And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land:
Then the LORD said to Joshua, 'Don't be afraid or discouraged. Take all your fighting men with you and go attack Ai. Look, I have already given you victory over the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land.'
God is encouraging Joshua not to fear and promising him victory over the city of Ai before the battle even begins.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative, Joshua and the Israelites had just suffered a defeat at Ai due to Achan's disobedience, which angered God and halted their conquest. After dealing with the sin through purification, God reassures Joshua with this command, promising victory as part of the ongoing fulfillment of His covenant to give the Promised Land to Abraham's descendants. This reflects the cultural context of ancient warfare and divine guidance in the Israelites' settlement of Canaan.
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