攻取艾城
1耶和華對約書亞說：「不要懼怕，也不要驚惶。你起來，率領一切兵丁上艾城去，我已經把艾城的王和他的民、他的城，並他的地，都交在你手裏。 2你怎樣待耶利哥和耶利哥的王，也當照樣待艾城和艾城的王。只是城內所奪的財物和牲畜，你們可以取為自己的掠物。你要在城後設下伏兵。」
3於是，約書亞和一切兵丁都起來，要上艾城去。約書亞選了三萬大能的勇士，夜間打發他們前往， 4吩咐他們說：「你們要在城後埋伏，不可離城太遠，都要各自準備。 5我與我所帶領的眾民要向城前往。城裏的人像初次出來攻擊我們的時候，我們就在他們面前逃跑， 6他們必出來追趕我們，直到我們引誘他們離開城；因為他們必說：『這些人像初次在我們面前逃跑。』所以我們要在他們面前逃跑， 7你們就從埋伏的地方起來，奪取那城，因為耶和華－你們的神必把城交在你們手裏。 8你們奪了城以後，就放火燒城，要照耶和華的話行。這是我吩咐你們的。」 9約書亞打發他們前往，他們就上埋伏的地方去，住在伯特利和艾城的中間，就是在艾城的西邊。這夜約書亞卻在民中住宿。
10 約書亞清早起來，點齊百姓，他和以色列的長老在百姓前面上艾城去。 11眾民，就是他所帶領的兵丁，都上去，向前直往，來到城前，在艾城北邊安營。在約書亞和艾城中間有一山谷。 12他挑了約有五千人，使他們埋伏在伯特利和艾城的中間，就是在艾城的西邊， 13於是安置了百姓，就是城北的全軍和城西的伏兵。這夜約書亞進入山谷之中。 14艾城的王看見這景況，就和全城的人，清早急忙起來，按所定的時候，出到亞拉巴前，要與以色列人交戰；王卻不知道在城後有伏兵。 15約書亞和以色列眾人在他們面前裝敗，往那通曠野的路逃跑。 16城內的眾民都被招聚，追趕他們；艾城人追趕的時候，就被引誘離開城。 17艾城和伯特利城沒有一人不出來追趕以色列人的，撇了敞開的城門，去追趕以色列人。
18耶和華吩咐約書亞說：「你向艾城伸出手裏的短槍，因為我要將城交在你手裏。」約書亞就向城伸出手裏的短槍。 19他一伸手，伏兵就從埋伏的地方急忙起來，奪了城，跑進城去，放火焚燒。 20艾城的人回頭一看，不料，城中煙氣沖天，他們就無力向左向右逃跑。那往曠野逃跑的百姓便轉身攻擊追趕他們的人。 21約書亞和以色列眾人見伏兵已經奪了城，城中煙氣飛騰，就轉身回去，擊殺艾城的人。 22伏兵也出城迎擊艾城人，艾城人就困在以色列人中間，前後都是以色列人。於是以色列人擊殺他們，沒有留下一個，也沒有一個逃脫的， 23生擒了艾城的王，將他解到約書亞那裏。
24 以色列人在田間和曠野殺盡所追趕一切艾城的居民。艾城人倒在刀下，直到滅盡；以色列眾人就回到艾城，用刀殺了城中的人。 25當日殺斃的人，連男帶女共有一萬二千，就是艾城所有的人。 26約書亞沒有收回手裏所伸出來的短槍，直到把艾城的一切居民盡行殺滅。 27惟獨城中的牲畜和財物，以色列人都取為自己的掠物，是照耶和華所吩咐約書亞的話。 28約書亞將艾城焚燒，使城永為高堆、荒場，直到今日； 29又將艾城王掛在樹上，直到晚上。日落的時候，約書亞吩咐人把屍首從樹上取下來，丟在城門口，在屍首上堆成一大堆石頭，直存到今日。
在以巴路山上宣讀律法
30那時，約書亞在以巴路山上為耶和華－以色列的神築一座壇， 31是用沒有動過鐵器的整石頭築的，照着耶和華僕人摩西所吩咐以色列人的話，正如摩西律法書上所寫的。眾人在這壇上給耶和華奉獻燔祭和平安祭。 32約書亞在那裏，當着以色列人面前，將摩西所寫的律法抄寫在石頭上。 33以色列眾人，無論是本地人、是寄居的，和長老、官長，並審判官，都站在約櫃兩旁，在擡耶和華約櫃的祭司利未人面前，一半對着基利心山，一半對着以巴路山，為以色列民祝福，正如耶和華僕人摩西先前所吩咐的。 34隨後，約書亞將律法上祝福、咒詛的話，照着律法書上一切所寫的，都宣讀了一遍。 35摩西所吩咐的一切話，約書亞在以色列全會眾和婦女、孩子，並他們中間寄居的外人面前，沒有一句不宣讀的。
弟兄姊妹平安！今天我們一起來到《約書亞記》第8章，一段關鍵的經文，展示了以色列人在失敗後如何重新得勝。
在昨天的經文中，我們看到以色列人在艾城遭遇了一場慘敗，這次敗仗不僅讓百姓心驚膽顫，更讓約書亞這位領袖深感挫敗。為什麼會失敗呢？因為他們在行動之前，並沒有先尋求上帝的指引，反而依靠自己的力量去打仗。而且，營中還隱藏著罪——亞干偷藏了當滅之物，導致上帝的同在離開了他們。
然而，我們的上帝是憐憫的神。當百姓徹底悔改並清除罪惡後，上帝對約書亞說：「不要害怕，也不要驚惶。你起來，重新攻打艾城，我已經把它的王、百姓和城都交在你手中了。」（約書亞記8:1）
這次的戰役，上帝親自指引了一個策略。他們採用了「伏兵」的戰術：先派前軍假裝敗退，引誘艾城的人出城追擊，而後軍則埋伏在城後，趁機攻佔艾城。結果，艾城的百姓被夾擊，整座城被徹底毀滅，陣亡者超過12,000人。
在這次戰役中，我們也看到了艾城有很淒慘的結局。他們全城的人都出動來追擊以色列人，完全沒有留下任何防守的人。這一舉動反映出他們對以色列人的評估錯誤，因為之前他們的勝利，反而感覺驕傲，看到以色列人逃跑，覺得自己又可以有一場大勝，所以全軍出動追擊以色列人。
艾城的空虛，最終成了他們滅亡的關鍵。當所有的士兵被引誘出城後，埋伏的以色列軍隊迅速進城攻擊，使整座城淪陷。這讓我們看見，驕傲與輕敵往往是失敗的開始。正如《箴言》16:18所說：「驕傲在敗壞以先，狂心在跌倒之前。」
在這裏，可能有人有同樣的疑問：這場戰役有需要做到把一切居民盡行殺滅嗎？這真的是上帝的命令嗎？我們馬上就會回答這一個問題。在這裡我們看到，古代的戰爭往往相當慘烈，不是你死就是我活，如果今天以色列人沒有上帝幫助，那麼艾城的人所做的也會是一樣的。
在戰後，約書亞按照神的吩咐，用未經人工打磨的石頭築了一座祭壇，向神獻上燔祭和平安祭。這不僅是感謝神的帶領，也是重新將百姓的心歸向神的行動。這祭壇象徵著以色列人與神之間的盟約，是他們再次確認神為他們的主、他們為神的子民的重要時刻。
更值得注意的是，約書亞還當著全體百姓的面，將摩西所寫的律法抄寫在石頭上，並且不分祝福與咒詛，將律法的全部內容宣讀給所有人聽。他沒有避重就輕，也沒有只挑選好聽的經文，而是完整地呈現了神的話語——包括那些我們可能覺得嚴厲或困難的部分。
屬靈反思與應用
1. 獻祭與感恩
約書亞在得勝後第一時間為神築壇獻祭，這提醒我們，當我們經歷神的恩典與帶領時，應該首先將感恩歸給神，而不是歸功於自己或他人。這種獻祭的行動也是在將榮耀歸給神，並宣告對祂的敬畏與順服。
2. 全面的聖經觀
約書亞宣讀律法時，既提到祝福，也提到咒詛。他並未避開任何艱難的真理，而是忠實地將神的話語傳遞給百姓。這讓我們反思：身為基督徒，我們是否有時只喜歡選擇那些聽起來美好、容易接受的經文，而忽略了那些挑戰我們信仰與行為的話語？
聖經是神完整的啟示，其中的每一部分都有它的意義，即使是那些不易接受的經文，也在幫助我們更深刻地認識神的屬性與心意。正如《提摩太後書》3:16所說：「聖經都是神所默示的，於教訓、督責、使人歸正、教導人學義都是有益的。」
3. 真誠傳遞神的話語
約書亞沒有對律法進行任何修改或美化，而是忠實地將祝福與咒詛都宣讀出來，讓所有人明白神的指示。這提醒我們，作為神的僕人與見證人，我們需要忠實地傳遞祂的話語，不因害怕冒犯人或取悅人而隱瞞或扭曲真理。
我們繼續跟著約書亞記更深入迦南地，深刻去瞭解學習這一段歷史。明天我們繼續閱讀約書亞記第九章，感謝各位的聆聽！
The Israelites Defeat Ai
1Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid or discouraged. Take all your fighting men and attack Ai, for I have given you the king of Ai, his people, his town, and his land. 2You will destroy them as you destroyed Jericho and its king. But this time you may keep the plunder and the livestock for yourselves. Set an ambush behind the town.”
3So Joshua and all the fighting men set out to attack Ai. Joshua chose 30,000 of his best warriors and sent them out at night 4with these orders: “Hide in ambush close behind the town and be ready for action. 5When our main army attacks, the men of Ai will come out to fight as they did before, and we will run away from them. 6We will let them chase us until we have drawn them away from the town. For they will say, ‘The Israelites are running away from us as they did before.’ Then, while we are running from them, 7you will jump up from your ambush and take possession of the town, for the Lord your God will give it to you. 8Set the town on fire, as the Lord has commanded. You have your orders.”
9So they left and went to the place of ambush between Bethel and the west side of Ai. But Joshua remained among the people in the camp that night. 10Early the next morning Joshua roused his men and started toward Ai, accompanied by the elders of Israel. 11All the fighting men who were with Joshua marched in front of the town and camped on the north side of Ai, with a valley between them and the town. 12That night Joshua sent about 5,000 men to lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the town. 13So they stationed the main army north of the town and the ambush west of the town. Joshua himself spent that night in the valley.
14When the king of Ai saw the Israelites across the valley, he and all his army hurried out early in the morning and attacked the Israelites at a place overlooking the Jordan Valley. But he didn’t realize there was an ambush behind the town. 15Joshua and the Israelite army fled toward the wilderness as though they were badly beaten. 16Then all the men in the town were called out to chase after them. In this way, they were lured away from the town. 17There was not a man left in Ai or Bethel who did not chase after the Israelites, and the town was left wide open.
18Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Point the spear in your hand toward Ai, for I will hand the town over to you.” Joshua did as he was commanded. 19As soon as Joshua gave this signal, all the men in ambush jumped up from their position and poured into the town. They quickly captured it and set it on fire.
20When the men of Ai looked behind them, smoke from the town was filling the sky, and they had nowhere to go. For the Israelites who had fled in the direction of the wilderness now turned on their pursuers. 21When Joshua and all the other Israelites saw that the ambush had succeeded and that smoke was rising from the town, they turned and attacked the men of Ai. 22Meanwhile, the Israelites who were inside the town came out and attacked the enemy from the rear. So the men of Ai were caught in the middle, with Israelite fighters on both sides. Israel attacked them, and not a single person survived or escaped. 23Only the king of Ai was taken alive and brought to Joshua.
24When the Israelite army finished chasing and killing all the men of Ai in the open fields, they went back and finished off everyone inside. 25So the entire population of Ai, including men and women, was wiped out that day—12,000 in all. 26For Joshua kept holding out his spear until everyone who had lived in Ai was completely destroyed. 27Only the livestock and the treasures of the town were not destroyed, for the Israelites kept these as plunder for themselves, as the Lord had commanded Joshua. 28So Joshua burned the town of Ai, and it became a permanent mound of ruins, desolate to this very day.
29Joshua impaled the king of Ai on a sharpened pole and left him there until evening. At sunset the Israelites took down the body, as Joshua commanded, and threw it in front of the town gate. They piled a great heap of stones over him that can still be seen today.
The Lord’s Covenant Renewed
30Then Joshua built an altar to the Lord, the God of Israel, on Mount Ebal. 31He followed the commands that Moses the Lord’s servant had written in the Book of Instruction: “Make me an altar from stones that are uncut and have not been shaped with iron tools.” Then on the altar they presented burnt offerings and peace offerings to the Lord. 32And as the Israelites watched, Joshua copied onto the stones of the altar the instructions Moses had given them.
33Then all the Israelites—foreigners and native-born alike—along with the elders, officers, and judges, were divided into two groups. One group stood in front of Mount Gerizim, the other in front of Mount Ebal. Each group faced the other, and between them stood the Levitical priests carrying the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant. This was all done according to the commands that Moses, the servant of the Lord, had previously given for blessing the people of Israel.
34Joshua then read to them all the blessings and curses Moses had written in the Book of Instruction. 35Every word of every command that Moses had ever given was read to the entire assembly of Israel, including the women and children and the foreigners who lived among them.
Brothers and Sisters, Peace to You!
Today, we delve into Joshua 8, a pivotal chapter that demonstrates how the Israelites recovered and achieved victory after their earlier failure.
In yesterday’s passage, we witnessed the Israelites’ devastating defeat at Ai. This loss not only filled the people with fear but also deeply disheartened their leader, Joshua. Why did they fail? Because they acted without first seeking God's guidance and instead relied on their own strength. Moreover, sin was hidden within their camp—Achan had stolen what was devoted to destruction, causing God’s presence to depart from them.
However, our God is merciful. After the people fully repented and removed the sin from their midst, God spoke to Joshua: “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. For I have delivered into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land.” (Joshua 8:1)
This time, God provided a clear strategy. They employed an ambush tactic: the main force pretended to retreat, luring the people of Ai out of the city, while another group lay in wait behind the city. Once the army of Ai was drawn out, the Israelites seized the opportunity to overtake the city. The people of Ai were caught in a pincer movement, and the city was utterly destroyed, with over 12,000 casualties.
In this campaign, we also see the tragic end of Ai. Every able-bodied person in the city went out to chase the Israelites, leaving no one behind to defend it. This reckless confidence stemmed from their earlier victory, leading them to believe another triumph was certain. Their pride blinded them to the danger, and their unguarded city became their downfall.
The emptiness of Ai ultimately sealed its fate.Once all their soldiers had been drawn out, the ambushing Israelite troops swiftly attacked, taking the city and destroying it completely. This reminds us that pride and underestimating our enemies often lead to failure. As Proverbs 16:18 says: “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”
Some might ask: Did it really need to be so devastating? Was it truly God’s command to destroy everyone in the city? We’ll address these questions shortly. In ancient times, war was often brutal—it was a matter of survival. If Israel hadn’t had God’s help, the people of Ai would likely have treated them no differently.
After the battle, Joshua obeyed God's command to build an altar using uncut stones and offered burnt and peace offerings to God. This act not only expressed gratitude for God’s guidance but also reaffirmed the people’s covenant with Him. The altar symbolized their commitment to God as their Lord and their identity as His chosen people.
What’s more, Joshua publicly wrote a copy of the law of Moses on stones and read it aloud to all the people. He did not omit anything—neither blessings nor curses—but presented God’s word in its entirety. This demonstrated his faithfulness in conveying the fullness of God’s revelation, including the parts that might seem harsh or challenging.
Spiritual Reflections and Applications
Worship and Gratitude
After the victory, Joshua immediately built an altar and offered sacrifices to God. This reminds us that when we experience God’s grace and guidance, our first response should be to give thanks to Him, not to credit ourselves or others. This act of worship declares our reverence and submission to God.
A Holistic View of Scripture
When Joshua read the law, he included both blessings and curses. He didn’t shy away from the harder truths but faithfully delivered God’s word to the people. This challenges us: as Christians, do we sometimes focus only on uplifting passages while ignoring the ones that challenge our faith and behavior?
The Bible is God’s complete revelation, and every part has its purpose—even the difficult passages help us understand God’s character and will. As 2 Timothy 3:16 says: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.”
Faithfully Sharing God’s Word
Joshua didn’t edit or soften the law; he proclaimed it as it was, ensuring everyone heard God’s commands. This reminds us that as servants and witnesses of God, we must faithfully convey His word without fear of offending others or seeking to please them by altering the truth.
Conclusion
Joshua’s actions teach us that worship and proclaiming God’s word are essential aspects of our faith. This worship and proclamation should be complete and faithful, encompassing both blessings and challenges. May we learn to approach Scripture with humility, embracing its fullness, and live as faithful stewards of God’s truth.
Let us continue journeying through the book of Joshua, delving deeper into the conquest of Canaan and learning from this remarkable history. Tomorrow, we will explore Joshua 9. Thank you for listening!
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