Defeating Ai

00:00:00 Speaker 1: Previously on the chosen people. 00:00:03 Speaker 2: Shout, for the Lord has given you the city. 00:00:07 Speaker 1: The children of Israel pressed forward. The spoils of the city would go to the Lord, and no man was to take plunder nor prisoner. The corruption of the city was not permitted to grow. Instead, it would be ripped out, root and stem. 00:00:23 Speaker 3: Take nothing for yourselves, but what is set aside for the Lord. The idols of this city are filled shines. The false gods burn them all. Let no man be tempted by their craft or their beauty. Do not let greed undo what the Lord has done. 00:00:40 Speaker 1: The flames consumed Jericho's temple, but could not burn away the sin hidden in Akan's heart. The gold remained, the silver remained, the curse remained, and in the quiet of the night, while others slept, the weight of stolen treasure lay heavy on Acan's soul. 00:01:02 Speaker 4: No one will now, No. 00:01:05 Speaker 5: One will ever know. Stand up, Joshua, why have you fallen on your face? Israel has sinned. They have violated my covenant. They have stolen what was set apart. That is why you cannot stand against your enemies. 00:01:27 Speaker 3: Acon, son of corne I sentence you to die for your crimes against the Lord. You and yours will. 00:01:34 Speaker 4: Pay the ultimate penalty for your open repellion. 00:01:37 Speaker 2: It's because of you that the Lord's anger burns against us. 00:01:42 Speaker 3: Your single handedly cost us the victory against Ai. It is because of you that thirty six Israelite men are dead. It is because of you the presence of the Lord almost left us. 00:01:55 Speaker 2: This matter must be set right. 00:01:58 Speaker 1: Joshua took Akee and a Low with his idols and burn them. Everyone noted day and melting with his idols. He shared their fate destined to become nothing. 00:02:13 Speaker 6: Defeat whispers that it's over, But the Lord speaks different words. He speaks redemption. 00:02:22 Speaker 7: Shell Oh, my friends, from here in the holy Land of Israel, i'm ya l Extein with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, and welcome to the Chosen People. Each day we'll hear a dramatic story inspired by the Bible, stories filled with timeless lessons of faith, love, and the meaning of life. Through Israel's story, we will find this truth that we are all chosen for something great. 00:02:48 Speaker 6: So let's begin. I a city that the Israelite should have easily conquered, but instead it became a symbol of their failure, of their sin, of their weakness. But God isn't done with the Chosen People just yet. Israel stumbled. Yes, they felt the weight of disobedience, the crushing blow of consequence, but that wasn't the end of their story. God dealt with ahan sin, and now it's time for redemption, a second chance. The promise hasn't faded, and the mission is still in front of them. But this time something has changed. This time the Chosen People would listen, they would trust. How often do we think that our failures disqualify us? How often do we believe that once we've stumbled, we're too far gone for redemption? But our God, he is a god of second chances. 00:03:44 Speaker 1: The words of the Lord washed over Joshua like a healing bomb. 00:03:49 Speaker 8: Do not be afraid or discouraged. Joshua could have wept from relief. He knew they had successfully turned the Lord away from his anger when they exposed and punished Aken for his disobedience. But there was a lingering fear in the back of Joshua's mind that he too could be barred from going ahead with Israel as Moses was. Joshua had been promised he would enter the promised land over forty years ago, but now they were here. 00:04:23 Speaker 1: It was a strange feeling to have your life built to the fulfillment of a promise and then walk into the next season without the same assurance. The Lord would give Israel the land of Canaan if she was obedient, but that future seemed entirely up to Joshua. It all hung on his obedience and his ability to lead the people. Hearing the words from the Lord was welcome. Indeed, the Lord continued instructing Joshua in the still dark quiet of the tabernacle. The candles of the lamp stand had a soft comfort in amber glow, illuminating the rich hues of the curtain before him. 00:05:05 Speaker 5: Listen to me, Joshua, take all the troops with you and go attack Ai, For I have handed over to you the King of Ai, his people, city, and land. Treat Ai and its king as you did Jericho and its king, except this time you may plunder its spoil and live stock for yourselves. 00:05:30 Speaker 4: Poor Agon, if it only held out of porlock, his greed was the end of him. 00:05:36 Speaker 1: The Lord revealed his battle plan for taking the city, and Joshua couldn't help, but grin. The strategy was nothing short of brilliant, a master stroke that mirrored tactics Joshua had pondered during long nights spent pouring over maps. Joshua had absorbed every detail about the region's terrain and Canaan shifting politics which he gleaned from travelers or traders during the wilderness years. The Lord's plan left not a doubt in his mind. His God could topple effortlessly walls and lead appointed military strategy. He was not confined to the natural or the supernatural. He was the Lord, creator of all and master of all. He could defeat an enemy using the hands of men or the peck of a sparrow. It mattered not. Joshua was still grinning as his counsel and military leadership filed into his command tent. 00:06:38 Speaker 4: The Lord has handed over a I to us. 00:06:41 Speaker 1: Collectively, the room let out a sigh of relief. They had all held similar fears after coming so close to a rebellion. 00:06:50 Speaker 4: Yes, and here's how we are to do it. First, I will take our main force, or what will appear to be our main force, to the north of the city. Second, you will take a detachment of thirty thousand and lie in ambush behind the city. It will take your men by night, keep them out of sight, wait for my signal to. 00:07:09 Speaker 5: Attack such a large force, General Joshua, Why it. 00:07:16 Speaker 4: Is a force to take a city, my friend, You and your men will seize the city and burn it to the ground, all draw them out from behind the safety of their walls and defenses. They'll believe they can repeat their victory from the first battle, driving me back into the rocky terrain and pinning me down. But the confidence will shatter when they see the smoke rising from their unguarded city. They realize too late they've walked straight into our trap. Ah yes, I agree. And when your men take the city, Caleb, you will again put the people to the sword and bring their king to me. This time, the men can take what they want of the plunder of the city and their livestock. Since we have already given the Lord the first fruit of our conquest, we've already set aside. 00:08:00 Speaker 1: It was rightly his Joshua saw confidence returning to the men's eyes as they leaned in, eager to hear more of the plan. Anticipation rippled through the group like a rising tide. Yet one figure remained unmoved. Ihama, ever, the skeptic, leaned back with a furrowed brow, his hand absently scratching his bearded chin as he muled over the lord's instructions, his posture spelling doubt. Eliezer clocked it as well. 00:08:31 Speaker 9: I'm no military mind like Joshua or Caleb here, but I dealt with the leaders of moab Edom and the others in. 00:08:39 Speaker 3: The time of Moses. 00:08:41 Speaker 9: I know people and I know politics. What are the possibilities of a Canaanite alliance between A and its neighboring cities. What would we do should the cities of Bethel and Gibbeon come to A's aid? 00:08:54 Speaker 4: Valid concern, Isma, but I've considered a best Ai alliance. Caleb, you will assign a detachment of five thousand men to breakoff from the main force to defend the pass through the hills between Ai and Bethel to the northwest. They will cut off any Bethel reinforcements and defeat them in the field. Who will you assign? He will ride with me, and I will tell him when to break off to the west. 00:09:20 Speaker 10: Solomon is the man for the job. He's proven himself a competent soldier and commander. I will seize the city for you, and Lieutenant Solomon will guard our backs against Bethel Good. 00:09:31 Speaker 4: You will brief him and have him report to me at dawn when we move out. And what about Gibeon. 00:09:36 Speaker 3: Do not lose heart, brothers. The Lord has assured us of our victory over Ai. We will take the city and deal with the other threats as they arise. Keep the faith, for we know what tomorrow holds. Be strong and courageous Rock Shazakh a matz rok shazakh a matz rok Sai. 00:10:02 Speaker 1: Joshua parted ways with Caleb and his men about five miles from Eye, sending them to slip westward under the cover of night. Their task was clear, circle the city unseen and lie in weight. Joshua's men took the bold, calculated risk at dawn, marching openly for the world to see. They traversed the rocky foothills and sloping terrain to the east, skirting the jagged rift known as the Arabar. The Rift of Araba was a natural barrier, with its steep, treacherous valleys. It would serve as the perfect lure the men of Eye would see the Israelite's position and think victory was within their grasp. To them, the valley seemed an unyielding trap, an opportunity to corner their prey against the craggy limestone walls of the Araba. With no chance of escape. They would seize the moment with glee, bushing headlong into the pursuit, blissfully unaware that the jaws of the trap were already closing and doom awaited their city from the west. Joshua and his men camped north of the city, directly in front of it, a defiant posture as they sharpened their weapons and prepared to stage their attack for the next morning. The sun sank under the rough, serrated teeth of the foothills all around them, casting its bloody glow upon the world. When the last of the light was dispelled from the world, Joshua knew it was time. 00:11:36 Speaker 4: Lieutenant's armen, take your five thousand and hold to the past to Bethel for me. Kill anyone who should attempt to rescue Ai. Remember the Lord has given us the city. It will be destroyed. Bethel will be left alone for now. If anyone is foolish enough to interfere destroy them too. 00:11:55 Speaker 2: It will be done exactly as you say. 00:11:58 Speaker 4: Go now, brother Lord will be with you. Rak tazakh amats rakhmads. 00:12:05 Speaker 1: With that, the young man took his detachment and they moved to their position under the cover of darkness. A few short hours later, Joshua arranged the rest of the Israelite forces into formation on the other side of the wide rocky valley separating them from Eye Like a foreboding moat. Either side would have to climb through the maze of shaky and unstable stones of the slopes. A fall could kill a man just as readily as a blade, and if you fell on your back in battle, you were as good as dead. But Joshua knew his forces would be avoiding those pitfalls altogether. He knew the Lord would signal him when it was time, and he had a sneaking suspicion that the men of Eye would give chase without abandon. Sure Enough, as the dawn seeped its murky, pink and orange light into the valley like blood pouring from a wound, Joshua spotted the movement he had been waiting for. The King of I had ordered his vanguard out of the city gates, marching boldly to meet them head on. The memory of their previous victory must have fueled his confidence. Armed with intimate knowledge of the terrain, the maze of narrow valleys and hidden caverns within the Araba, he was determined to end this confrontation swiftly and decisively, and the lure of eliminating the Israelite leader that no doubt, added to his eagerness to strike. The thought curled Joshua's lips into a smile. The King of I would soon see what it would mean to challenge the will of the Lord. 00:13:43 Speaker 3: Old, steady brothers. They crest the valley, let's lead them into the wilderness. 00:13:48 Speaker 1: His grip tightened on the javelin in his left hand, his right arm crossed his body, and his hand rested on the hilt of his sword. The javelin was a long, elegant weapon with the lethally sharp iron blade at the end. It was far lighter and longer than his sword, but Joshua opted to carry it that morning instead of his usual shield. The Lord would be his shield. Their enemy had reached the bottom of the chasm. Under the cover of their interlocking shields, they grunted and roared as they began to climb the other side. The hissing of arrows filled the air, but fell short at where Joshua and his men were standing. Israel stayed put. Their enemy disappeared from view momentarily as they climbed the steepest part. 00:14:34 Speaker 8: Of the hill. 00:14:35 Speaker 2: Steady, hold fast. 00:14:37 Speaker 1: Joshua drew his sword from its sheath on the left side of his body, and the blades sang as it swung wide in a practiced motion as an extension of Joshua's arm. Joshua tilted the javelin until both weapons were angled toward his enemy as they reached the top of the ridge. Once he was sure they were within ear shot, Joshua shouted for his enemy's benefit, good say that too many. Israel obeyed immediately and fled toward the flats behind them, which led to the wilderness and the craggy arabar beyond. Joshua stifled a laugh as he saw his enemy's haughty eyes narrow with malicious glee. Joshua and his men were putting on a good show. The first wave of soldiers fell upon them brutally a few yards from the sparse tree line. However, they were met by a fierce on sort of Joshua's men metal sang through the valley in time to the screams of the dying. They held their lines briefly, but then as instructed, they started giving ground, allowing their enemies to continue to push them into the tree line. Inch by inch. The chaos of battle closed in around Joshua, and he fought against the instinct to let his distractions fall away. He could slip into his killing calm, but Joshua was a general now and the leader of Israel. 00:16:06 Speaker 5: Besides, I didn't see better view of the walls. 00:16:11 Speaker 1: With a grunt, Joshua dropped the face of being beaten back and downed his opponent with a sudden, vicious downward stroke, slashing through leather, armor, and flesh from nose to navel. He crumpled as the ground hungrily drank the crimson blood that sprouted from his body. Joshua's guards followed suit and efficiently down their opponents so they could protect their leader. Joshua leaped to higher ground, a rugged boulder jutting up just before the tree line. Their shields and spears lowered, forming a defensive line around his makeshift rocky platform, and Joshua craned his neck toward the city. Just as they had predicted. The King, in his greedy haste to destroy Israel, sent the rest of his troops out of the city to join the fray. They were reaching the valley's lowest point and would be upon them in minutes. The archers did not even bother to cover their climb this time. Over the dinner of war. The skin on Joshua's neck crickled as the voice of the Lord whispered in his ear. 00:17:19 Speaker 5: Hold out to travel in your hand towards Ai, for I will hand the city over to you. 00:17:27 Speaker 1: Joshua did not hesitate. He thrust the javelin high into the air and toward the city, roaring over the bloody chaos, good. 00:17:38 Speaker 2: Strong and credos. 00:17:41 Speaker 1: In the distance, Joshua saw movement in the rocks west of the city. Caleb and his men stealthily emerged from their hiding places. The city was unguarded and ripe for conquest. 00:17:53 Speaker 2: For beat them back. 00:17:56 Speaker 1: Javelin still raised toward the city in his left hand and sword dripping with blood in his right. Joshua savored the look of panic and uncertainty in the eyes of his enemy. The Israelites, rallying under his command, immediately tightened their lines and reclaimed the ground they had forfeited just moments before. The soldiers of Eye quickly found an impenetrable line of shields and spears that drove them back toward the steep valley behind them. Those unfortunate to have been caught closer to the Malay at the tree line were swiftly cut down with swords. Confusion reigned briefly, but then Joshua saw the first curls of thick black smoke rise from behind the walls. Then the screaming began. The enemy soldiers hesitantly looked over their shoulders and shone, but by then it was too late. Tendrils of smoke were now plumes, and vibrant orange flames licked the watch towers belonged to Israel. Now then the panic really set in. With nowhere to retreat and Eye's commanders gutted by Caleb's secret force, the men in the valley scattered, Their spirits were broken, and their discipline shattered, allowing Joshua's ferocious men to pick them off and cut them down within minutes. Joshua held the javelin until the blackened wars of the city began to buckle and crumble in the heat of the flames, reminiscent of Joshua's first battle against the Amalekites. He only lowered the javelin when the battle was won. Salmon and his men returned bloodied but victorious, having slaughtered every fighting man from Bethel who had dared to rush to Eye's defense. The total of those who fell that day, both men and women, was twelve thousand, all the people of Eye. Caleb approached, with the King of Eye dragged like a whimpering child, kicking and wailing in defiance. Without hesitation, Joshua stepped forward and drove the iron tip of his chavelain through the man's chest. The king's cries fell silent, replaced by the crackle of burning ruins of the once great city of Eye. They hung his lifeless body from a tree at the edge of the decimated city, a grim warning to all who might oppose the God of Israel. Ashes drifted like snow over the smoldering wreckage, and the once proud city lay silent in its defeat. Their victory was absolute, Joshua turned his gaze toward the distant peaks of Mount Obaugh and Mount Gerrism, their rugged silhouettes etched against the horizon. He would lead his valiant men to those sacred heights and build an altar to honor the Lord the First in the land of Canaan that beneath the open sky, and in the natural amphitheater between the two peaks. They would renew their covenant with the Law of Moses, just as the Lord had commanded. 00:21:21 Speaker 6: You can feel the shift in the air. Where there was fear, there's now hope. Where there was defeat, there's now purpose. The defeat of Eye had been devastating, but now God gives the Chosen people another chance, a chance to face what they once ran from. And this time it's different. There's a strategy, a divine strategy. Joshua listens, and this time it's not just about military tactics. Rather, it's about obedience. It's about trust. Victory doesn't come because the Israelites are stronger, doesn't come because they figured out how to fix their mistakes on their own. It comes because us. They surrendered to the way of God. And that's what hits me. So strong about this story is not just about Israel's victory. It's about the people of Israel learning to follow again, learning to trust after failure after sin. God shows up not to punish the Chosen People, but to redeem them. The defeat of I could have been the end of the story, and for a lesser nation it would have been. But God is always at work, even in the midst of our failures, and here he shows his people something profound. The Hebrew word for I means run or heap of runs. Think about that for just a moment. The place of their greatest defeat was literally a heap of ruins. But that's where God chose to bring about their redemption. God brings new life out of what looks to be ruined. He takes what is broken and turns it into victory. The place of the Chosen People's deepest humiliation becomes the very place of their renewal. But even as God promised to renew the people of Israel. Think about it from their perspective. After their humiliating defeat, the second attack on the city of I must have been very hard to carry out. After all, they had failed horribly at their first attack, so why should they expect to succeed this time. In the very first chapter of chapter eight, God speaks to Joshua. His first words were, quote, do not be afraid, do not be discouraged end quote. Here God understands Joshua's fear, this fear of failing again. The Jewish ages say that these words from God were meant to deliver a very important message to Joshua. God was saying, even though I am directing you to attack I in a purely military manner, do not take this as an indication that you no longer have divine assistance. I find this statement of our sages so important to all of us here in the Holy Land, right now, all of us here today. We have a wonderful, strong, well trained army in the Israel Defense Forces. But you know what, so did Joshua. A strong army is only the beginning. We win, yes, with that great army, but also because of God's help. It was that way in Joshua's day, and it's that way today right here in the modern state of Israel. You see, the victory over I wasn't just about military conquest. It was about the restoration of trust. The Lord was inviting his people back into relationship with him, showing them that even after failure, he is still leading them. This moment is a reflection of something deeper, the Lord's desire to restore what's been broken. He doesn't abandon his people to their mistakes. He redeems them through their obedience. This story speaks of God's character. After the defeat of I, Israel could have been left to wallow and shame. They could have been written off as failures, as a people too weak and too flawed to carry God's promise forward. But instead God gave them a second chance, and through that second chance, he revealed something essential about who he is. He is a God of restoration. This is a profound truth. God doesn't abandon us when we fail. He meets us in our failure, and he offers a way forward. And I shows us what happens when we surrender our failures to God, when we trust him to lead us, even after we've stumbled. He takes what was once ruined and he turns it into victory. This wasn't just about winning a battle. It was about learning to trust again, to believe that even after sin, after punishment, after defeat, God is still with us. So how does this apply to us today? Well, we've all been in that place, haven't we, The place where we've failed, where we've made mistakes, where the walls of our lives have crumbled around us. Maybe you've faced defeat recently, a failure in your job and one of your relationships, maybe even your faith. Maybe you're standing right now in the rubble of what was once a hopeful situation, wondering if it's over. But here's what we learn from Israel's second chance at I. Failure is not final. God is always ready to lead you forward, even when you feel like you've missed everything up up. Your failure does not define you. It's not the end of your story. Like Israel at I, you can get back up. You can listen for God's voice, and this time you can trust that His way will lead to victory. This week, whatever I you're facing, the ruine, the regret, the defeat, remember this, God hasn't abandoned you. He's not done with your story. In your defeats, in your struggles, trust that God is leading you towards victory. Keep moving Shello, my friends. From here in the Holy. 00:27:40 Speaker 1: Land, you can listen to the chosen People with You. Isle Exstein add free by downloading and subscribing to the Prey dot Com app today. This Prey dog Com production is only made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Katina, Max bod Zach Shellavaga and Gammon are the executive producers of The Chosen People with Yiele Eckstein, Edited by Alberto Avilla, narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced by Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvado, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwold, Sylvia Zaradoc, Thomas Copeland, Junior, Rosanna Pilcher, and the opening prayer is voiced by John Moore. Music by Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Aaron Salvado, bre Rosalie and Chris Baig. Special thanks to Bishop Paul Lanier, Robin van Ettin, kayleb Burrows, Jocelyn Fuller, and the team at International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. You can hear more Prey dot Com productions on the Prey dot Com app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. If you enjoyed The Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, please rate and leave a review.