Joshua 7 2

Joshua 7:2 kjv

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

Joshua 7:2 nkjv

Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth Aven, on the east side of Bethel, and spoke to them, saying, "Go up and spy out the country." So the men went up and spied out Ai.

Joshua 7:2 niv

Now 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 region." So the men went up and spied out Ai.

Joshua 7:2 esv

Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, east of Bethel, and said to them, "Go up and spy out the land." And the men went up and spied out Ai.

Joshua 7:2 nlt

Joshua sent some of his men from Jericho to spy out the town of Ai, east of Bethel, near Beth-aven.

Joshua 7 verses

Joshua 7 2 Meaning

Following the miraculous victory at Jericho, Joshua initiated a military reconnaissance mission, sending men from Jericho to assess Ai. This verse describes a pragmatic military step taken by Joshua, seemingly based on human strategy rather than specific divine instruction for this immediate engagement, preceding a critical failure in the battle to come.

Joshua 7 2 Context

Joshua chapter 7 immediately follows the triumphant, divinely orchestrated fall of Jericho, where Israel experienced a remarkable victory solely due to God's power. This verse serves as a transition to a different kind of encounter, one marred by Israel's unconfessed sin (Achan's trespass, Josh 7:1). Joshua's action of sending spies to Ai is a standard military procedure. However, the critical context is the lack of divine consultation prior to this mission, which differs from God's explicit commands and directions for previous endeavors (like crossing the Jordan or conquering Jericho). Unbeknownst to Joshua and the army, Israel was under a curse due to a breach of the covenant terms related to the devoted things from Jericho. Thus, this seemingly wise military move would lead to an unexpected defeat and expose the spiritual ailment within the camp.

Joshua 7 2 Word analysis

• Now Joshua (וַיִּשְׁלַח יְהוֹשֻׁעַ - vayyishlach Yehoshua): "Joshua" (Yehoshua) means "Yahweh is salvation" or "Yahweh saves." As the chosen leader after Moses, his name itself signifies reliance on God. However, "Now Joshua sent" marks an initiation of action by Joshua, indicating his proactive role, potentially highlighting an independent decision rather than direct divine instruction for this specific campaign, contrasting with previous episodes where God's commands were explicit.
• sent (וַיִּשְׁלַח - vayyishlach): From the root shalach, "to send," "to dispatch." Implies delegation and authority. This action is tactical and pragmatic from a human perspective, consistent with military strategy in the ancient world.
• men (אֲנָשִׁים - anashim): Generic term for individuals. Unlike the two specific spies sent to Jericho, these seem to be general reconnaissance personnel.
• from Jericho (מִירִיחוֹ - mIyericho): The recently conquered city, where God demonstrated overwhelming power. The victory's freshness might have instilled overconfidence in Joshua regarding human methods.
• to Ai (הָעַי - ha'Ay): Literally "the Ruin" or "the Heap of Ruins." The name itself is possibly ironic, as it would initially prove a 'ruin' for Israel's reputation and then later indeed become a literal ruin for its inhabitants. It was a strategically located city, smaller than Jericho, and thus potentially underestimated.
• which is beside Beth Aven (אֲשֶׁר עִם בֵּית אָוֶן - asher 'im Bet Aven): "Beth Aven" means "House of Iniquity" or "House of Vanity." While primarily a geographical marker, its name stands in stark contrast to "Bethel" and carries symbolic weight, possibly foreshadowing the moral failings related to this battle or indicating a place already known for its spiritual barrenness/corruption.
• on the east side of Bethel (מִקֶּדֶם לְבֵית אֵל - miqqedem leVet El): "Bethel" means "House of God," a historically significant site where Abraham and Jacob had covenant encounters with Yahweh. This provides crucial geographical context, linking Ai to a well-known spiritual landmark, and further emphasizes the contrast with "Beth Aven."
• and said to them (וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם - vayyomer aleihem): Joshua's direct command, asserting his authority over the mission.
• 'Go up' (עֲלוּ - alu): "Ascend," common term for moving from the lower Jordan valley to the higher central highlands where Ai was located.
• 'and spy out the land.' (וְרַגְּלוּ אֶת הָאָרֶץ - v'raglu 'et ha'arets): From the root ragal, meaning "to traverse on foot" or "to spy," often secretly and thoroughly. This term implies comprehensive intelligence gathering, a typical military operation.
• And the men went up and spied out Ai (וַיַּעֲלוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים וַיְרַגְּלוּ אֶת הָעָי - vayya'alu ha'anashim vayraglu 'et ha'Ay): Shows the immediate obedience of the men. The focus of their spying narrowed from the general "land" to the specific target, "Ai," implying they fulfilled the direct instruction.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai": This phrase sets the stage for a strategic initiative directly from Joshua, suggesting that this particular move was planned by the leader without the explicit divine directives that marked the preceding events. It underscores a shift from direct divine leading to human strategic planning.
• "which is beside Beth Aven, on the east side of Bethel": This provides precise geographical location, highlighting the land Israel was actively entering. The juxtaposed names "Beth Aven" ("House of Iniquity") and "Bethel" ("House of God") might subtly hint at the moral and spiritual landscape, and potentially foreshadow the upcoming moral issue (Achan's sin) that will disrupt their campaign in this very region.
• "and said to them, 'Go up and spy out the land.'": This captures Joshua's clear command and the specific objective of the mission: military reconnaissance. The "land" suggests a broader intelligence gathering than just the city itself, focusing on terrain, access, and surrounding areas.
• "And the men went up and spied out Ai": This indicates the successful execution of Joshua's command, demonstrating the efficiency and readiness of his men. The focus, however, immediately narrowed to "Ai," reflecting the specific tactical target of the upcoming battle based on their understanding.

Joshua 7 2 Bonus section

• The military action in Josh 7:2 contrasts sharply with earlier divinely instructed campaigns, like the march around Jericho. It implies a presumption of divine support for conventional military tactics.
• The absence of seeking God's counsel here is a critical omission that commentators often highlight, demonstrating a human oversight rather than intentional rebellion. It suggests that success can lead to a reliance on self, rather than continued reliance on the Almighty.
• Ai was militarily insignificant compared to Jericho, which may have led to overconfidence and a sense of 'easiness' about the upcoming battle. The scouts' later report (v. 3) further emphasizes this underestimation, proposing a small attack force.

Joshua 7 2 Commentary

Joshua 7:2, on its surface, details a sensible military action: sending scouts ahead. However, its brevity belies profound spiritual lessons within the broader narrative of Joshua 7. After the unparalleled, God-driven victory at Jericho, there's a subtle but significant shift in approach. Joshua, a godly leader, appears to have initiated this reconnaissance based on practical wisdom rather than first consulting Yahweh, as was His established pattern. The very absence of divine command in this strategic move, combined with the pre-existing, unaddressed corporate sin (Achan's theft) mentioned in the preceding verse, forms the crucial backdrop. This act of "business as usual" leadership, however prudent from a human perspective, demonstrated an unstated assumption of continued divine favor without confirming divine direction or purifying the camp. It underscores that reliance on God is not just for overwhelming obstacles, but also for seemingly routine or "small" matters. Even a great leader can overlook the crucial step of divine consultation, especially after great success, leading to miscalculation and devastating defeat until the sin within the camp is dealt with.