when it seems like victory should easily be obtained, we should seek God’s face first. God desires a personal intimate relationship with us through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the grave after three days. When we yield to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us to guide us into all truth and remind us to go to Him before we venture out on our own.
Next time we learn how, “Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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