Joshua, 8
12. Now he had chosen five thousand men, and he had positioned them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, at the western part of the same city.
12. Now he had chosen five thousand men, and he had positioned them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, at the western part of the same city.
Joshua chapter 8 describes the conquest of the city of Ai by the Israelites. Joshua received God's instructions on how to attack the city and, after a successful ambush, there was taken by the Israelites. Then Joshua built an altar and made sacrifices to the Lord. Here are five verses related to the topics covered in Joshua 8:
Deuteronomy 7:2: "And when the Lord thy God has delivered, and wounds, thou shalt destroy them; thou shalt not with them covenant, nor have mercy on them." This verse relates to Ai's total destruction by the Israelites, fulfilling God's command not to make a covenant with the inhabitants of the city.
Deuteronomy 27:5: "And there you will build an altar to the Lord your God, an altar of stones; you will not raise iron upon them." This verse relates to the altar that Joshua built after the conquest of Ai and how it was done according to God's instructions.
Joshua 6:18: "However, keep your anathema; all that is anathema will be destroyed from the midst of Israel; neither will you do nothing, that you do not happen that you do anathem, and put it in the midst of your tent. " This verse relates to the importance of following God's instructions and not appropriating anything that was considered anathema, as happened with Achi in the previous chapter.
Deuteronomy 20:4: "For the Lord your God is what goes with you, to fight you against your enemies to save you." This verse relates to God's presence alongside the Israelites in the battle against there and in all their struggles.
Joshua 4:24: "That all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is strong, and that you may fear the Lord your God forever." This verse relates to the greater purpose of the conquest of Ai, which was to show God's power to the peoples of the earth and to make them fear the Lord.
“Deus não opera prodígios onde não há fé.” São Padre Pio de Pietrelcina
