“The Battle of Ai”

 “So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against Ai: and Joshua chose out thirty thousand mighty men of valour, and sent them away by night.” (Joshua 8:3)

When someone is discussing Tactics and Strategy there is a wide difference between the two. The Battle of Ai speaks of Strategy through the use of Tactics. Let’s break it down.

Ai was a target of importance since it was located close to Jericho. Any time an enemy has forces close to where you were, they must be understood. Initially Israel had observed and fought with the City of Ai. Because of the Sin of Achan, God turned his back on Israel and Israel was defeated.

Joshua and Israel had repented of their sin. Now God brings in the teachings of war theory, or in other words, “Cutting off the Head of the Snake”. A snake in its hole will strike out toward a target, then pull back to the safety of its hole. The strategy in this case is to entice the snake out of its hole.

God instructs Joshua to send an ambush force behind the City of Ai. Then with Joshua in command of another force he will lure the King of Ai and his forces to chase after them. This leaves the city of Ai open to attack. The strategy leaves the city of Ai destroyed, and the King of Ai caught between two forces with no where to go.

The end result is that Jericho and Ai are utterly destroyed. With nothing threatening the rear area of Israel, the way forward is open to them.

Stay Tuned…