And they returned to Ioshua, and said vnto him, Let not all the people goe vp: but let about two or three thousand men goe vp, and smite Ai, and make not all the people to labour thither, for they are but few. Joshua 7:3 (KJV)
and
make not all the people to labour thither; for they
are but
few. Joshua 7:3 (KJV)
The book of Joshua records Israel’s conquest of the Promised Land after the death of Moses. Joshua was chosen to lead the people into Canaan, continuing the mission that Moses began. Chapter 6 recounts the miraculous fall of Jericho’s walls, a victory that left the nation confident in God’s power.
In chapter 7 the narrative shifts to the city of Ai. The opening verses describe the Israelite leaders returning to Joshua with a suggestion that only a small force—about two or three thousand men—should go up against Ai, and that the whole people should not labor there because they were few. This proposal reflects a degree of overconfidence and complacency that had arisen after the easy triumph at Jericho.
The underlying cause of the forthcoming defeat is introduced in verses 1‑2: Achan, the son of Carmi, had taken forbidden spoils from Jericho and hidden them in his tent, directly violating God’s command. Because of Achan’s sin, God’s favor departed from Israel, and the nation suffered a humiliating loss at Ai.
The episode offers clear lessons in leadership. Joshua’s response, recorded in the following verses (7:4‑12), shows him seeking God’s direction rather than relying on the opinions of the people. The incident underscores the necessity for leaders to depend on divine guidance and to avoid the temptation to trust merely in human judgment.
The defeat also illustrates the serious consequences of disobedience. Achan’s individual transgression had far‑reaching effects on the entire community, emphasizing the importance of obedience, confession, and repentance when sin is discovered.
Despite the setback, God’s faithfulness remains evident. Once Achan’s sin was exposed and the offending items removed, God restored His favor, and Israel eventually achieved victory over Ai. The whole account teaches that even in failure, God’s covenantal faithfulness endures, and that true success depends on humility before God, honest confession of sin, and reliance on His guidance rather than on human confidence.
