Conquest Series

September 27, 2025

The Conquest started on a great high – Jericho’s walls fell down and the army walked right in.

The rest of Canaan seemed a little less scary and the camp was riding a wave of total victory – then came Ai.

The Ai spies reported that it would take 3,000 men MAX to take the city – Ai would be NO problem.

3,000 men went to Ai, 36 died and the rest were chased back to where they came from – Disaster!

The people became terrified.

What went wrong? Why had Yahweh failed them?

Joshua tore his clothes and laid down in front of the Ark:

Joshua: Sovereign LORD, why did you bring us across the Jordan if You were only going to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites? We should have been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan! O Lord, what can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies? The Canaanites and the other people of the land will hear about this and they will destroy us. What will you do then for your own great name?

Yahweh: Stand up! Why have you fallen on your face? Israel has sinned and transgressed my covenant. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. That’s why you cannot stand against your enemies. I will not be with you until you destroy what was devoted to destruction…. In the morning you are to cast lots and he who is guilty shall be destroyed by fire, along with all that belongs to him. He has violated the covenant of the LORD and has done a disgraceful thing in Israel!

Lots were cast: Judah ? Zerahites ? Zabdi ? Achan!!

Achan: I have sinned against Yahweh! I took a beautiful mantle, 200 shekels of silver and a bar of gold. They are in a hole under my tent.

Achan, his entire household, and all that belonged to him were destroyed.

After the sin had been removed from Israel, Yahweh once again told Joshua to take Ai ---- This time, victory. The 12,000 inhabitants of Ai were destroyed and the city was burned. Only the cattle and spoils were taken in accordance with the command of God.

An altar of uncut stones was built on the top of Mount Ebal and a copy of the Law was written on the stones. Then Joshua read the entire Law, including the blessings and curses to the congregation.

The conquest of Canaan began in earnest - First against an alliance of southern kings and then against an alliance of northern kings.

Southern Campaign

The kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites gathered together to fight Israel. The Gibeonites chose a different strategy: Pretend we live in a far-off country (they sent their envoys with worn out wineskins, sacks, sandals, clothes and stale bread).

“We live in a far-off country and we have come to make a covenant with you.”

“How do we know that you aren’t actually local?”

“Who are you and where do you come from?”

"We have come from a very far country because of the fame of your God. We’ve heard about what he did to the Egyptians and the 2 kings of the Amorites – Sihon and Og. The leaders of our country gave us provisions for the journey and told us to go and make a covenant with you ---- As you can see, our bread was warm and fresh when we left home, but now it is old and dry. Our wineskins were new as were our clothes and shoes. Now look, they are torn and worn out because our journey was very long.”

Joshua took the Gibeonite Envoys at their word. He did not ask too many questions. He did not consult with God. Instead, he decided to make a covenant with them. 3 days later he learned the truth.

This group “from a far-off land” were local. Their cities, Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth and Kiriath-jearim were only a 3-days journey away.

Joshua: Why did you lie to me? You are cursed – you will be slaves for the house of God – woodcutters and drawers of water.

Envoys: We were told that your God commanded you to take the land and we were afraid. We are in your hands, do what seems right to you.

The above statement did 2 things. It reminded Joshua of their covenant relationship and showed that they were prepared to accept the consequences of their deception.

This “curse” would become a blessing to the Gibeonites. Despite their deception they became members of the covenant community and shared in the service of the Sanctuary (when Solomon became king the Sanctuary was located in Gibeon) and they became partakers of the covenant blessings.