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
This comes after Israel's humiliating defeat at Ai due to Achan's disobedience in taking forbidden plunder from Jericho. After dealing with that sin, God is now reassuring Joshua that they can move forward with confidence. Ai was a strategic Canaanite city that controlled important trade routes, making its conquest crucial for Israel's campaign to possess the Promised Land.
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