I pass over, in a short remark, the mercy of the Lord vouchsafed Israel in this victory, to call the Reader's attention, to the manner in which the Lord was pleased to appoint the victory should be obtained; and that was, seemingly, in being overcome. Israel for awhile appeared as routed, and become an easy prey, and the enemy triumphed with an high hand. Reader, is it not so with our Almighty Joshua and his army in their warfare? Do not his people seem to flee before their enemies? When they fall, doth not the foe cry, Aha! so would we have it: and like that monster of old, who, was a type of the devil, doth he not still say, "I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil." But, our Jesus conquers, even by apparently being overcome. By dying and by death he overcame death. And by his cross he spoiled principalities and powers, and triumphed over them openly. Oh! thou glorious Captain of our salvation, to thee belongeth the whole victory. In becoming weak thou hast conquered the strong: and in poverty opened the true riches. By thy humiliation in taking upon thee our nature, and by thy death and passion, thou hast gotten thyself the victory. Lord, lead me on in all my spiritual warfare, under thy guidance and protection: for thou art my strength and my song, and art become my salvation. Isaiah 12:2.
Joshua 8:10-22
10 And Joshua rose up early in the morning, and numbered the people, and went up, he and the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai.
11 And all the people, even the people of war that were with him, went up, and drew nigh, and came before the city, and pitched on the north side of Ai: now there was a valley between them and Ai.
12 And he took about five thousand men, and set them to lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city.
13 And when they had set the people, even all the host that was on the north of the city, and their liers in wait on the west of the city, Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley.
14 And it came to pass, when the king of Ai saw it, that they hasted and rose up early, and the men of the city went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at a time appointed, before the plain; but he wist not that there were liers in ambush against him behind the city.
15 And Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness.
16 And all the people that were in Ai were called together to pursue after them: and they pursued after Joshua, and were drawn away from the city.
17 And there was not a man left in Ai or Bethel, that went not out after Israel: and they left the city open, and pursued after Israel.
18 And the LORD said unto Joshua, Stretch out the spear that is in thy hand toward Ai; for I will give it into thine hand. And Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand toward the city.
19 And the ambush arose quickly out of their place, and they ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand: and they entered into the city, and took it, and hasted and set the city on fire.
20 And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and, behold, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven, and they had no powerb to flee this way or that way: and the people that fled to the wilderness turned back upon the pursuers.
21 And when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city, and that the smoke of the city ascended, then they turned again, and slew the men of Ai.
22 And the other issued out of the city against them; so they were in the midst of Israel, some on this side, and some on that side: and they smote them, so that they let none of them remain or escape.