Week 4: Ai

Book of Joshua Chapters 7-8

Objective: 

The Fall of Ai

Resources:

• Book of Joshua - Fr Tadros Malaty Commentary (English)
• Catena Bible Commentary
• Fr Dawoud Lamie Bible study (Arabic)
• Fr Luka Maher Bible study (Arabic)
  

Reading:

Book of Joshua chapters 7& 8

Key verse(s):

"Get up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, because thus says the Lord God of Israel: “There is an accursed thing in your midst, O Israel; you cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the accursed thing from among you.” Joshua 7:13

Comments:

Chapter 7

• Defeat at Ai (verses 1-5)
  • Make sure to seek refuge in God in every aspect of your life, both big and small, so that you learn humility, find peace, and protect yourself from all deviation.
• God's guidance for His people (Verses 6-15)
• The sin of Achan (verses 16-26)

Chapter 8

• A detailed plan (verses 1-8):
  
  • Although Satan attacks us with many schemes, we should trust that God is able to defeat him and guide us on how to overcome him. We simply need to obey God's commandments and the teachings of the Church.

• Implementing the military strategy (verses 9-17)
• Victory over Ai (verses 18-29):
  • If God is the leader of your life, trust that you can overcome all the battles against demons. He will guide and support you, so do not be troubled by their movements and schemes, for your God is with you. Hold on to Him and seek Him continually, and He will lead your life always.
• Joshua renews the covenant (Verses 30-35)

Review/recap questions:
**Servant may add more questions

• What was Achan’s sin?
• What was Achan’s punishment?
• Why did the Lord ask Joshua to burn not only Achan but also his family and all he had?
•  Why do you think the Israelites were not able to enter Ai?
• What did the Israelites do to the city of Ai? 

Homework:
**Servant may add more questions

• What did Achan take that he was not allowed to?
  a) a Babylonian garment b) gold c) silver d) all of these
• What did the Israelites do to Achan?
  a) threw him out of the camp b) stoned him c) burned him d) b and c
• The Lord said to Joshua: "Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, take all the ________ of war with you, and arise, go
  up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand, ________ his people, his city, and his land.
• What happened to the king of Ai when Joshua took it?
  a) he was stoned b) was hanged c) was forgiven d) was burned