Day 79: The victory at Ai

After yesterday’s blip, progress continues, as Joshua leads the people on to further victories.
Achan is detected and destroyed
Joshua 7:16-26
God encourages Joshua
Joshua 8:1-2
The capture and destruction of Ai
Joshua 8:3-29
Altar built at Mount Ebal
Joshua 8:30-35
The kings against Israel
Joshua 9:1-2
The Gibeonites apply for peace
Joshua 9:3-13
They are soon detected
Joshua 9:14-21
They are to be bondmen
Joshua 9:22-27

There’s a long slow description of the discovery of Achan’s crime. It emphasises the inevitability of his discovery, and the futility of trying to hide from God. Obviously an object lesson. It seems that there was some kind of drawing lots process going on, and God was influencing the outcome to home in on guilty Achan. Once discovered, his nerve cracks and he confesses all, but he is stoned to remove the sin from Israel. No mercy.
Joshua turns back to Ai. “Do what the LORD has commanded. See to it; you have my orders.” (8:8) His terse commands reveal his trust in God, and his confidence as a leader.
“Twelve thousand men and women fell that day— all the people of Ai.” (8:25) No mercy.
One tribe of people, the Gibeonites, try to be cunning, and manage to persuade the Israelites to sign a peace treaty with them. It seems that their cunning is rewarded, because they are not killed, but allowed to live as servants to Israel.